Cockney Translation Lyrics

[Verse 2]
Well watch a man...
The translation of cockney to understand is easy
So long as you don't deaf and you listen me keenly
You should pick it up likea youth who find some money
Go tell it to your friends, also your family
No matter if a English or a yardie
Ca' you never when them might buck up a cockney
Remember warm dem dem deh man dem don't easy
Dem no fire sling shot ah, mi say strictly double B
Dem run protection racket and control 'nuff C.I.D
Say cockney fire shooter, we bus' gun
Say cockney say tea leaf, we say sticks man
You know dem have wedge while we have corn
Say cockney say be first, my son! We just say Gwan!
Say cockney say grass, we say outformer man
When dem talk 'bout iron dem really mean batty man
Rope chain and choparita, me say cockney call Tom
Say cockney say Old Bill, we say dutty Babylon

[Chorus]
Inna di Cockney Translation
Inna di Cockney Translation

[Interlude]
Well watch a man...
Slam bam
Jah man
Hear dam
Fashion
Smiley
Culture
Origination
[Verse 3]
But first let me tell you more about the cockney
Who live comfortably and have them yacht by the sea
And when it come to money most of then have plenty
But where them spend it? In thee bookie
Lose it all on the dogs or on the gee gees

Or paying off them bribes to the Sweeney
So dem nah go do no time fi no armed robbery

Or catching anything that fell off the back of a lorry

[Interlude]
Slam bam
Jah man
Hear dem
Fashion
Me strong
Me long
Me at the mike stand
More time
Inna dance
Me chat
'Pon a sound

[Verse 4]
But sometimes me shake out and leave me home town
And that's when me travel a East London
Where I have to speak as a different man
So that the cockney can understand
So black man and white man hear dem fashion
Cockney say scarper, we say scatter
Cockney say rabbit, we chatter
We say bleach, Cockney Knackered!
Cockney say triffic, we say waaacked!
Cockney say blokes, we say guys
Cockney say Alright? We say Ites!
We say pants, Cockney say strides
Sweet as a nut, just level vibes
Seen?

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About

Genius Annotation

This song was released during a time when racial tension was a problem in the uk, especially with the police. Released in 1984, it was a few years after the Brixton riots which where sparked by anger towards authorities due to racist and violent police.

This single was important as part of a wave of new reggae music and soundsystem culture in the uk which included artists like Tippa Irie, who was also part of the Saxon Soundsystem posse. The song became a hit and is one of the uk rap classics, along with Smiley’s other songs, like ‘Police Officer’.

The song is about different cultures and races living together in London, and how they come together to form modern UK culture. It analyses the language that British-Jamaicans and Cockneys use.

In March 2011, Smiley Culture died in a police raid in his home.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

Credits
Release Date
1984
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