Story Behind The Song

Born in Jamaica, lived in London, Germany and Australia. That's Train's story but everywhere he went people had preconceived ideas about people with dreadlocks. Here is the polite, tongue-in-cheek rebuttal.

Song Description

"Dreadlocks Nuh Kill Yuh" manages to do the impossible: make a good-natured song about stereotypes and first impressions. As Train verbally two-steps his way through various scenarios, it's hard not to wonder how many of them he has experienced himself. Reminding the listener that "appearances deceive you all day long," his words bounce in time to a chicken scratch guitar and some killer horn accents.

Lyrics

Dreadlocks Nuh Kill yuh!
Words and music by Marlon "FreightTrain" Forrester
When you see mi dreadlocks you tink mi armed to de teeth
Look pon de college bwai step to me want fe buy the sensei
Judge dis book by de cover and you'll never know me
I'm not de one wid de gun in dat crime documentary
Chorus
Dreadlocks nuh kill ya that's the gun
Look pon the suit and tie wearing hit man
Appearances deceive you all day long
Do unto others don't hurt no one
Verse 1
Earned mi gilded piece of paper from the university
Then I shave off the dreadlocks for me new identity
Take a job for the government and proof read policy
Pay mi taxes and obey the rules of this society
I never mind the suit and tie if-a-dat a way a life it a gotta be
Got me haircut once a week from a likkle barber shop inna de big city
But I still played the reggae music fe unu friends and family
And I stay away from the elements of de criminality
Chorus
Verse 2
Now mi grow mi dread afresh as I turn a new page
And a musical satisfaction it become my new wage
Pave the way for this irie session pon pay day
And while the sunshine I think it's time to make hay
No matter! What all the people say, I say I think it's okay
To go back to a time when I could make my own way
Without the suit and tie and interoffice email
The spreadsheet and the balance sheet and the accounting paper trail