Story of the Song: Khaki not just for 'schoolas'

Mel Cooke, Sunday Gleaner Writer

At this time of year, the back-to-school blues and anticipation are on and khaki sales - readymade or by the yard - are bound to be brisk. It is not only the 'schoolas' who wear khaki but also some Rastafarians and, as it deals with fashion at many levels, Jamaican music has looked at khaki for the schoolchildren as well as Rastafarians.

Among the songs with khaki on the 'schoolas' side are Supercat's Cry Fi Di Youth and the Jr Gong's, Bounty Killer's and Eek-A-Mouse's combination Khaki Suit. And on the Rastafarian side of Jamaican music's look at khaki are Junior Kelly with Deeper and Sizzla's Karate.

Supercat did Cry Fi Di Youth in the mid-1980s, expressing his compassion for the youngsters. He deejays:

"Mi nuh holla fi supe

Mi nuh holla fi dupe

Mi nuh holla fi Matthew, Mark, neither Luke

Mi nuh cry fi nuh dignitary or nuh big supe

Mi nuh cry fi nuh guy inna nuh tree-piece suit

Mi nuh cry fi nuh man inna nuh criss Clarks boot

But mi wi cry, mi wi cry fi de yute."

He goes on to list the reasons why he will mourn the youngsters, which is where he uses khaki to identify their age and school status:

"Yes mi haffi cry fi de yute inna de khaki suit

Whe cyaa go to school widdout a criss pair a boot."

In Khaki Suit, on the other hand, in the opening lines, Damian 'Jr Gong' Marley bridges the two most prominent uses of the material, as both Rastafari and alignment with a particular school. After Bounty Killer's introduction, he deejays:

"Well a me name Junior Gong, look how me natty tan

Who nuh know mi from dem see mi, mi a living topanar

Say Clarkie boot and khaki suit yu tink mi go a Calabar ..."

On the strictly Rastafarian side of wearing khaki, Sizzla and Junior Kelly have distinctively different takes on the garb. While Sizzla is militant in Karate, Junior Kelly questions those who would take their faith only to the level of clothing.

Sizzla's intention is clear. On an uptempo dancehall rhythm, he barks, "mi fia bun de whole a dem, me naa beg nuh fren from none a dem". Then he rasps in the refrain:

"Dem get me wrathed

Slew dem wid karate

Praise King Selassie him a de ancient monarchy

Now dem get me wrathed

Slew dem wid karate

Wrath wid mi sword an mi full suit a khaki"

Junior Kelly utilises a roots-reggae rhythm on Deeper,

"I watching them

Is like they changing everything that Rasta is all about"

Then he sings:

"Deeper Rasta should be deeper

You must care about the people

Deeper Rasta should be deeper

I am my brother's keeper

Deeper Rasta should be deeper

Than to wear khaki and turban every day ..."