Chantells - Baby Mother - Lyrics and meaning?

[Balughetto]

Here is a link to the song + version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFLA0zkZcMU

Here is my attempt at the lyrics for this song (interrogation marks when i couldnt understand what was said)

Baby mothers a ???
Baby mothers them a ???

Some say puppa gone? (them no know we)
Some say puppa hiding
Some say puppa find himself
down in a penitentiary cell

some down here for lootin (ah so dem say)
some down here for shooting (with intent)
some down here for top ranking
some down here for raping?

Whyyy, you no hear, them a ball??? (baby mother)
(repeat chorus)

some down here for lootin (ah so dem say)
some down here for shooting (with intent)
some down here for top ranking
some down here for raping?

some say .... ?? (ah no true)
some say johnny a go lose him head

Whyyy, you no hear, you no hear (baby mother)
(repeat chorus)


A few questions then:

Who was "puppa"? is it a nickname for sam bramwell (lead singer)? Or is it refering to someone else?
Why is the song titled baby mothers? whats the chorus about? i dont understand "them a bal"
Johnny a go lose his head -> refering to anything in particular?

Hopefully someone will be able to guide and correct me. And share yet another soulful production by Mr Leonard Dillon.

[flashman]

A baby mother is just the mother of a baby, or child. Puppa refers to papa or father.
Baby mothers a bawl = baby mothers are crying.

The song is about mothers with children and the father is absent due to any of the reasons listed in the lyrics. It's a lament for the poor mothers where the father is no good, getting into trouble and not helping out as a father to the child.

Nice tune. I hadn't heard it before.

[Balughetto]

Makes much more sense now. Sorry if it seems self explanatory to some.

Thank you for your help and I am glad you liked the song.

[kalcidis]

Fantastic song that I've never heard before. Thanks for sharing. Heartfelt vocals and lyrics.

[jumbo]

yep nice song. Not really about 'bad fathers' but more about the situation that women cry because their partners are in jail.


some additions:

- Some say pupa gone, them no know where

- of course it is down there ( in jail) not down here

i - don' t hear top ranking, i think he sings :
some down there for shop breaking

- and he says: some say 10 cents can' t buy bread
some say johnny a go lose him head.

meaning that the terrible economical situation for poor Jamaicans is the cause of all this hardship. making suffers lose their head, commit a crime and end up in Jail.

[kalcidis]

I especially like how he sings »Some say 10 cents can't buy bread. And a true!«

I need to get this single. Thanks again.

[flashman]

Thanks for the correction/addition of nuance Jumbo. Makes it more interesting as well as heartfelt.

[Balughetto]

Those are the little details i came looking for! Thanks everyone for your precisions.

Do you guys know much about the Chantells? I find it interesting that they seem to have been somewhat tough guys, given how they ended, yet their music is always so soulful. Would love to hear stories or anectodes about them if anybody got some.