Help with Jamaican lingo used in reggae songs...

[Funky Punk]

This is probably dead obvious but could someone please explain for a non-Jamaican, who or what Bag-o-Wire (Bagga Wire?) is? I've heard the term in loads of songs but I've never thought to find out what it means.

Also, what exactly is a 'crocus bag'? A shopping bag? A cloth sack? A plastic carrier bag?

[Zionist]

See this thread on bag-o-wire - betrayer of Marcus Garvey

http://www.roots-archives.com/forum/rea ... 93,quote=1

Crocus bag is a burlap sack, often used to transport, um, natural products

[Funky Punk]

See this thread on bag-o-wire - betrayer of Marcus Garvey

http://www.roots-archives.com/forum/rea ... 93,quote=1

Crocus bag is a burlap sack, often used to transport, um, natural products

Thanks very much.

Heh, if crocus bags are often used to shift the weed around, it lends another (rather amusing) interpretation to Prince Far I's "Empty crocus bag, can't stand up!" line in 'Rain A Fall'...

[bwoyrough]

bag-o-wire is a betrayer as im sure that link must point out.
There was an excellent cut of that tune i think by dillinger. Lyrics something like:

Dem mek him burn bag-a-wire, them put him inna fire,
hotta hotta fire bag-a-wire burn in fire.
Dem make him burn bagawire

Anyone one the title of the tune and if it was on any dillinger albums or 12"s? it had some wicked thunder+clashes effects in it.
I think it was a toast over a dub version of Johnny Clarkes - Never love poor marcus.

Would love to get a 12" version of that tune.

[mr mountain]

burn bagawire i believe you can get it as a7" reissue.
"Empty crocus bag, can't stand up!" "Give I Some Food"
Love it.

[Klaus]

Horsemouth - Herb Vendor

"..steppin down the alley, with a crocus bag of collie, fi go check sister dolly, to test dis yah collie"

(from memory, i know thats not exactly right)

[Funky Punk]

So, what does 'It's sipple out there' (from Max Romeo's 'War Inna Babylon') actually mean?

I used to think he was singing 'it's simple out there' - but that doesn't make sense...

[Ruffa]

they discussed the word Sipple on a john peel show once when playing the song. I forget what they said it meant but i always took it to mean Ruff/Tuff/Hard etc. but unsure if this is correct.

[Ron]

From what I was told it meant something in the order of 'slippery'.

[Funky Punk]

From what I was told it meant something in the order of 'slippery'.

That doesn't really make much sense either...