Don't Worry Desmond Dekker

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?)

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.