Friday, September 18, 2009

Gregory Isaacs: Slave Master

Song: Slave Master

Written and Performed By: Gregory Isaacs

Appears on: Rockers Soundtrack

Theodoros Bafaloukos’ 1978 film “Rockers” is a genial, lighthearted Robin Hood tale about a reggae singer in Jamaica trying to make a few bucks in the music business, both by delivering records on his motorcycle and by playing in a band for a resort owner who sees his house band as nothing more than a bunch of ne’er-do-wells. As in its predecessor “The Harder They Come”, the hero (Leroy “Horsemouth” Wallace) finds that The System will do everything it can to keep him down. The two films were often shown as a double feature in the United States (my brother and I saw them in Austin).

One thing the films have in common is an outstanding soundtrack, with reggae music playing through virtually the entire movie. In “Rockers”, many reggae musicians play themselves – “Horsemouth”, Jacob Miller, Kiddus-I, Big Youth, and Gregory Isaacs, amongst others. Isaacs’ live performance of the song “Slave Master” is one of the musical highlights of the film (you can also see him cracking a safe in one scene).

Isaacs has a long, storied history in reggae and is one of the best-known singers to come out of Jamaica. He started in the late 60s and in the 70s and 80s established himself as a master of the “Lover’s Rock” style of reggae. Listen to classic albums like “Night Nurse”, “Private Beach Party”, and “Red Rose For Gregory” and you’ll know why he’s known as The Cool Ruler.

But Isaacs is no one trick pony. He can sing a sufferers’ song as well as anyone and “Slave Master” is one of his finest. It’s been said that Isaacs has released upwards of 500 albums throughout the world and “Slave Master” appears on no fewer than 35 of those, according to allmusic.com. In it, Isaacs sings of the protagonist’s increasing frustration with the slave master, a man who does little but discipline his laborers when they try to have little fun – “Every time I hear the music and I make a dip … slave master comes around and spank I with his whip”.

A casual listen might garner a “that’s nice” response, but if you really listen to it, this is an angry song. The slave has had just about enough and is very close to his breaking point:
“If I don’t get my desire
Then I'll set the plantations on fire
My temperature is getting much higher”

The singer also adds this subtle warning (it’s my favorite line in the song) “slave master, I’m the shepherd of my pasture” -- push me too far and not only will I rebel, but I will lead my fellow slaves in revolt, too.

In the film, Isaacs adds a coda that is not on the soundtrack (it’s a studio version on the soundtrack) – “if the chalice comes around my brow, I’ll surely take a sip, Jah Jah know I’m true with it, please get up with it, Jah Jah know I’m true with it.”

The chalice is a rastaman’s ganja pipe and Isaacs is willing to – and based on his smile as he sings, would like to – take a “sip” from the pipe.

Slave Master Lyrics

No competition, I make you my decision, yeah

Every time I hear the music and I make a dip, a dip
Slave master comes around and spank I with his whip, the whip
But if I don’t get my desire
Then I'll set the plantations on fire
My temperature is getting much higher
Got to get what I require

‘Cause every time we do the work sometimes we are hurt, oh yeah
Boss never do a thing but hold on to his girth
But if I don’t get my desire
Then I'll set the plantations on fire
My temperature is getting much higher
Got to get what I require

Every time I hear the music and I move my hip, my hip
Slave master comes around and spank I with his whip, a whip
Slave master, I’m the shepherd of my pasture
I say you work me to scorn so long me make me gwaan
‘cause I’m accustomed to your whip

But if I don’t get my desire
Then I'll set the stations on fire
My temperature is getting much higher
Got to get what I require

12 comments:

  1. What a great song and video! We saw Rockers at the old Varsity Theatre. Remember the mural on the side featuring a gigantic version of Jimmy Cliff?

    Given the context of the song, could the chalice verse be a double entendre, also referring to the "let this cup pass" Biblical verse? In other words, when the opportunity arises to turn the to turn the tables on the slave master, he will take it.

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  2. P. S. That's my idea of a house band!

