1) The Upsett… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least four bands with the name The Upsetters:
1) The Upsetters was the name given to the house band for Jamaican reggae producer Lee "Scratch" Perry.
2) The Upsetters was the name of Little Richard's backing band playing R&B and rock 'n' roll during the 1950s.
3) The Upsetters was a South African garage rock band active in the 1960s.
4) The Upsetters was a soul band.
1. "The Upsetters" was the name of the studio backing band of Jamaica Reggae producer Lee "Scratch" Perry, a.k.a. "The Upsetter". The members most associated with that name included guitarist Alva Lewis, organist Glen Adams and brothers Aston Barrett and Carlton Barrett on bass and drums respectively, a.k.a. The Hippy Boys. As Lee Perry's studio band, the Upsetters had three distinct line-ups, though, throughout the years 1968-1986.
1968-1969: Gladdy's All Stars with Gladston Anderson and Winston Wright (keyboards), Jackie Jackson (bass), Hugh Malcom and Lloyd Adams (drums). They recorded the UK hits Man from M.I.5, Return of Django and Live Injection. According to Perry, "in a spectacular case of bad timing, the original Upsetters couldn't make the trip" for a tour of Britain. He went with the Hippy Boys instead.
1969-1971: The Hippy Boys included Glen Adams (keyboards), Alva Lewis (guitar), Aston Barrett (bass) and Carlton Barrett (drums). They were collaborating with Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer a.k.a The Wailers during that time. Even though Marley and Perry didn't get along very well, musically wise, they laid the foundation of reggae music for years to come with classics like Small Axe, Duppy Conqueror or 400 Years. In the rise to superstardom the bands began to go their separate ways early in 1972. The Barrett brothers, the most creative reggae rhythm section before Sly & Robbie, joined Marley to become known as the new Wailers which Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer left later on for successful solo careers. As a consequence Perry's Upsetters virtually didn't exist until he built his own Black Ark Studio.
1974-1979: Black Ark Players of which Boris Gardiner (bass), Mikey Richards, Sly Dunbar and Benbow Creary (drums), Earl "Chinna" Smith (guitar), Winston Wright and Keith Stirling (keyboards) can be considered the core of the band. They developed the new psychedelic sound unique to the Black Ark which was impressively captured on albums like Heart Of The Congos or War Ina Babylon.
Perry himself purported that he deliberately burned down the Black Ark one morning in 1983, to eventually turn his back on Jamaican Reggae for good. The story of the Upsetters ends around 1986 and can be told in various different ways.
2. "The Upsetters" was the name of Little Richard's backing band playing R&B and Rock'n'Roll during the 1950s. One of their instrumental tracks is The Strip.
3. The Upsetters was a South African garage rock band active in the 1960s.
4. The Upsetters was a soul band.
Revelation Dub
The Upsetters Lyrics
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War inna Babylon, tribal war inna Babylon
Let me tell, it sipple out deh, wha' you say
It sipple out deh, oh yeah
War inna Babylon, tribal war inna Babylon
It sipple out deh, wha' you say
It sipple out deh, oh yeah
De dreadlocks man nuh like de baba man, no
De police men nuh like de dreadlocks man, oh
De dreadlocks man nuh like de police man, no
So war inna Babylon, tribal war inna Babylon
Let me tell, it sipple out deh, wha' you say
It sipple out deh, oh yeah
War inna Babylon, tribal war inna Babylon
Let me tell, it sipple out deh, wha' you say
It sipple out deh, oh yeah
When come pride then cometh shame, ah
A man pride shall bring him low, yeah, oh yeah
Honor shall uphold the humble in spirit
And you know it's true, yeah, oh yeah
War inna Babylon, tribal war inna Babylon
Wha' you say, it sipple out deh
So wha' fe do ? We slide out deh, oh yeah
War inna Babylon, tribal war inna Babylon
Wha' you say, it sipple out deh
So wha' fe do ? Make we slide out deh, oh yeah
True, true, true, true, true, true
It sipple out deh, so wha' fe do?
Make we slide out deh, oh yeah
True, true, true, true, true, true
It sipple out deh, let me tell, we slide out deh, oh yeah
Marcus garvey prophecise, say
"One mus' live ten miles away, yeah, in this time"
I-man satta at the mountain top
Watching Babylon burning red hot, red hot
War inna Babylon, tribal war inna Babylon
Let me tell, it sipple out deh
So wha' fe do ? We slide out deh, oh yeah
War inna Babylon, let me tell, tribal war inna Babylon
So wha' fe do? It sipple out deh
So wha' fe do? Make we slide out deh, oh yeah
True, true, true, true, true, true
It sipple out deh, so wha' fe do? Slide out deh, oh yeah
True, true, true, true, true, true
It sipple out deh, make we slide out deh, look at that
True, true, true, true, true, true
It sipple out deh, so wha' fe do? Let me slide out deh, oh yeah
True, true, true, true, true, true
It sipple out deh, look at that, slide out deh, oh yeah
True, true, true, true, true, true
It sipple out deh, oh yeah, slide out deh
The Upsetters' song Revelation Dub is a commentary on the political and social unrest that was happening in Jamaica in the 1970s. The lyrics suggest that there is a war going on in Babylon, which is a term often used to refer to Jamaica. The first verse sets the tone for the rest of the song, with the repeated phrase "It sipple out deh" suggesting that the violence and conflict in Jamaica are spreading and becoming more widespread. The second verse highlights the tension and division between different groups in Jamaica, including the baba men (a term for Rastafarians) and the police, as well as between different hairstyles, namely dreadlocks and short hair.
The third verse contains a reference to the biblical proverb "When come pride then cometh shame", which suggests that those who are too proud or arrogant will eventually suffer a fall. This ties in with the overall message of the song, which seems to be calling for peace and humility in Jamaica, and suggesting that the violence and conflict will only lead to destruction. The final verse includes a reference to Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican political leader and activist who advocated for pan-Africanism and black self-reliance. The phrase "I-man satta at the mountain top/Watching Babylon burning red hot" suggests that the singer sees himself as a witness to the social and political upheaval in Jamaica, and is calling for a way out of the violence.
Line by Line Meaning
It sipple out deh
There is trouble brewing
War inna Babylon, tribal war inna Babylon
There is conflict between different groups
Wha' you say
Do you understand?
De baba men nuh like de dreadlocks man
The establishment does not approve of those who are different
De dreadlocks man nuh like de baba man
Those who are different do not approve of the establishment
De police men nuh like de dreadlocks man
The police do not approve of those who are different
De dreadlocks man nuh like de police man
Those who are different do not approve of the police
When come pride then cometh shame
Pride leads to downfall
A man pride shall bring him low
Pride will lead to a person's downfall
Honor shall uphold the humble in spirit
Humility is a virtue
And you know it's true
This is a universal truth
So wha' fe do?
What should we do?
Make we slide out deh
Let's avoid the conflict
Marcus garvey prophecise, say "One mus' live ten miles away, yeah, in this time"
Marcus Garvey predicted that it would be necessary to move away to avoid conflict
I-man satta at the mountain top
I am watching from a safe distance
Watching Babylon burning red hot, red hot
The conflict is escalating
True, true, true, true, true, true
This is a warning that should be taken seriously
Look at that
Take notice of what is happening
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LEE PERRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind