Tuesday 19 January 2010

musicology #477

PoliceAndThieves #2

(Wasp – Unfair Officer)

LISTEN

Today’s cut on the Police&Thieves is courtesy of Jamaican dancehall artist Wasp with an insight into how things run in the ghetto when a man tries to hustle a little dance to make a ‘play’. Many’s the time I remember back in the late 80’s, early 90’s where the ‘Old Bill’ crashed our dances in London to ‘lock’ off the sound under the premise of ‘Health and Safety’. So much so that a Bill was passed through Parliament to give them the power. Yep money was being made, drugs were being sold but there was never any alcohol on the premises…the truth was that there was no tax being paid and we all know that TAX is what it’s all about.

Life is so unfair,
Me not even sell a crate a beer,
And by the time me look,
Pure police come inna me land,
Say the sound haffi turn off,
I don’t know wey a gwan,
A who invite them inna me land,
But still me nah worry meself,
Ca’ me know fe a fact,
Say them a fight ghetto youths before me born,

Nah lock off me sound officer
And gwan like you take me for clown officer..hey,
When the music nah play In a the ghetto and the shots them a echo,
Ouno say we up to no good,
Make the music play officer,
No bother make the yoots them go astray officer ay,
Just remember say in a JA we party every day,
Man a try fe live life the right way,

So me say,
Living in the ghetto its not easy to survive,
More time you have fe hustle just to stay alive,
Though me no have no big education,
Custom? say me not qualified fe the 9 to 5,
So it’s a dance me a keep,
Take some liquor pon consignment,
and me block the street,
People them come out whole heap,
But by the time me look a pure jeep,

And them come fe lock off me sound officer,
And gwan like you take me for clown officer..hey,
When the music nah play In a the ghetto and the shots them a echo,
Ouno say we up to no good,
Make the music play officer,
No bother make the yoots them go astray officer ay,
Just remember say in a JA we party every day,
Man a try fe live life the right way,

Yeah,
Me a beg the ghetto yout’ them fe put down the gun,
‘Cause if the shot a beat then the music a go done,
‘Cause me no want the police pass through,
And no see no more dead body lay down pon the ground,
Officer me a beg you please,
Come make the ghetto yout them want a hold up the peace,
Man from west and east,
Me rather see dance than see funeral keep,

Nuh lock off me sound officer,
And gwan like you take me for clown officer..hey,
When the music nah play In a the ghetto and the shots them a echo,
Ouno say we up to no good,
Make the music play officer
No bother make the yoots them go astray officer ay,
Just remember say in a JA we party every day,
Man a try fe live life the right way,

Yo tell them weh them want me do,
Tell me weh them all a plan,
When them only gimme life and oppression for the poor man,
So me a keep a dance just to make a couple grand,
Police circle in a de dance and come a with your permit in a y’ hand,
When me show the man me permit,
And im still a say me wrong,
Ca’ the permit stop at 2 and now a 2:21,
A it seem like them nuh care,
Must nuh have nothing fe spare,
So me say alright,
Nuh lock off me sound officer,
And gwan like you take me for clown officer..hey,
When the music nah play In a the ghetto and the shots them a echo,
Ouno say we up to no good,
Make the music play officer
No bother make the yoots them go astray officer ay,
Just remember say in a JA we party every day,
Man a try to live life the right way

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