Vivian Jackson (14 August 1946 – 12 January 2010) better known as Yabby You… Read Full Bio ↴Vivian Jackson (14 August 1946 – 12 January 2010) better known as Yabby You (or sometimes Yabby U), was a reggae vocalist and producer, who came to prominence in the early 1970s through his uncompromising, self-produced work.

Jackson was born in the Waterhouse district of Kingston, Jamaica in 1946. One of seven children, Jackson left home at the age of twelve to find work at a furnace in Waterhouse. At seventeen, the effects of malnutrition had left him hospitalized, and on his release he was left with severe arthritis which had partially crippled his legs. His physical condition meant that he was unable to return to his previous work, and he was forced into hustling a living on the streets of Kingston.

His beliefs were markedly different from that of his Rastafarian contemporaries, believing in the divinity of Jesus rather than Haile Selassie I, earning him the nickname 'Jesus Dread'; This often prompted debate on religio-philosophical matters, and it was after one of these discussions that Jackson first headed towards a recording studio, having heard music "like a strange ting, inside a my thoughts - like an angel a sing".

Another spell in hospital meant that finding money for recording was difficult, but eventually the "Conquering Lion" single was released late in 1972, credited to 'Vivian Jackson and the Ralph Brothers'. Cut for King Tubby, the popularity of the song and its distinctive introduction (the chant of "Be-you, yabby-yabby-you") earned Jackson the nickname "Yabby You", which has remained with him during his entire career.

The next few months saw the recording of several more singles, released under different names on various record labels, (although usually credited to 'Vivian Jackson and the Prophets', and often featuring a King Tubby 'version' on the b-side); culminating in the release of the Conquering Lion album. A King Tubby mixed dub set, King Tubby's Prophesy of Dub, was also issued, albeit on a limited run of 500 copies, helping to establish Jackson as a roots artist.

Yabby's success allowed him to branch out as a producer, and he began working with both upcoming and more established artists including Wayne Wade, Michael Rose, Tommy McCook, Michael Prophet, Big Youth, Trinity, Dillinger and Tapper Zukie, while continuing to release his own material.

Jackson continued to record, produce and perform (often with the aid of crutches) until the mid-1980s. He re-emerged in the early 1990s, issuing both new and old material, and his recordings have been the subject of several high quality reissues in recent years. In 2000 he released a singles remix project with Glen Brown. The album included remixes of "Conquering Lion" by Smith and Mighty, and a remix of Glen Brown by Small Axe and Terminal Head.
He died on 12 January 2010, aged 63, after suffering a ruptured brain aneurysm.

Partial Discography:
Conquering Lion / Version (Prophet) (1972, Single)
Conquering Lion (Micron) (1975, LP)
Jesus Dread (1972-1977) (Blood And Fire)
Dub It to the Top: 1976-1979 (Blood And Fire)
Dread Prophecy: The Strange and Wonderful Story of Yabby You (Shanachie)

Anti Christ
Yabby You Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Them say them love
And them live in hate
Them say no steal
And them a thief your head
Them say no lust
And them live like a whore
Me never hear such a thing before

Me say see them there
They favor sheep
But them a wolf
See them there
Them favor Christ
But them an anti Christ

Man shall be like a tree
That is planted by the riverside
By their fruits you can see
A macka tree never bear no fruit

Me say see them there
They favor sheep
But them a wolf
See them there
Them favor Christ
But them an anti Christ

Man shall be like a tree
That is planted by the riverside
By their fruits you can see
A macka tree never bear no fruit

Me say see them there
They favor sheep
But them a wolf
See them there
Them favor Christ
But them an anti Christ

Them say them love
And them live in hate
Them say no steal
And them a thief your head
Them say no lust
And them live like a whore
Me never hear such a thing before

Me say see them there
They favor sheep
But them a wolf
See them there

Them favor Christ
But them an anti Christ

Overall Meaning

"Anti Christ" is a song by Yabby You that explores the theme of hypocrisy. The lyrics depict people who claim to be pious and pure, but their actions and behaviors contradict their words. They profess love while they hold hatred, proclaim honesty while they deceive, and pretend to have pure intentions while living immoral lives. The song reveals the dual nature of such individuals and their tendency to exploit and manipulate others.

Yabby You uses the metaphor of wolves disguised in sheep's clothing and anti-Christs masking themselves as Christians to expose the hypocrisy of those he is describing. He also draws on the biblical teaching of the fruits of the tree to stress the importance of examining the actions of individuals rather than their words. The reference to a "macka tree," which is a tree that does not bear fruit, suggests that the individuals in question are hollow and empty at their core.

The lyrics of "Anti Christ" are poignant and thought-provoking, challenging listeners to examine their own lives and behaviors to see if they are living true to their words. Yabby You's powerful vocals and the song's compelling rhythms create an atmosphere that heightens the impact of the song's message.

Line by Line Meaning

Them say them love
They claim to love others

And them live in hate
But they actually live in hatred

Them say no steal
They say stealing is wrong

And them a thief your head
But they are stealing from you anyway

Them say no lust
They say lust is bad

And them live like a whore
But they still engage in immoral behavior

Me never hear such a thing before
I have never heard of such hypocrisy

Me say see them there
I see them over there

They favor sheep
They act innocent like sheep

But them a wolf
But they are actually wolves in sheep’s clothing

See them there
Look at them