Heavy Manners

[davek]

This song has come up twice in a week on this board, maybe it's a sign that it needs to be re-issued :^)

http://www.roots-archives.com/forum/rea ... #msg-85044

[6anbatte]

Lyrics (and more info) courtesy of Rob Strictly-Rockers from another thread relating to said song;

**["The Message"](http://www.roots-archives.com/forum/rea ... #msg-34915)**

[Klaus5]

What exactly does the phrase mean? Ive heard it in quite a few dj style tracks. "Under heavy heavy manners, under heavy heavy discipline" etc

[selecta bing]

It refers to the crack down on crime & violence,
(similar to martial law), during the elections.

[JoLong]

heavy manners (strict discipline) is the name Manley gave to his program to curb crime in the early 70's - a reaction to the increasing violence (guns etc).

prince far i used it for a tune, so did Joe Gibbs for a dub LP. But the Message is pure propaganda s..t, man. Who need a repress of it ? Easy to find in original press, furthermore.

[ROAR]

Propaganda doesn't imply wickedness- look it up. The PNP were fighting against Seaga & the CIA and for poor peoples rights. Talk to some older Cubans & Jamaicans before making such a rash judgement. The Message is dealing with basic human rights as opposed to international corporate cartels looking to rape Jamaican resources. Big tune important Message.

[JoLong]

No need to give me any lesson, my friend. This tune deals with hatred and power - can't be interesting unless you are a politician.

[ROAR]

I'm interested from a historical persepective and the song does sound inspired.

[davek]

I know the song well, and I don't hear any "hatred" in it. Where is it? Yes, it was geared for an election, but it's a pretty accurate description of some of the People National Party's many accomplishments at a time when Jamaica was finding it's own way in a post-colonial world. Like him or hate him, Manley had a lot of guts to face-off against the multi-nationals looking to economically rape Jamaica.

[JoLong]

yeah, historical interest, no doubt bout that - a "socialist" tune so, indeed, closer to the values Manley said he would stand for in the early 70's (and probably to the rasta ones). I think Manley was gueniune and wishful thinking... He was like a fiery politician who wanted to stand for justice and blah blah. He did it without any conscience of what was going to happen. Civil war almost broke in Jamaica. The socialist dream turned into the poor people worst nightmare (and this kind of tunes played their part). When Manley came back to power in the late 80's, he said : socialism is dead.

So sometimes, what you call gutts is pure (and f..ing dangerous) foolishness.