When you’re a kid, you’re naive enough to think that a song’s sole purpose is for listening enjoyment. That’s 100% false. Every (yes, every) song has a deeper meaning.
The 1993 reggae masterpiece, Informer by Snow, spent seven consecutive weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100. Most people believe that the song is a reference to Canadian’s Darrin Kenneth O’Brien’s (yep, that’s Snow’s real name) 1988 attempted murder charge. The song is about guns, water guns. Informer recounts an epic 1979 water gun fight Darrin and his friends had during the one week of Canadian summer.
The next time you’re easily singing to this gem, swap out the lyrics with their meaning (bolded).
What’s up man! Hey yo what’s up!
Hi. Do you want to play capture the flag with water guns?
Yeah what’s goin’ on here.
Of course!
Sick an’ tired of five-oh runnin’ up on the block here.
My Super Soaker 50 doesn’t hold enough water
You know what I’m sayin’?
Do you run out of water during water gun fights too?
Yo Snow, they came around here lookin’ for you the other day. Word? Word! Bust it!
I heard they’re making a Super Soaker 300, but it’s really heavy
Informer, you no say Daddy me Snow me I’ll go blame,
My team keeps blaming for losing the water gun fight
A licky Boom Boom Down.
But it’s not my fault
Detective mon said Daddy me Snow me stab someone down the lane,
Billy said I can’t keep going into his mom’s house to fill up my Super Soaker 50
A licky Boom Boom Down.
I have to use the hose (just because they’re the same words, doesn’t mean they have the same meaning)
Informer, you no say Daddy me Snow me I’ll go blame,
But, I got shot when I was filling up at the hose!
A licky Boom Boom Down.
Billy’s never going to invite me back to his house
Detective mon said Daddy me Snow me stab someone down the lane,
They’re all talking about how much I stink at water guns
A licky Boom Boom Down.
I hate my life
Police them come an’ now they blow down me door,
Jimmy had to go home early, so he gave me his water gun, so now I have two
One him come crawl through, through my window,
I see one sneaking in through the basement window
So then they put me in the back the car at the station,
Now that I have two guns and shot one, I’m in Billy’s good graces
From that point on me reach my destination,
On to capture the opposition’s flag
When the destination reached, it was the east detention, where them
Victory is in sight!
Whipped down me pants, looked up me bottom, so
(didn’t remember this line from the song)
Informer, you no say Daddy me Snow me I’ll go blame,
Oh no! Jimmy’s water gun sprung a leak, now I’m back to one
A licky Boom Boom Down.
Back to low man on the totem pole
Detective mon said Daddy me Snow me stab someone down the lane,
Billy made me retreat back to guarding our flag
A licky Boom Boom Down.
No action over here
Informer, you no say Daddy me Snow me I’ll go blame,
I got flanked and gave up our flag
A licky Boom Boom Down.
Calling mom to pick me up early
Detective mon said Daddy me Snow me stab someone down the lane,
Mom asked how was Billy’s house
A licky Boom Boom Down.
We have to move
Leave a Reply