The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
And then we gonna say kinky reggae!
Ooh, yeah I went downtown (said I went downtown)
I saw Miss Brown (said, I saw Miss Brown)
She had brown sugar (had brown sugar)
All over her booga-wooga (over her booga-wooga)
I think I might join the fun (think I might join the fun)
But I had to hit and run (had to hit and run)
See, I just can't settle down (just can't settle down)
In a kinky part of town
Ride on
Don't you know I've got to ride on
Ride on, see I just can't settle down (ride on)
Kinky reggae
Oh, kinky reggae now
Kinky reggae
Oh, kinky reggae now
Kinky reggae, all I've got to say
Kinky reggae now
Kinky reggae, do it up
Kinky reggae, now, ride on, now
Ride on
Ride on
Ride on, kinky reggae, ride on
Ey, I went down to Piccadilly Circus
Down there I saw Marcus
He had a candy tar
All over his chocolate bar
I think I might join the fun (I might join the fun)
But I had to hit and run (had to hit and run)
See I just can't settle down (just can't settle down)
In a kinky part of town
Nice one, that's what they say, nice one
But I'm leavin' you today (nice one)
Oh, darlin', please don't play (nice one) mama say, mama say
(Kinky reggae)
(Kinky reggae, now)
(Kinky reggae)
(Kinky reggae, now)
(Kinky reggae)
(Kinky reggae, now)
(Kinky reggae)
(Kinky reggae, now)
Eh, I want you to meet my brother Carlton over here
And I want you to meet Aston Barret
I said I want you to meet Aston Barret over here
And I want you to meet brother Al over there, on guitar
And I want you to meet brother Seeco
And I want you to meet brother Tyrone
Kinky reggae
Kinky reggae, now
Kinky reggae
Kinky reggae, now
Kinky reggae
Kinky reggae, now
Kinky reggae
Kinky reggae, now, nice one
Nice one
Nice one
Nice one, kinky reggae
You're such a nice, nice, nice, nice one, kinky (reggae)
I want you to meet my sisters (kinky reggae, now)
I want you to meet my sisters! (kinky reggae)
(Kinky reggae, now)
(Kinky reggae)
(Kinky reggae, now)
(Kinky reggae)
(Kinky reggae, now)
Now, you see that one over there?
Her name is sister Rita
And you see this sister here nearest to me?
Her name is sister Judy
And we get together and say
Kinky reggae, now
Kinky reggae
Kinky reggae, now
Kinky reggae
Kinky reggae, now
Kinky reggae
Kinky reggae, now
Ride on
Ride on
Ride on, kinky reggae
Ride on
Kinky reggae (my name is brought on back)
Kinky reggae now
Kinky reggae
Kinky reggae, now
Kinky reggae
Kinky reggae, now
Kinky reggae
Kinky reggae, now
Ooh, yeah I went downtown (said I went downtown)
I saw Miss Brown (said, I saw Miss Brown)
She had brown sugar (had brown sugar)
All over her booga-wooga (over her booga-wooga)
I think I might join the fun (think I might join the fun)
But I had to hit and run (had to hit and run)
See, I just can't settle down (just can't settle down)
In a kinky part of town
Ride on
Don't you know I've got to ride on
Ride on, see I just can't settle down (ride on)
Kinky reggae
Oh, kinky reggae now
Kinky reggae
Oh, kinky reggae now
Kinky reggae, all I've got to say
Kinky reggae now
Kinky reggae, do it up
Kinky reggae, now, ride on, now
Ride on
Ride on
Ride on, kinky reggae, ride on
Ey, I went down to Piccadilly Circus
Down there I saw Marcus
He had a candy tar
All over his chocolate bar
I think I might join the fun (I might join the fun)
But I had to hit and run (had to hit and run)
See I just can't settle down (just can't settle down)
In a kinky part of town
Nice one, that's what they say, nice one
But I'm leavin' you today (nice one)
Oh, darlin', please don't play (nice one) mama say, mama say
(Kinky reggae)
(Kinky reggae, now)
(Kinky reggae)
(Kinky reggae, now)
(Kinky reggae)
(Kinky reggae, now)
(Kinky reggae)
(Kinky reggae, now)
Eh, I want you to meet my brother Carlton over here
And I want you to meet Aston Barret
I said I want you to meet Aston Barret over here
And I want you to meet brother Al over there, on guitar
And I want you to meet brother Seeco
And I want you to meet brother Tyrone
Kinky reggae
Kinky reggae, now
Kinky reggae
Kinky reggae, now
Kinky reggae
Kinky reggae, now
Kinky reggae
Kinky reggae, now, nice one
Nice one
Nice one
Nice one, kinky reggae
You're such a nice, nice, nice, nice one, kinky (reggae)
I want you to meet my sisters (kinky reggae, now)
I want you to meet my sisters! (kinky reggae)
(Kinky reggae, now)
(Kinky reggae)
(Kinky reggae, now)
(Kinky reggae)
(Kinky reggae, now)
Now, you see that one over there?
Her name is sister Rita
And you see this sister here nearest to me?
Her name is sister Judy
And we get together and say
Kinky reggae, now
Kinky reggae
Kinky reggae, now
Kinky reggae
Kinky reggae, now
Kinky reggae
Kinky reggae, now
Ride on
Ride on
Ride on, kinky reggae
Ride on
Kinky reggae (my name is brought on back)
Kinky reggae now
Kinky reggae
Kinky reggae, now
Kinky reggae
Kinky reggae, now
Kinky reggae
Kinky reggae, now
Lyrics submitted by spliphstar
Kinky Reggae Lyrics as written by Bob Marley
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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i don't think this song has a sexual meaning. i mean, it could i guess, but kinky doesnt always mean sex. it means out of the ordinary. he just can't settle down in a kinky part of town where everyone is different and at the time, reggae music wasn't easily accepted by most. local djs put their lives and reputations in danger if they played marley on the radio just because he was a rasta. i think its a song about trying to be different and struggling with what the rest of society thinks about you.