Music · Kingston · written in Patois with an English translation
Yu waan know weh reggae come from? Come dung a Trench Town, inna west Kingston. Inna di 1940s dem, di govament build govament yaad dem deh — likkle house roun one common yaad, weh everybody share kitchen an standpipe. Life neva easy, but music full up di place. One young bwoy name Bob Marley come dung from country, from St. Ann, an grow up inna dem yaad deh. Right deh-so im buck up Bunny Livingston (Bunny Wailer) an Peter Tosh, an one elder singa name Joe Higgs teach di yout dem fi hold harmony. Inna di early 1960s dem form one group — The Wailers. Dem walk go a Studio One, di studio weh Clement 'Coxsone' Dodd run pon Brentford Road, an dem cut dem first big tune deh inna 1964. Dat time di music did name ska — fast an bright. Den di beat slow dung, an dem call i rocksteady. By 1968 i change again, get dat heavy one-drop riddim, an dem call i reggae — an di whole world tek i up. Tideh yu can visit Culture Yard, di ole govament yaad pon First Street weh Bob did live; dem tun i inna museum. So memba dis: outta hard life inna one likkle Kingston yaad, come di music weh carry Jamaica name go a every corna a di earth.
You want to know where reggae comes from? Come down to Trench Town, in west Kingston. In the 1940s the government built 'government yards' there — small houses around a common courtyard, where everybody shared a kitchen and a standpipe. Life was never easy, but music filled the place. One young boy named Bob Marley came down from the country, from St. Ann, and grew up in those yards. Right there he met Bunny Livingston (Bunny Wailer) and Peter Tosh, and an elder singer named Joe Higgs taught the youths to hold harmony. In the early 1960s they formed a group — The Wailers. They walked to Studio One, the studio Clement 'Coxsone' Dodd ran on Brentford Road, and cut their first big tune there in 1964. At that time the music was called ska — fast and bright. Then the beat slowed down, and they called it rocksteady. By 1968 it changed again, got that heavy one-drop rhythm, and they called it reggae — and the whole world took it up. Today you can visit Culture Yard, the old government yard on First Street where Bob lived; it has been turned into a museum. So remember this: out of hard life in one little Kingston yard came the music that carried Jamaica's name to every corner of the earth.
Yu waahn nuo we rege kom fram? Kom dong a Trench Town, iina wes Kingston. Iina di 1940s dem, di govament bil govament yaad dem de — likl ous roun wan kaman yaad, we evribadi shier kichin an stanpaip. Laif neva iizi, bot myuuzik ful op di plies. Wan yong bwai niem Bob Marley kom dong fram konchri, fram St. Ann, an gruo op iina dem yaad de. Rait de-so im bok op Bunny Livingston (Bunny Wailer) an Peter Tosh, an wan elda singa niem Joe Higgs tiich di yuut dem fi huol haamoni. Iina di orli 1960s dem faam wan gruup — The Wailers. Dem waak go a Studio One, di styuudio we Clement 'Coxsone' Dodd ron pon Brentford Road, an dem kot dem fos big chuun de iina 1964. Dat taim di myuuzik did niem ska — faas an brait. Den di biit sluo dong, an dem kaal i rakstedi. Bai 1968 i chienj agen, get dat hevi wan-jrap ridim, an dem kaal i rege — an di uol worl tek i op. Tide yu kyan vizit Culture Yard, di uol govament yaad pon First Street we Bob did liv; dem ton i iina myuuziam. So memba dis: outa haad laif iina wan likl Kingston yaad, kom di myuuzik we kyari Jamieka niem go a evri kaana a di ort.
The history and the figures come from the sources above. The Patois is mine.
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