Spar With Me
Toyan Lyrics

Look at that, hurry, lord, movement (?) (Bubble!)
Excitement over something happening quickly or a call to action.

Tribute to the man called Barry Gordon
Acknowledgment of the influential Reggae DJ Barry G.

Jah, mi say, come Barry Gordon, now pack up di selection
Asking Barry G to play his selection of music on the radio.

In a light in a morning
In the morning during daylight hours.

Jah, come pupa Toyan, nice up radio station
Asking Toyan to liven up the radio station with his music and personality.

Cah, you fi, spar with me, mi show you Barry G (Hey!)
Invitation to spar, or compete, in dancing and music with Toyan, promising to show the influence of Barry G.

Bubble with me, mi show you Barry G
Asking someone to dance or follow his lead in music, promising to show the influence of Barry G.

Cah, ship over the ocean, boat over the sea
Referring to the distance and obstacles between himself and someone else, suggesting they can still connect through music.

Cah, one day, gal, you have fi bubble with me (Right!)
Asking a woman to dance with him someday.

Bubble with me, say, mi nah know money (Hey!)
Asking someone to dance with him, stating that he is not interested in money or material things.

Spar with me, mi show you Barry G
Repeating the invitation to compete in dancing and music with him, promising to show the influence of Barry G.

Cah, everyone a talk 'bout him a boogie man
Many people are discussing Barry G's influence as a DJ.

But, you have fi, spar with me, mi show you Barry G (Hey!)
Acknowledging that many people talk about Barry G, but still inviting competition in dancing and music to show his influence.

Him chat pon radio station, fi suit everyone
Barry G speaks on the radio to appeal to all listeners.

Cah, when mi was a youth dem used to call me Byron
Toyan was once called Byron as a youth.

Cah, now mi come a man, mi a champion
Toyan is now grown and successful in his music career.

Dem have fi call me pupa Toyan
Asking to be called pupa Toyan, a term of respect and endearment.

Hail Jah man, dem have fi call me pupa Toyan
Acknowledging Jah, or God, and asking for the respectful title of pupa Toyan.

Cah, nuff Byron, but a one Toyan
There may be many Byrons, but there is only one Toyan.

Mi a one in a one million
Toyan is unique and one of a kind.

But, hear me, man!
A statement to draw attention to what he is about to say.

Cah, Reggae music; Toyan chat it pon di disco (Cah, weh mi do)
Reggae music is played while Toyan DJs in a disco setting.

Barry G a no boy (Scatting)
Barry G is not a young or inexperienced DJ.

Toyan a no boy (Scatting)
Toyan is not a young or inexperienced DJ.

Buddy Spencer a no boy (Scatting)
Buddy Spencer is not a young or inexperienced DJ.

Mister Miller, say, no boy (Scatting)
Mister Miller is not a young or inexperienced DJ.

Cah, everyone a talk 'bout him a boogie man
Repeating that many people are discussing Barry G's influence.

Him chat pon radio station, fi truth everyone
Barry G speaks the truth on the radio to appeal to all listeners.

But, you have fi, spar with me, mi know you Barry G (Boyo!)
Acknowledging that many people know Barry G, but still inviting competition in dancing and music to show his influence.

(Scatting)
Vocal improvisation used in Jamaican music.

Jah, bees a come bite you pon your tender toe
Jah may send misfortunes your way unexpectedly.

In case you never know, cah, pupa Toyan on di go
Just in case you didn't know, Toyan is always on the move and busy with his music.

Well, make you bad so; Really make you bad so
Referring to the feeling of satisfaction and excitement from dancing and enjoying music.

Cah, some a talk 'bout di fish and di homegrown
Some people talk about fish and homegrown crops.

Cah, some a talk 'bout di milk and di Milo
Some people talk about milk and Milo, a chocolate milk drink mix.

But, right a now, mi say, di yam and di cocoa
But for now, he is talking about yam and cocoa, other Jamaican staple foods.

Cah, Jah Jah know, mi said, a dat a make mi bad so (Scatting)
Acknowledging God's influence over his life and attributing his success to his Jamaican roots and culture.