What happened up on Hemmingway
Well. we will never change
You used to be a friend of mine
The last 5 years went past so fast
So fast I find it strange
The beneficial medicine of time

And I
I can hear your laughter
It stays with me after
All this time
And I
I still got your records
Clash and The Selecter
And don’t worry Desmond Dekker's doing fine.

But doors were shut
The lines were cut
The walls went up so quick
The windows of opportunity were small
Brides collide
Divides were wide
Sides we had to pick
And oh yeah, I forgot to call

I
I can hear your laughter
It stays with me after
All this time
And I
I still got your records
Clash and The Selecter
And don’t worry Desmond Dekker's doing fine.

Seeds to the roots to the trunk to the truth
It’s understanding when it first began
In the day up to the sky
And we climbed up so high
And we carried on the only way we can
Laugh on and live
Learn how to forgive
What we have could be as good as what we get
If you forgot
Now I am still gone
What you gave to me way back when we first met
What you gave to me way back when we first met

I
I can hear your laughter
It stays with me after
All this time
And I
I still got your records
Clash and The Selecter
And don’t worry Desmond Dekker's doing
fine

I
I still got your records
Clash and The Selecter
and don’t worry Desmond Dekker's doing fine.


Lyrics submitted by CFaz23

Don't Worry Desmond Dekker song meanings
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15 Comments

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  • +2
    Song Meaning

    He's talking about a friend that he's had a falling out with or fallen out of touch with. The references to the bands are about the friend's actual records. He's saying that he's held on to the records that the friend gave with him or that he had borrowed. Saying that the Desmond Dekker record in particular is doing fine.

    Also the first line is Hemenway -- as in Hemenway Street in Boston, right by Berklee College of Music (maybe it's a friend he met while the friend was attending music school -- maybe he introduced him to The Clash, The Selecter, and Desmond Dekker?)

    LastDeadRaton October 20, 2015   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Desmond Dekker was a reggae singer, and I think Dicky's referring to one of his albums. I think it's about him talking to a person he had a falling out with and he's asking for forgiveness.

    CFaz23on December 23, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think the line is "Clash" and "The Selecter". The Clash is obviously a well known 70's-80's British punk rock bank, and a quick Wikipedia search tells me that The Selecter is a British ska band from the same time period.

    So basically what this song says to me is that Dicky is reminiscing on old times and talking about how things have changed with him over time... However despite all, his roots remain the same. He's tipping his hat to his influences and saying that they haven't been forgotten. Not by a long shot. He's still got their records and he keeps them in good condition.

    Tandoron December 24, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I also think it's about what CFaz23 said at the same time.

    Tandoron December 24, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think it's about the Bosstones in general, like letting the fans know that they're doing okay, while paying homage to their influences at the same time.

    QuestionTheDanswerson February 07, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I'm not really sure it's about asking for forgiveness. I think it's more about someone who he was really close with (girlfriend?) and had a sudden disconnect from ("the doors were shut/the lines were cut"). When they were together the other person gave/lent him some records that turned out to be really influential for him and now whenever he listens to them he remembers what they had before. ("I can hear your laughter/It stays with me after/All this time").

    It's the kind of mixed feelings everyone can relate to that's gone through a breakup. You realize all the good times you had, and how much you miss, but there's still always a piece left in your life to show that other person was there.

    rudeboy86on February 25, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    it might have to do with the hiatus the line "The last 5 years went past so fast" it was five years between medium rare and a jackknife to a swan

    anthonyschwartz18on March 21, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I dunno I see it as more of telling someone who you were once close to (ex?) that he is okay and everything is fine ("And don't worry desmond dekkers doing fine") when really he isn't okay cause how fine can dekker be doing? I mean I'm 99.9999999% sure he is dead

    MusicDrugieon April 23, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    He is dead. That's why it's, not really funny, but kind of ironic

    CFaz23on June 04, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The song is a tribute to Desmond Dekker (Who died not too long ago if my memory serves me correctly), and to the state of Ska/Punk/Reggae in general. It also serves as a personal recollection of the ToneS themselves, and what they've been through.

    He's acknowledging the roots of their music, while still assuring that ska-punk is doing just fine and will continue too (Represented by the line: "and don't worry, Desmond Dekker's doing fine). It's a great song, one of their best in my opinion.

    Acoustic-Banditon July 15, 2008   Link

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