Judge Dread Songtext

von Prince Buster

"Order, now my court is in session, will you please stand?
First, allow me to introduce myself, my name is Judge Hundred-Years
Some people call me Judge Dread
Now, I have come here to whoop you, to try all you rudeboys
For shooting black people
In my court only we talk, cause I'm vexed, and I am the rudeboy today
?"

"Yes, sir"

"Rudeboy Adolfus James?"

"Yes, sir"

"Rudeboy Emmanuel Zechariah Zechipaul?"

"Present"

"George Grabandflee?"

"Present"

"Hmm... Adolfus James, I see here you have been charged with
Ten shooting attempts
Five murder charge
Six grab and flee charge"

"But your honor, I didn't--"

"--Hush up! Guilty or not guilty?"

"Not guilty, sir"

"I don't care what you say, take four hundred years. Stand down
Emmanuel Zechariah Zechipaul?"

"Yes, sir?"

"You've been charged with fifteen charge of shooting attempts
Fifteen murder charge
And I heard that you was the one there on Sutton Street
Who tell the judge, 'Rudeboys don't care'
Well, this is King Street, and my name is Judge Dread, and I don't care
Now take four hundred years"

"But ya don't know what I would say, your good honor--"

"--Hush up! What you trying to do, shoot me, too?"

"No, your honor, but I--"

"Quiet! Four hundred more years for you!... George Grabandflee?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Stop your crying, rudeboys don't cry, that's what I hear"

"But I didn't do that, dem frame me, and I don't deserve that--"

"--I don't care, hush up! This is my court!
You're charged for robbing school-children
Rob with aggravation..."

"Hush up, order!
Adolfus James?"

"Yes sir?"

"You rob school-children
You? the people's house
You shot black people"

"But your honor, I didn't--"

"--Hush up! Just for talking, I now charge you for contempt, and that
Is a separate hundred years
I hereby sentence you to four hundred years"

"I said hush up, hush up!
You're sentenced to four hundred years and five hundred lashes
I am going to set an example, I--rudeboys don't cry, don't cry!
When I was in harbor, I hear you were tough. Court adjourned, take them away!"