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.
Version
The Upsetters Lyrics
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Spinning Wheel got to go 'round
Talkin' 'bout your troubles
It's a cryin' sin
Ride a painted pony
Let the Spinning Wheel spin
You got no money, you got no home
Spinning Wheel all alone
You never learn
Ride a painted pony
Let the Spinning Wheel turn
Did you find your directing sign
On the straight and narrow highway
Would you mind a reflecting sign?
Just let it shine within your mind
And show you the colors that are real
Someone is waiting just for you
Spinning Wheel spinning true
Drop all you troubles by the river side
The lyrics to The Upsetters' "Version" suggest that life is unpredictable and cyclical. The opening line, "what goes up must come down," is a reminder that every high will have a corresponding low. The metaphor of the spinning wheel represents the ups and downs of life, emphasizing the necessity to ride the wheel until the cycle completes itself.
The lyrics address the struggles of life, but suggest that dwelling on those struggles is unproductive. "Talkin' about your troubles" is characterized as a "crying sin," indicating that to focus solely on our problems is self-destructive. Instead, the song suggests that we should ride a painted pony and let the Spinning Wheel spin. It is a call to embrace the unpredictable nature of life, to accept the good and the bad, and to have faith that the cycle will continue.
The final lines of the song are a message of hope. The reflecting sign is an opportunity for the listener to look within and see the "colors that are real." The song ends with the suggestion to drop our troubles by the riverside, indicating that our struggles should not control us. In the end, life will continue to spin around us, and we must learn to enjoy the ride.
Line by Line Meaning
What goes up must come down
It is inevitable that whatever goes up will eventually come down
Spinning Wheel got to go 'round
The Spinning Wheel represents the cyclical nature of life and how it must keep moving forward
Talkin' 'bout your troubles
Discussing your problems can be a heavy burden
It's a cryin' sin
It is a pitiable offense
Ride a painted pony
Take control of your life and enjoy the ride
Let the Spinning Wheel spin
Allow yourself to cycle through life's ups and downs
You got no money, you got no home
When you have no financial or physical stability, it can be difficult to keep moving forward
Spinning Wheel all alone
Life can be a lonely journey
Talkin' 'bout your troubles and you
Focusing on your own issues can be a self-centered mindset
You never learn
You may repeat the same mistakes and never grow from them
Ride a painted pony
Take control of your life and enjoy the ride
Let the Spinning Wheel turn
Allow yourself to cycle through life's ups and downs
Did you find your directing sign
Have you discovered your purpose or direction in life?
On the straight and narrow highway
On the path of righteousness and moral purity
Would you mind a reflecting sign?
Would you be open to a sign that helps you reflect and gain insight?
Just let it shine within your mind
Allow yourself to be open to inner wisdom and guidance
And show you the colors that are real
Reveal the truth or reality about a situation
Someone is waiting just for you
There is someone or something that is a perfect match for you or your goals
Spinning Wheel spinning true
Life's cyclical nature is always present and inevitable
Drop all your troubles by the river side
Let go of your problems and find peace in nature's beauty
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Clayton-Thomas
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind