Roots Archives Forum

Funky Punk wrote:

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

Sure it could. When it's slippery you have to be careful not to slip and fall. "Caution" by the Wailers, and "Oh, Mr. DC" by Sugar Minott both use the slip/slide metaphor to depict a difficult or precarious path in life. You know, like a War Inna Babylon.

DB

Just googled both words: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=sipple

(Don't believe everything that is written on the net though)

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

Definitely means "slippery". Max explains this in, I am pretty sure, Dave Katz's "People Funny Boy" book.

yeh i just had it confirmed it defintely means slippery but also 'Deadly+Dangerous'

Quote:

"Sipple" means 'slippery' literaly, then used to mean 'dangerous' and 'deadly'.

One more for the people who know these things:

Who or what is 'Chicken Merry' (Chicken Mary?)?

Seems to be a warning sign.
Could be the name of a woman known for her Obeah / "Black Magic"

"Chicken merry, hawk is near", general warning to be on the lookout for trouble even when you're having a good time. Not the happiest of proverbs but I think that's what it means.

From:
http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sq ... fixb9rld6e

"Regardless, "Candle" was a masterful number, and to a certain extent reflected Perry's own interest in the darker arts of Obeah. Graham, himself, took the opposite stance, warning away the witchy Chicken Mary."

Return of Jesco wrote:"Chicken merry, hawk is near", general warning to be on the lookout for trouble even when you're having a good time. Not the happiest of proverbs but I think that's what it means.

Yes. (The) chickens (are) merry (happy/relaxed)
but they should be on the alert because a hawk is never far.

"Mr T."

Like when Hoursemouth adresses Honiball as "Mr T." in Rockers

Ive heard this term in some reggae songs but not sure what it means or refernces to? anyone?