I’ve long held that Early B is one of the best lyricists of Jamaican Deejaying, here I think is ample illustration of just why!
If you’re not sure, check how he rides the rhythm on this tune!
EARLY B – GET INNA THE ARMY
Yeah, Lord, Mi Get In A Dee Army
Early B Gone In A Dee Army
Hear Mi Now
Mi Get In A Dee Army
Mi Say Mi Stay A Mi Yard Mi Make an Application
Fi Join Up The Army As A Militant Man
Mi Get A Reply From The Training Sargent
Say Fi Pack up Mi Grip? and Come June Twenty One
Mi Say Goodbye To My Kids and Woman
Mi Carry Two dozen Brief and mi say Six Long John
Say Up A Newcastle mi say in the Wood(?) Land
The Way the Place Cold It Come Like England
Two Shirt Two Pants and Gloves Pon Mi Hand
And Every Morning You Hear the Training Sargent
Im’ Say Three Mile A Run In A Dee Open Land
Some Time A Green Bay fi Practice Session
Mi Helmet Pon Mi Head Mi S.L.R In A Mi Hand
Six Weeks A Mah Need Dat a Down A St. Anne
The Passing Out Parade Up A Up Park Camp
Ca’ Mi Gone In A Dee Army
Early B Gone In A Dee Army
Well Hear Mi Now
True Mi A Big Superstar Mi In A One J.R.
A S.M.G. And a S.L.R
A ‘Matic Pon Mi Hip and A O-fficial Car
Mi Don’t Come A Road Unless Them Bruk Big War
Mi Fire My Gun Like A Falling Star
Say One Mile Away Shoot Out You Cigar
A Shoot Out The Tyres Of a Speeding Car
When I Say Don’t Move Say Stand As You Are
I’ll Shoot Dem From Near And I Will Shoot Dem From Far
When They Send Mi Pon A Mission Down A Sav’ A’ La Mar
Fi Look Fi A Man Wheh Have A Big Scar
Mi Sight Up The Guy Leaning Right ‘Gainst A Bar
Him Sight The Licence Plate Marked One J.R.
Him Take Away ‘Im ‘Matic From ‘Im Round Faced Bar
‘Im Lick Three Piece But ‘Im Never Reach Far
Mi Lick Sixteen Piece And Mi Come Outta Mi Car
Mi Empty Mi Automatic Chamber Bar
Ca’ Mi Get In A Dee Army
Early B Gone In A Dee Army
Well Hear Mi Now
Mi Affi ‘Elp Serve Mi Country
Mi Say mi Gone In A Dee Army
R-R-R-Ribby Bong
Mi Say Full Suit A Green A When Mi Drop Pon The Scene
Mi ‘Av a Smile Pon Mi Face Mi No Act Too Mean
Ca’ Mi Gone In A Dee Army
Lord… Say Mi Get In A Dee Army
Well Hear Mi Now
Say Mi Stay A Mi Yard Mi Make an Application
Fi Join Up The Army As A Militant Man
Mi Get A Reply From The Training Sargent
Say Fi Pack up Mi Grip and Come June Twenty One
Mi Say Goodbye To My Kids and Woman
Mi Carry Two Dozen Brief And Mi Say Six Long John
Say Up A Newcastle mi say in the Wood(?) Land
The Way the Place Cold It Come Like England
Two Shirt Two Pants and Gloves Pon Mi Hand
And Every Morning You Hear the Training Sargeant
Im’ Say Three Mile A Run In A Dee Open Land
Some Time A Green Bay fi Practice Session
Ca’ Gone In A Dee Army
Ah With Mi Helmet Pon Mi Head An Mi S.L.R In A Mi Hand
Six Weeks A Mah Need Dat a Down A St. Anne
The Passing Out Parade Up A Up Park Camp
Say Mi Mother Baby Mother Wan Mi Ten Other Gal
A Watch Early B Big Big O-ficcial
True Mi A Big Superstar Mi In A One J.R.
With Mi S.M.G Mi Get A S.L.R.
With A ‘Matic Pon Mi Hip and An O’ficcial Car
Yeah..
Serve Mi Country
Be’Cause Mi Gone In A Dee Army
(Transcribed by Mike Murphy June 2010)
Michael Cullen Murphy 