Since stepping out onto the dancehall scene in 2003, Busy Signal's undeniable talent and lyrical dexterity has taken him quickly to the front of the pack. Busy's breakout hit single - "Step Out" - was one of dancehall's hottest songs for 2005 and with a thugged-out video to match, it signalled the arrival of dancehall's next superstar.
Busy Signal, an alias given to him by a friend because of his constantly busy persona, has always approached his craft from a different perspective, not trodding the usual road of trying to voice on every rhythm out there to try and catch a break. Instead, Busy chose to record songs with concepts attached to them on purpose-built rhythms. The first such track to catch the attention of a wider audience was "Born and Raised", a song in which Busy Signal reps his birthplace and narrates the gritty realities of Jamaica.
"Even though I was an unknown artist and there was no-one else on the riddim," says Busy, "the track got good airtime which encouraged me to keep doing what I was doing. Producers don't want to give young artists a break more time, so young artists can get stifled. I just work hard on putting creative flows and melodies together and so far people have been feeling it." Already with a big following worldwide, Busy doesn't see his music as stopping in Jamaica. A slew of Busy Signal mix CDs flooded the streets from Halfway Tree to Brixton to Flatbush and beyond, creating and spreading the hype that lead to Busy being the strongest young artist to emerge from 2005.
Busy's self-production and businesslike approach to the industry has seen him already launch his own label, Network Records. The first releases, "Tell Santa Dis" and "Where I'm From" are distributed worldwide and are selling well.
Although Busy didn't rely on familiar rhythms and producers for a break, he has no problem recording for other labels, such as Renaissance, for whom Busy recorded "Not Going Down," showcasing his singing and deejaying abilities. Other tracks from Busy include "Because of You," with Tami Chin on the Throwback Giggy beat, "That Bad," and "Pharmacy" for Don Corleon, "Fade Away" for John John and "Too Much Gun," which sees Busy in explosive form, delivering rapid fire lyrics atop the reworked Man Fi Dead (Petty Thief) soundbed.
The end of 2005 saw Busy Signal garner immense critical success from show-stealing appearances on all the major stage shows across Jamaica, including the Smirnoff Experience alongside Sean Paul, Bobby Valentino and others, as well as Island Explosion, Camp Fire and West Kingston Jamboree. And of course there was the already-legendary debut appearance at 6.45am on the toughest stage in the world - the infamous Sting reggae concert. Busy stepped out in the rising sun adorned in full black and underlined why he is here to stay.
2006 has seen no ease up in Busy's momentum, with a headline grabbing performance at Reggae Sumfest 2006, where he performed solo on Dancehall Night and was also called up by G Unit on International Night. With successful tours of the UK, the Caribbean and Japan already knocked down and with Step Out breaking new ground on the esteemed Billboard chart, Busy is already being heralded as a new icon in the business.
Praise & Worship
Busy Signal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
El Shaddai, El Shaddai
Mi call pan de fatha fi I and I
Guide I along these streets today
Guide all de youths dem along the way
El Shaddai, El Shaddai
Alliance a call pon I and I
Guide over I and I while I trod
Ah-hah-ah
Ah-hah-ah
Ah-hah-ah
Jah please protect Jamaica (and de rest of the world)
Jah dey pon yuh telephone tell him what you need
Tell him what you need tell him what you need
Jah dey pon yuh telephone tell him what you need
Tell him what you need right
Say by the rivers of Babylon
Where we sat down
And everywhere when we remember Zion
β²Cause the wicked carry us away in captivity
Required from us a song
How can we sing Rastafari song in a strange land
How wen the saints
Go marchin' in
How when the murders and rapist bun out clean (Hallelujah)
Oh when dem bun up inna fiyah just like a piece of lumber
How when dutty heart and badmind burn out clean (Hallelujah)
Oh Iβ²m gonna sing sing sing
Alliance a shout shout shout
A tell dem a sing
Jamaica a shout
Praise the lord
'Cause when Jah Jah a go open de gate dem wide
You no see no gun no knife dung inside
I'm gonna sing Iβ²m gonna shout
Praise the lord
No terrorist
If I and I have the wings of a dove
If I have the wings of a dove
I would fly, fly away, fly away
Rock hole
Rock holy
Rock hole
Rock holy
Oh, Zion children rock holy
Jamaica children trod holy
Jah prepare me to be a sanctuary
Pure and holy
Trod and true
With thanksgiving
Iβ²ll be a living sanctuary for you
Into my heart (come in, come in)
Into my heart (come in, come in)
Forward into my heart oh Jah
Real real real
Christ so real to me
I praise him 'cause he gi mi di victory
Many, many people doubt him
But I cannot do without him
Dat is why I praise Jah so
Jah so real to me
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah praise ye the Lord
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah praise ye the Lord
Praise ye the lord (Hallelujah)
Praise ye the lord (Hallelujah)
Praise ye the lord (Hallelujah)
Jamaica praise
Across the bridge thereβ²ll be no sorrow
Across the bridge there'll be no pain
The sun will shine across the river
And will never be unhappy again
When I get there
When we get there
I will sing and shout
When I get there
Glory Hallelujah praise ye the lord
When we I and I get there
I and I gwaan lay down me burdens
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside
When di thugs dem lay down di gun dem
Down by the riverside
And study war no more
Hallelujah
Seal
El Shaddai
El Shaddai
Protect I and I every day wi cry
We nuh waan no marrow nor skull fi fly
