U-Roy's musical career began in 1961 when he began DJing at various sound systems, eventually working with King Tubby. Tubby was then experimenting with his equipment, in the process of inventing dub music. With U-Roy as his most prominent DJ, King Tubby's new sound became extraordinarily popular and U-Roy became a Jamaican celebrity. He recorded Dynamic Fashion Way, his first recording, in 1969 for Keith Hudson and then worked with almost every producer of the island: Lee Perry, Peter Tosh, Bunny Lee, Phil Pratt, Sonia Pottinger, Rupie Edwards, Alvin Ranglin and Lloyd Daley.
In 1970, Jamaican singer John Holt became enamoured of U-Roy's technique. Working with Duke Reid, U-Roy's fame grew through a series of singles, including Wake the Town and "Wear You to the Ball".
U-Roy's success continued throughout the 1970s, most famously with the album Dread in a Babylon with its iconic picture of him disappearing in a cloud of cannabis smoke while holding an enormous pipe, and a song called Chalice in the Palace, fantasising about smoking with Queen Elizabeth II in Buckingham Palace. He had become one of the island's biggest stars by the early 1980s, also garnering significant acclaim in the United Kingdom. His latest album is 2000's Serious Matter.
Chalice In The Palace
U-Roy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Maybe I should speak ah not ya majesty
We majesty,
really, really, really wanna have a chance with ya
Wanna come by di palace an' lick off me chalace
Gonna dub it withcha majesty
I'm feelin kind of ready, wanna have a chance with you
I'm coming down di palace, gonna lick ah me chalace
Gonn dub it with ya majesty, OOOW!
See di gon ah dub it with ya majesty
See dat I'm gonna dub society
(may ya speak to me)
So long, So long you'll really be smiling
Ain't got ta shun us whinin'
But I really, really, really, really, really, really
wanna have a chance with you baby, say
As long as ya knows is love ability
Loving someting gone ah back to school I never kid, WOW!
See dem gonna really wanna dub it with ya majesty
An' say I'm gonna dub it with ya majesty
An' I know I'm gonna dub out dem society
An' I's a really gonna dub out dem society
An' I sure am ah gonna dub it with ya majesty
The lyrics to U-Roy's "Chalice In The Palace" speak to a desire for connection and intimacy with those in power. The singer, likely representing the voice of the Jamaican people, addresses someone of higher status with the title "ya majesty" and expresses a yearning to share a "chalice" or a ceremonial pipe used to smoke marijuana. The opening line, "ram far into society" perhaps suggests a feeling of marginalization or exclusion from the centers of power, while the following line, "Maybe I should speak ah not ya majesty" suggests a desire to communicate more directly or authentically with those in power.
The song portrays a sense of playful, flirty energy, with phrases like "really, really, really wanna have a chance with ya" and "coming down di palace, gonna lick ah me chalace". The desire for close connection and communion with those in power is also reflected in the repeated phrase "gonna dub it withcha majesty", which suggests a shared act of creation or collaboration.
Line by Line Meaning
Ram far into society
Going deep into society
Maybe I should speak ah not ya majesty
I should speak to you as an equal, not just addressing you as 'your majesty'
We majesty, really, really, really wanna have a chance with ya
We, the people, want to be heard and have a chance to meet with you
Wanna come by di palace an' lick off me chalace
We want to come to the palace to share a chalice (pipe for smoking) with you
Gonna dub it withcha majesty
Going to share our good vibes through music with you, your majesty
Seeing dat you wear ah crown an' we di dread
You have power and we are the underprivileged ones
I'm feelin kind of ready, wanna have a chance with you
We are ready to express our thoughts and feelings to you
I'm coming down di palace, gonna lick ah me chalace
We are coming to the palace to smoke the chalice together
Gonn dub it with ya majesty, OOOW!
Going to make music with you, your majesty, with a positive vibe
See di gon ah dub it with ya majesty
Watch us create great music together, your majesty
See dat I'm gonna dub society (may ya speak to me)
We are going to make music that speaks to society and its issues
So long, So long you'll really be smiling
We hope that you will enjoy this experience with us and have a good time
Ain't got ta shun us whinin'
Please don't ignore our voices and concerns
But I really, really, really, really, really, really wanna have a chance with you baby, say
But we really, really, really want to connect with you and be heard
As long as ya knows is love ability
We hope that you understand that all we are trying to share is love
Loving someting gone ah back to school I never kid, WOW!
Our love for music has been a part of us since we were young
See dem gonna really wanna dub it with ya majesty
Others will see how we can create great music together, your majesty
An' say I'm gonna dub it with ya majesty
And we will continue to make music with you, your majesty
An' I know I'm gonna dub out dem society
We are confident that our music can speak to society and make a positive impact
An' I's a really gonna dub out dem society
We are really going to make music that challenges societal issues
An' I sure am ah gonna dub it with ya majesty
And we are sure that we will continue to make great music together, your majesty
Writer(s): Euwart Asman Beckford, Tony Robinson Copyright: BMG Vm Music Ltd.
Contributed by Ethan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@kitesurf58phil
You could barely walk anywhere in an inner city or large town, in the 70's to the 90's, without hearing this man's voice over a rhythm drifting from a passing car, flat or house party. RIP U-Roy.
@judahandtheasantetribe4life
R.I.P. GODFATHER
YOUR MUSIC LIVES ON DADDY U-ROY
@ancientredwoods8502
RIP Daddy U-Roy. The music you left us is timeless and will be blasting through speakers forever.
@lovemusicbadallgenres43
Sure will
@lovemusicbadallgenres43
A true Jamaican with a unique character.....you will be surely missed ❤️❤️🇯🇲🇯🇲🙏🙏🙏
@a197676
OMG!!!!! THIS SONG BRINGS BACK MEMORIES OF MY BIG SISTER WHO'S RESTING IN PEACE WITH OUR CREATOR. LOVE YOU QUENTINA YOLANDA BROWN R.I.P. SISTER I LOVE YOU YOU ARE IN MY HEART AND ALWAYS ON OUR MINDS.
@kingstonban
❤🙏🙏🙏
@ceofounder
God bless the soul and rest in glory to a prolific, masterpiece/masterclass of a reggae singer/songwriter, performer, Rastafarian, humanitarian and man amongst men!
The great "U Roy"!
Salute and Respect forever!
Coxsone Studio!
Studio One!
The "Wake The Town" intro for Dawn Penn"s
"No No No" is a timeless classic!
@youthinkthatsgood
RIP Teacher started a revolution no ranking trevor no big youth no biggie no Tupac without your true grit😪😪😪
@maakeklein4073
Biggie irie you talk about hahaha!