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.
Everybody Bawling
U-Roy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
- They are calling out loud
Bawling for love
- The pleasure of love I tell you
Everybody asking
- Asking for what?
Askin' for love
- Yeah, yeah, yeah, YEAH!
Get good sound(?), brother
Huh! Good gosh, now we're shockin I tell you
Sound we could
Huh! Yeah, YEAH!
Break it up, one time
Huh! Break it up, break it up, I tell ya
Their hands and their hands
- Uh huh!
Not a penny in their pockets
- Suffer little children to come unto I
- For they shall inherit the whole world, I tell you
- Sing wid song
Everybody Bawling
- Yeah YEAH!
Bawling for love
- Get me one time brother
Everybody asking
Asking for love
- Coz I'm callin' on the youths of today
- For they are so strong
- But I play my little song
- It's got a really strong beat for the back of the track
- Stay away you little renegade!
- Come over here and give me some sound
Everybody Bawling
- Uh huh!
Bawling for love
- Really hot, Jack
Everybody asking
Asking for love
So you've got to hit this pot with all you've got
Coz love is all I bring
Huh! So you've got to let it ring
Till we got it (?)
I'm a try it
Speak me on
Yeah, YEAH!
Won't me show
Huh!
This is the time when we must live as one
Love and cherish each and ev'ry one
Don't live in chain
Neither live in sin
Coz there are
Bawling
- And some are laughing
Bawling for love
- Give a little more love I tell you
Everybody asking
- Let me tell you some lovin'
Asking for love
- Two brothers(?) in the kill be good so you got to be careful
- Huh! You come a cheerfully lil' earful
- Tit for tat I'm a trying
-? Yeah YEAH! Sing it out loud. We're shockin' I tell ya...
The song "Everybody Bawling" by U-Roy speaks about the search for love that everyone is going through. The first lines of the song "They are calling out loud, Bawling for love, The pleasure of love I tell you, Everybody asking, Asking for what?, Askin' for love, Yeah, yeah, yeah, YEAH!" emphasize the need for love and the desire to have it. The second verse of the song calls for good sound equipment and talks about how the song can make a difference, "Get good sound(?), brother, Huh! Good gosh, now we're shockin I tell you, Sound we could, Huh! Yeah, YEAH! Break it up, one time, Huh! Break it up, break it up, I tell ya." The third verse describes the economic situation of the people, "Their hands and their hands, Not a penny in their pockets, Suffer little children to come unto I, For they shall inherit the whole world, I tell you, Sing wid song."
The next part of the song speaks about the power of music to bring people together, "This is the time when we must live as one, Love and cherish each and ev'ry one, Don't live in chain, Neither live in sin." The song concludes with a call for love and peace, "Bawling, And some are laughing, Bawling for love, Give a little more love I tell you, Everybody asking, Let me tell you some lovin', Asking for love."
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody Bawling
People are shouting out loud
Bawling for love
Seeking the pleasure of love
Everybody asking
People are inquiring
Askin' for love
Asking for love
Get good sound(?), brother
We need quality sound
Huh! Good gosh, now we're shockin I tell you
We are really electrifying the crowd
Sound we could
We can produce good sound
Break it up, one time
Let's take a break and start again
Their hands and their hands
No money in their pockets
Not a penny in their pockets
They have no money
Suffer little children to come unto I
Allow the young ones to come near me
For they shall inherit the whole world, I tell you
They will possess the world someday
Sing wid song
We sing with joy and melody
- Coz I'm callin' on the youths of today
I am calling on the young people of today
- For they are so strong
They possess great strength
- But I play my little song
I am playing my small tune
- It's got a really strong beat for the back of the track
The rhythm is powerful
- Stay away you little renegade!
Keep your distance, little rebel
- Come over here and give me some sound
Come closer and offer your music
So you've got to hit this pot with all you've got
You must give it your all
Coz love is all I bring
I offer only love
Till we got it (?)
Until we understand it fully
I'm a try it
I will attempt it
Speak me on
Continue speaking
Won't me show
Let me display
This is the time when we must live as one
We should live in harmony
Love and cherish each and ev'ry one
Respect and love everyone
Don't live in chain
Don't be in bondage
Neither live in sin
Don't live a life of wrongdoing
And some are laughing
Some are experiencing joy
Give a little more love I tell you
We need more love
Two brothers(?) in the kill be good so you got to be careful
Two men are fighting, be cautious
Huh! You come a cheerfully lil' earful
You sound like a cheerful listener
Tit for tat I'm a trying
I'm trying to give as much as I receive
? Yeah YEAH! Sing it out loud. We're shockin' I tell ya...
Express yourself loudly, we are amazing the crowd
Writer(s): Hugh Roy Copyright: Measurable Music LLC O.B.O. Push Music Jamaica
Contributed by Chloe H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@talktruth4145
LEGEND'S NEVER DIE..
@asherfreeman2150
Jah got his soul One love
@rogerpeachey2212
The 70s were a great era for reggae.so many top artists.so glad I grew up listening to these legends.fantastic .
@kingstonban
Rest in eternal paradise king daddy Roy, your legacy will live on forever !!!πππππππΌπΌπππππππ
@Themaddprof
Two words - pure joy!
@edwinmunyua2620
Rest in power Big man
@charlestaylor2687
Gwaan Daddy Roy, Ride dis rythem. The very best
@AuthenticSelector64
U Roy and The Melodians
@carolsameuls8426
First thing JaH gave us was Love Rastafari blessed
@user-nb2on2km8i
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