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Ackee 1-2-3 Lyrics
Cross your fingers say you’re on high
Pretend you’re in den and see what life brings
But always taking things as they come
Tends to make you forget to put anything in
The longer you dwell
The more it’s like hell
You sit by the well
Just making a wish
It would be a shame
To take too much blame
Look we’re all the same
It’s only a game
Ackee 1 2 3
Ackee 1 2 1 2 3
Did I just catch you laughing
Ackee 1 2 3
Ackee 1 2 1 2 3
Forward where the knocks are hardest
Some to failure some to fame
Never mind the cheers or hooting
Keep your head and play the game
Try to keep your feet on the ground
Without getting them stuck in the mud
You will soon be over the moon
Or twice as hot as the sun
Ackee 1 2 3
Ackee 1 2 1 2 3
Did I just catch you laughing
Ackee 1 2 3
Ackee 1 2 1 2 3
So cross your fingers say you’re on high
Pretend your in den and see what life brings
But all this taking things as they come
Tends to make you forget to put anything in
The longer you dwell
The more it’s like hell
You sit by the well
Just making a wish
To make it plain
I’ll say it again
We’re all the same
It’s only a game
Ackee 1 2 3
Ackee 1 2 1 2 3
Did I just catch you laughing
Ackee 1 2 3
Ackee 1 2 1 2 3
Someone just smiled for no special reason
It looks like the smile’s come back into season
It’s so easy
It doesn’t have to be a nice day
Just the only one you’ve got and it’s coming ready or not
Ackee 1 2 1 2 3
Ackee 1 2 1 2 3
Pretend you’re in den and see what life brings
But always taking things as they come
Tends to make you forget to put anything in
The longer you dwell
The more it’s like hell
You sit by the well
Just making a wish
It would be a shame
To take too much blame
Look we’re all the same
It’s only a game
Ackee 1 2 1 2 3
Did I just catch you laughing
Ackee 1 2 3
Ackee 1 2 1 2 3
Some to failure some to fame
Never mind the cheers or hooting
Keep your head and play the game
Try to keep your feet on the ground
Without getting them stuck in the mud
You will soon be over the moon
Or twice as hot as the sun
Ackee 1 2 1 2 3
Did I just catch you laughing
Ackee 1 2 3
Ackee 1 2 1 2 3
Pretend your in den and see what life brings
But all this taking things as they come
Tends to make you forget to put anything in
The longer you dwell
The more it’s like hell
You sit by the well
Just making a wish
To make it plain
I’ll say it again
We’re all the same
It’s only a game
Ackee 1 2 1 2 3
Did I just catch you laughing
Ackee 1 2 3
Ackee 1 2 1 2 3
It looks like the smile’s come back into season
It’s so easy
It doesn’t have to be a nice day
Just the only one you’ve got and it’s coming ready or not
Ackee 1 2 1 2 3
Song Info
Submitted by
planetearth On Jan 16, 2005
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I love the beat and melody of this song; it always gets me going. And it seems like that's sort of the message of the lyrics, too. Life's a game; we're all the same. If you just "take things as they come" in life, then you're not actually contributing anything to this world, for other people to experience and take as THEY come. Don't sit and dwell on the negatives, just keep your head and play the game. Keep yourself grounded without getting stuck in the mud, and you'll succeed. Keep a smile on your face, and take the good days with the bad, because the day is coming, ready or not.
I have no clue what the words "Ackee 1-2-3" mean, though. Any insight into that? Sounds like some sort of children's game?
This song always cheers me up whenever I get down. It makes me laugh.
Ackee means "here" in Spanish, but I have no idea where 1-2-3 comes from.
@ HoboSpartan7:
Ackee is NOT the Spanish word for here. Although it sounds the same, "Aqui" is the word you are referring to.
The Ackee is a fruit-bearing tree, indiginous to Western Africa. The fruits can be eaten after careful processing, and are popular in many Caribbean cuisines.
What does this have to do with the song? No idea...
My guess is it's either entirely made up, or is a not-so-well known children's game.
yea the Ackee is a fruit - brought over from Africa to the Caribean Islands during slave trading. It is actually a very popular (if not the island fruit) of Hatii, Jamacia, Barbados, etc.
yea the Ackee is a fruit - brought over from Africa to the Caribean Islands during slave trading. It is actually a very popular (if not the island fruit) of Hatii, Jamacia, Barbados, etc.
The song seems to obviously have that Ska / Ragae beat to is from the Caribbean culture. I'm not sure why they would say "ackee 1 2 3" - could be a cultural thing down there.
The song seems to obviously have that Ska / Ragae beat to is from the Caribbean culture. I'm not sure why they would say "ackee 1 2 3" - could be a cultural thing down there.
I'll try to find out when I go see the beat in a couple days
I'll try to find out when I go see the beat in a couple days
does anybody know why they dont sing this song at their concerts? is it a copyright thing - david wakeling unable to sing it?
does anybody know why they dont sing this song at their concerts? is it a copyright thing - david wakeling unable to sing it?
what a shame
what a shame
"Ackee 123" is part of the game of tiggy, or tag, as played in Birmingham - as is the "den". Having only lived in Brum as an adult, I'm not sure which person shouts it.
My guess is that it's the catcher who shouts "Ackee 123" when he finds a runner, and then the runner has got to get back to the den - which would make sense as a metaphor, since the song is about hiding from some sort of uncomfortable truth.
Forward where the knocks are hardest Some to failure some to fame Never mind the cheers or hooting Keep your head and play the game
This is taken from the school song of King Edward's School Birmingham, the big private school in the area. I don't know what connection any of the band had to that school, if any, but that's where it comes from. Used ironically I would guess
Ackee is a game of tag with a home base (safe place). If you can get to the base without being tagged, you yell "Ackee 123."
https://www.facebook.com/PlayinBromsgrove/posts/153899754726533
Ackee 123 was the Birmingham version of Hide & Seek. The objective for the 'hiders' was to get back to the 'Ackee Post' (usually a tree or a lamp post) and shout 'Ackee 123' before the seeker got there. Previous comment about verse 2 lyrics are partly correct. They are from the school song of King Edward VI Camp Hill School in Birmingham. That's where Dave Wakeling went to school (I was 2 years below him). Camp Hill was (and still is) a state grammar school, not an independent school. As part of the same foundation of school, the song is used by a number of the schools, including the independent King Edwards School.