Michael Johnson is the Jamaican dancehall dj (rapper) by the name of Lord Sassafrass, who is well known for his work on Black Scorpio Sound System. Early 1970s dancehall lyrics led Sassafrass into the direction of his favored activity in life - horse racing. Crowds loved his references to great Jamaican race horses and jockeys. Reaching for more lyrics, Sassafrass chose a topic from his childhood - Obeah. Obeah lyrics worked quite well in the dancehall and brought a level of forbidden thrill. Soon, fellow toasters like Nicodemus, Supercat, Red Dragon, and Yellowman would mention Lord Sassafrass in their recorded lyrics as being "The Obeahman." Sassafrass was very popular in this period and earned respect in the dancehall.
Sassafrass started to dj on Miss Mary Sound in Marvelley, Jamaica at age 16 in 1970. Sassafrass first integrated Obeah lyrics into his live dancehall performances while working on Soul Expert Sound in Patrick City. Soul Expert was a sound that played approximately three quarters Soul music and one-fourth Reggae.
In 2017, Lord Sassafrass was in his hometown of Marvelley, Jamaica with his two sisters Jackie and Paulette. The three discussed Michael's work as a dancehall toaster and his reputation as The Obeahman. Sassafrass' very first Obeah lyrics were created for toasting on a tune called "Troja." "Troja" is a song based on a true incident where a group of church goers were traveling by bus to the country and the bus crashed. Sassfrass commented, "That is my first Obeah lyrics. That one lickle lyric started it all. In my lyrics "Troja," it's a group of church people that are traveling to Troja in Jamaica." The lyrics as recited by Sassafrass are,
We went to Troja, to buy Obeah,
And the Minivan tun over (The minivan crashed and turned upside down).
So ya no buy Obeah (Once again, something bad happens and Obeah is to blame),
So ya no buy Obeah,
But mi love Missa Gray Sonia
Sassafrass explains the lyrics, "This was a news, A real event. When the group went to country and the minivan turn over, everyone say it because they seek Obeah. At the end, the comment on 'Missa Gray Sonia ' is a man's daughter that the person wants to tie or have the Obeahman set a love potion number nine." To "tie" is to make someone love another person through an Obeah practice and be unable to leave that person.
Sassafrass' sisters laugh and add commentary in the background of our phone conversation. Some comments are pure merriment, but other comments are adjustments to the meaning of what is being discussed - classifying the specific topic to be interpreted as humor or as serious.
Sassafrass continues to discuss "Troja," "In the ghetto, anytime something bad happen, people say it happen because of Obeah. When ya walk, ya toe buck (trip or stumble), an' yu get cut. People say that happen because of Obeah.
So in the dance, when I chat those lyrics, people love it! They say, 'The dj a talk reality man!'" Sassafrass' sisters add, "Any time you talk good things in the dance, they say the dj see far or see things from a great distance."
Sassafrass continues, "Some people don't like it. The Rastaman bun that type of lyric. Mi no dj everything everyone like - you must have opposition." Sassa chuckled and said, "Donkey say the world no level. This means, not everyone will have the path they prefer all the time."
When asked about any issues that may have arisen by speaking about a topic which is often considered taboo, Sassfrass responded, "Inna real life mi no inna Obeah thing. I use the lyrics to hold the people in the dance. As a dj, you must come in with your own program."
Sassafrass' namesake lyric is a tune that he never recorded onto vinyl. This song is titled "Obeahman" and the lyrics are,
Obeahman, mi ah de Obeahman,
Obeahman, mi ah de Obeahman.
The mic inna mi hand is like a magic wand.
Mi just a chant two psalms and sing dis song.
Ac aca ca ca dab - cadabra,
Inna hippopotamus mi ah go turn Yellowman.
Sassafrass describes these lyrics as being used by many other djs after he introduced the lyrics. It was used when the djs would chat (dj) about Obeah. Sassafrass would often sing this song in combination with General Trees. Sassafrass once used the song to battle fellow dancehall dj Yellowman. Sassfrass explains, "The abracadabra piece is like a Genie. I turn Yellow into a Hippo! When Yellow hear this him say, 'Mi no want Sassafrass, ca him wuk Obeah.' When Nicodemus hear me, he say, 'Sassafrass keeping a dance before God a come. No want Sassafrass cuz Obeah him bring down.' In those days all a we get along."
