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Uptown Top Ranking Lyrics

See me in me heels and ting
Dem check sey we hip and ting
True them no know and ting
We have them going and ting
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots

See me pon the road I hear you call out to me
True you see mi inna pants and ting
See mi in a 'alter back
Sey mi gi' you heart attack
Gimme likkle bass, make me wine up me waist
Uptown Top Ranking

See mi in mi Benz and ting
Drivin' through Constant Spring
Them check sey me come from cosmo spring
But a true dem no know and ting
Dem no know sey we top ranking
Uptown Top Ranking

Shoulda see me and the ranking dread
Check how we jamming and ting
Love is all I bring inna me khaki suit and ting
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots

Watch how we chuck it and ting
Inna we khaki suit and ting
Love is all I bring inna me khaki suit and ting
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots

Love inna you heart dis a bawl out fe me
When you see me inna pants and ting
See me inna 'alter back
Sey me gi' you heart attack
Gimme likkle bass, make me wine up me waist
Uptown Top Ranking

See mi pon the road and hear you call out to me
True you see me in me pants and ting
See me inna 'alter back
Sey me gi' you heart attack
Gimme likkle bass, make me wine up me waist
Gimme likkle bass, make me wine up me waist
Love is all I bring inna me khaki suit and ting
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots

You shoulda see me and the ranking dread,
Check how we jamming and ting
Love is all I bring inna me khaki suit and ting
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots
Nah pop no style, a strictly roots
Song Info
Copyright
Lyrics © Bmg Rights Management, Carlin America Inc
Writer
Althea Forrest, Donna Marie Reid, Errol Thompson
Duration
3:51
Producer
Joe Gibbs
Release date
Jan 01, 1977
Sentiment
Positive
Submitted by
milkbone On Jan 03, 2005
More Althea and Donna
Album art
Love One Another
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Cover art for Uptown Top Ranking lyrics by Althea and Donna

See me in my heels and things (or all, that, stuff, etc...) They look (and) say we're hip and all True, they don't know and all We've got them all excited and all No, pop isn't cool, I'm strictly into reggae No, pop isn't cool, I'm strictly into reggae

You see me on the road, I hear you call out to me True, you see me wearing pants and all See me in a halter top You say I give you a heart attack Play me a little base guitar, make me do a slow, sexy twist dance Uptown Top Ranking (Looking really good/top class)

See me in my Mercedes Benz and all Driving through the Constant Spring neighborhood of Kingston. Jamaica Those who check me out say I came from Cosmopolitan magazine's spring fashion pages But true, they don't know and all Those who don't know say we're top class Uptown Top Ranking (Looking really good)

You should see me and the most popular guy Check how we're dancing (getting down) and all Love is all I bring, in my khaki-colored leisure suit and all (a la Bob Marley) No, pop isn't cool, I'm strictly into reggae No, pop isn't cool, I'm strictly into reggae

Watch how we dance so energetically In our khaki suits and all Love is all I bring, in my khaki suit and all No, pop isn't cool, I'm strictly into reggae No, pop isn't cool, I'm strictly into reggae

Love in your heart screams out for me When you see me in pants and all See me in a halter top You say I give you a heart attack Play me a little base guitar, make me do a slow, sexy twist dance Uptown Top Ranking (Looking really good)

You see me on the road, I hear you call out to me True, you see me in my pants and all See me in a halter top You say I give you a heart attack Play me a little base guitar, make me do a slow, sexy twist dance Play me a little base guitar, make me do a slow, sexy twist dance Love is all I bring, in my khaki suit and all Pop isn't cool, I'm strictly into reggae Pop isn't cool, I'm strictly into reggae

You should see me and the most popular guy Check how we're dancing (getting down) and all Love is all I bring, in my khaki-colored suit and all No, pop isn't cool, I'm strictly into reggae No, pop isn't cool, I'm strictly into reggae

Translation

Thinking it over, "Gimme likkle bass" could mean "Give me a little stout-type beer brewed by the Britain-based Bass company and popular in Jamaica and other Caribbean islands of the British Commonwealth".

What would most likely make her do a slow, sexy, hip-winding dance? Bass beer or a bass guitar riff? Both? Your choice.

Also, by way of explanation, "ranking dread" refers to the alpha, most popular (ranking), dreadlock-wearing male (dread).

Except Bass, the beer, rhymes with er, ass, or class. Bass the sound rhymes with "ace!" or place.

Not sure a lass of such class would be seen drinking Bass.

Cover art for Uptown Top Ranking lyrics by Althea and Donna

whatever they're doing now, i'm sure they're still uptown top ranking. :)

Cover art for Uptown Top Ranking lyrics by Althea and Donna

I actually played the triangle for Althea & Donna in this song. It was easy! I just stood at the back and ting!

@Alimac81 ok, 5 years ago, but I have to say: totally underrated comment. LOL

Cover art for Uptown Top Ranking lyrics by Althea and Donna

I love this song. I wonder what they're doing now?

Dem strickly dressin inna dem khaki suit an ting...

Cover art for Uptown Top Ranking lyrics by Althea and Donna

gimme the cervaza?

Cover art for Uptown Top Ranking lyrics by Althea and Donna

Whatever!

Cover art for Uptown Top Ranking lyrics by Althea and Donna

The song skanks and I love the rhythm and rasta style of the two singers but the lyrics are sure stupid when you see them in print...

Cover art for Uptown Top Ranking lyrics by Althea and Donna

Whatever they're doing, it's probably not teaching English... from the looks of these gobbeldigook lyrics, I don't think either of the girls ever owned a dictionary!

what, i think they would make excellet english teachers. ;)

It's not English they're singing, it's patois.

Check it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaican_Patois

youaresowrong's observation is spot on!

I actually asked the owner of a Kingston record shop what the song was all about and he gave me a rough translation which made complete sense.

"See me in me heels and ting" is a reference to a woman going out all dressed to impress (high heels and things!). Similarly "see mi in a 'alter back, Sey mi gi' you heart attack" translates to "see me in a halter back (dress) will give you a heart attack!" (and so on).

Part of the allure of any popular record...

 
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