Praise the most high
Busy
Believe me
Hotthead
The song "Praise & Worship" by Busy Signal features lyrics that blend themes of Rastafarianism and Christianity, calling on Jah (God) for guidance, protection, and ultimately, praise. The first verse calls on El Shaddai (God Almighty) to guide the singer and the youth. The chorus asks Jah to protect Jamaica and the rest of the world. The second verse references the biblical story of the Israelites in Babylonian captivity, asking how they can continue to sing their praises in a strange land. The song then transition into a call for praise and for the cessation of violence, with a vision of a peaceful, joyful afterlife where there is no sorrow or pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Things and times change
The world is constantly changing
El Shaddai, El Shaddai
A plea to God for help and protection
Mi call pan de fatha fi I and I
Asking for help and guidance from God
Guide I along these streets today
Asking God for guidance and protection while journeying
Guide all de youths dem along the way
Asking God to guide and protect the younger generation
Alliance a call pon I and I
A call for unity among people
Guide over I and I while I trod
Asking God for guidance on life's journey
Hotthead... El Shaddai
Even when angry, still asking for God's help
Jah please protect Jamaica (and de rest of the world)
A plea to God for the safety of everyone in the world
Jah dey pon yuh telephone tell him what you need
Asking people to pray to God for help
Say by the rivers of Babylon
A reference to the Bible about being in captivity
Where we sat down
Reflecting on being away from home
And everywhere when we remember Zion
Thinking of their true home
β²Cause the wicked carry us away in captivity
Reflecting on oppression from others
Required from us a song
Even in sorrow, they were asked to sing a song of praise
How can we sing Rastafari song in a strange land
Questioning how to worship away from home
How wen the saints
Referencing a Christian hymn
Go marchin' in
Continuing reference to a Christian hymn
How when the murders and rapist bun out clean (Hallelujah)
When justice is served against criminals
Oh when dem bun up inna fiyah just like a piece of lumber
Describing the punishment for criminals
How when dutty heart and badmind burn out clean (Hallelujah)
When people with bad intentions get what they deserve
Oh Iβ²m gonna sing sing sing
Promising to sing joyfully
Alliance a shout shout shout
A call for unity and support
A tell dem a sing Jamaica a shout
A call for everyone to come together and celebrate
Praise the lord
Reminding people to give thanks to God
'Cause when Jah Jah a go open de gate dem wide
Hope for eternal life
You no see no gun no knife dung inside
Describing a safe and peaceful place
No terrorist
Hope for freedom from fear of terrorism
If I and I have the wings of a dove
Wishing for freedom and peace
I would fly, fly away, fly away
Wanting to escape from the world's troubles
Rock hole
Reflecting on the struggles of life
Rock holy
Reminding oneself that God is holy
Zion children rock holy
Children of God must stay strong and faithful
Jamaica children trod holy
A reminder to Jamaican children to live a holy life
Jah prepare me to be a sanctuary
Request for God's help to be a holy person
Pure and holy
Wishing to be free from sin
Trod and true
Remaining faithful to God
With thanksgiving
Gratefulness to God
Iβ²ll be a living sanctuary for you
Promising to be holy for God
Into my heart (come in, come in)
Asking God to come into one's life
Forward into my heart oh Jah
Asking for God's guidance in daily life
Real real real
Being authentic in worship
Christ so real to me
Personal declaration of faith
I praise him 'cause he gi mi di victory
Gratitude to God for help and victory
Many, many people doubt him
Acknowledging that not everyone believes in God
But I cannot do without him
Personal belief in God's importance
Dat is why I praise Jah so
Explaining one's reason for praising God
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah praise ye the Lord
A call to praise God
Jamaica praise
A call for Jamaica to praise God
Across the bridge thereβ²ll be no sorrow
Hope for eternal life without pain and sadness
Across the bridge there'll be no pain
Hope for eternal life without suffering
The sun will shine across the river
A hopeful picture of eternal life
And will never be unhappy again
Hope for a joyful eternity
When I get there
Hope for eternal life
When we get there
Hope for eternal life for everyone
I will sing and shout
Promising to worship joyfully
Glory Hallelujah praise ye the lord
A call to praise God
I and I gwaan lay down me burdens
Desire to be free from life's troubles
Down by the riverside
Finding peace and rest
When di thugs dem lay down di gun dem
Hoping for an end to violence and crime
And study war no more
Desire for peace and unity
Hallelujah
A call to praise God
Seal
Acknowledging God's power and authority
Protect I and I every day wi cry
A plea for God's protection from harm
We nuh waan no marrow nor skull fi fly
Rejecting violence and harm
Praise the most high
Turning to God in worship
Busy
The artist's name
Believe me
Encouragement to trust in God
Hotthead
Self-awareness of being quick-tempered
Writer(s): Reanno Gordon, Carlton Williams, Germaine Clarke
Contributed by Riley R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@bambasama2394
Who is still here 2024?
@priyahsalmon4809
Meeeee bappppppp
@jonathanramgoolam2548
Me
@freddykihuria6649
Here I am.
@bambasama2394
I see you guys busy signal loversβ€οΈπ―
@JayOfficial118
2020 anyone
π show some love π
@admixtureofficial5690
It's been 9 bloodclat years this song a still leadπππlove from the Gambia in west Africa
@oshanepatterson5452
11 now.
@anesuk7016
12 now
@christophermuchiri8481
love from Nairobi kenya to Banjul Gambia,large onuself brother man!!