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| Cover art by Family Man Dave© at Kingstown Kinko |
Soon after their ahead-of-its-time Gangsta Sistahs album got canned by the neckbeards at Topic, Shirley & Dolly Collins took a much-needed vacation in sunny Jamaica! Let's let the sisters take up the story:
Shirl: The first thing we noticed was how attentive the dark-skinned native gentlemen were!
Doll: Courteous to a fault! They never really left our side. Found us free accommodation!
Shirl: Charming little beach hut miles from anywhere! Irie!
Doll: And they introduced us to their fascinating religious ceremonies.
Shirl: A lot of herbal remedies, an' t'ing! My goodness!
Doll: We reveled in or new-found freedom!
Shirl: (laughs) Not too many clothes required, as I remember!
Doll: It was too hot! Anyway, we couldn't find them.
Shirl: Musically, it was a life-changing experience. We soon adopted their riddims, and recorded some dub-wise plates in honour of Hailie Selassie's return.
Doll: Irie!
Shirl: Chris Blackwell found us and called the police, the big spoilsport. And no, he didn't even release the album.
(The sisters gather at the harmonium)
O as I was going to Kingston Town
Irie-down, natty-down, pass the dutchie to the left hand side
'Twas heavy manners going down
Irie-down, natty-down, pass the dutchie to the left hand side
My love he was the fairest of the fair
Irie-down, dilly-down, pass the dutchie to the left hand side
With his ebony skin and dreadlock hair
Irie-down, natty-down, pass the dutchie to the left hand side
He promised I would be his bride
Irie-down, natty-down, pass the dutchie to the left hand side
On the Black Star Liner we would ride
Irie-down, natty-down, pass the dutchie to the left hand side
But the ticket came at such a cost
Irie-down, natty-down, pass the dutchie to the left hand side
My maidenhood I willingly lost
Irie-down, natty-down, pass the dutchie to the left hand side
This post funded by Black Star Eyeliner™ from Maybelline®