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  3. I think you're onto something with the Biblical verse, the slave is definitely looking for his chance. That verse does appear on a longer studio recording, but not on the soundtrack.
    The live performance serves as a turning point in the movie, taking us from the back-story into the "pay back" (without revealing too much for anyone who hasn't seen it).

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  4. I nearly fell out of my chair the other day when I was only half listening to an interview on NPR, and at the end she said "that was Gregory Isaacs." But it wasn't our GI.

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  5. Rest in Peace Gregory Isaacs, the Cool Ruler. Found this post googling around after learning of his death. Thanks for the post.

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  6. Yes, rest in peace Gregory Isaacs. Thanks for the music.

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  7. RIP - great Mr. Isaacs!

    I am recording a translated (german) version of this song right in this moment.

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  8. im in the same boat as doug. really sad to see him go. RIP.

    anyways, this is a really good article! slave master is my favorite song by him so to have an article about the song is great. thanks for the post!

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  9. RGG - Thank you for this most honouring tribute to Mr. Gregory "Cool Ruler" Isaacs. Yours, as well as K's comments have moved me to post a comment of my own. Making this my first ever blog experience.

    I, myself, have both (long and short) versions of the song Slave Master, and I also saw the movie Rockers, many years ago when it was originally released back in Trinidad with my late brother, Dorian. Ours was a double feature shown along with Smile Orange.

    My brother and I were huge Rockers fans, referring to the musical genre as opposed to the movie, although the movie was a spectacularly entertaining experience.

    With respect to the "chalice" both RGG and K are on to something with their comments, but only just missed the mark. As RGG points out, the chalice is a reference to the pipe. And, as K mentioned, it does have a Biblical significance, only different...

    Rastafarians smoke ganja to bring themselves spiritually closer to their recognized Saviour, Haile Selassie I (born Tafari Makonnen, and later Ras Tafari Makonnen). And, they refer to the pipe as the chalice, just as followers of Christianity pass the chalice - of wine - around and sip the symbolic blood of Christ to move spiritually closer to Him.

    Fans of Gregory Isaacs, already familiar with Night Nurse and now, Slave Master, may also want to sample Mr. Cop, My Number One, Rumours, The Border, Sad To Know and Thief A Man.

    If you care to explore more Rockers, the motion picture soundtrack is a great place to start with the likes of Jacob Miller, Junior Murvin, The Maytones and The Heptones. Also recommended: The Itals, I Roy and Dennis Brown.

    IRIE!

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  10. Thanks for the kind words, The Cool Ruler will be missed, but we'll always have the music.

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  11. No competition. I'm making my decision, yeah.


    Everytime I hear the music and I make a dip, a dip.
    Slavemaster comes around and spank I with his whip, oh whip.

    But if I don't get my desire
    Then I'll set the plantations on fire
    My temperature is getting much higher
    Got to give, what I require

    Cause everytime we do the work
    Sometimes we are hurt, oh yeah

    Boss never do a thing but hold on to his girth

    But if I don't get my desire
    Then I'll set the plantations on fire
    My temperature is getting much higher
    Got to give what I require

    Now everytime I hear the music and I move my hip, my hip
    Slavemaster comes around and spank I with his whip, oh whip

    Slavemaster I'm the shepherd of thy pasture

    Said you work me to scorn
    So allow me make me gwaaan

    cause if I don't get my desire
    Then I'll set the stations on fire
    My temperature is getting much higher
    Got to give, what I require

    Slavemaster I'm the shepherd of thy pasture
    You work me to scorn
    So allow me, make me gwaan

    Back out with it
    cause I'm accustomed to your whip
    and if the chalice is around, round round
    I'll surely take a sip

    said cause I'm accustomed to your whip

    Jah Jah know I'm through with it
    Please get out with it.



    GREGORY, I LOVE YOU MY GOREGOUS MAN!!

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  12. It's incredibly sad to me that the video has been blocked. I simply don't understand why that video cannot be shared.
    What's going to happen? People are going to like the song and seek it out for purchase?

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