Another Obeah lyric is called "Isle of Fire,"
Oil a catch me,
Oil ah mek yu tan.
Oil ah run way your wife,
Run way your husband.
Sassfrass' sisters explain, "This is a song to tie or reject a lover. Obeah is not 100 percent fear, some believe in the badness and some believe in cure. Like the song Louise Bennett have dialect called 'Obeah Win the War.' That dialect talk bout, 'Nigga duppy inna submarine. A little Obeah can save them - can settle Hitler.'"
After the release of his song "Pocomania Jump," Sassafrass received increased attention. Sassafrass describes his song, "In Poco Church a Obeah them a work - they speak in tongues. So in my song I have the part that say 'Hemme, Hemme' (Sassafrass sings in a guttural tone)." "Pocomania Jump" went to number one on the Jamaican music charts. The popularity of this song further galvanized Sassafrass' reputation as being connected with Obeah, especially because Sassa was was featured on the cover dressed in robes and a turbin as if he was an Obeahman. After "Pocomania Jump" hit the charts, he received a phone call. Sassfrass describes the call, "An old lady called me saying that she have body cramp from morning. She listen to 'Poco Jump' and her body revive. The song ah wet up them in them system. Seaga even use 'Pocomania Jump' in the election to get elected. Everyone say that a Laborite (Jamaican Labor Party - JLP) song. I used those 'Poco Jump' lyrics in the dancehall before I record the song. In the dance, everybody get the spirit."
Sassafrass and his sisters make the point that they laugh at the people who are afraid of ghosts or duppies. Later, they engage in a discussion about late night walks in Jamaica when there is no light. The discussion involved a process for protection from duppies, "Take up stone, spit on stone, throw it behind, and keep a straight course." Sassafrass restates that he does not believe in Obeah.
Sassafrass was asked about his earliest memories of Obeah. As a youth, he was very aware that when something bad would happen, Obeah would be identified as the cause. Sassafrass provides examples, "When I was very young, if we saw someone walk with sore foot and it take long to heal, it Obeah. If someone could not speak, people would say that a duppy box that one an' he can't talk."
"My Granny told me about these things when I was young. My Granny was the woman on the cover of my 'Pocomania Jump' album on Black Scorpio Records. Her name was Adela Dixon, but we call her Grandin. My Granny have a bedtime story about duppy when I was young. I make a lyric about this story that General Trees and me woulda use I the dancehall. I would start with,"
My Granny is the nicest Granny
My granny take care of me
My granny superstitious
She make me laugh
She say its bad luck when a black cat cross your path
(then, Trees would come in an' say in a scary voice....)
Teeth like these longer that these?
Ever see duppy eat rice and peas?
"Those lyrics would tear up the dancehall man! Trees is the best!
My Granny also would tell me a story about 'Old Knock,' which is a duppy story about a duppy in a big house. The house was old and empty. A man go into the house to sleep and hides under a bed. The house if full of duppy. The duppy Knock had a wooden foot and that why they call him 'Old Knock.' The man hear Old Knock walking on the wood floor and many other duppies join Knock The duppies all drink liquor and talk while the man hides. A duppy offers Old Knock a drink. In a very nasal voice, a duppy says 'Time and time again, Old Knock never refuse a drink.' The old man comes out from under the bed. All the duppy run, but old knock cannot run cuz him a one foot and his shirt hitch up on the bedpost. Knock say, 'Who holding me? Lete (sic) me go! Who hold me man?'"
"Fom that day we call our grandma Old Knock. Ca she cant eat certain food like Old Knock, so we say,'"told Knock you want a drink?'"
"After I do 'Pocomania Jump' and the song 'Kumina To Kumina,' the police raid a Obeah yard. This was a place where the person read up or read people palm and tell their future. In the house, the Police they find names on a piece of paper and they say they find the name Michael Johnson on it. That what my name is and people say I must be a real Obeahman. That's how the ghetto run. A candle, a tent, a drum, and glass - that how them make money. The whole thing is superstition."
Sources:
Group Interview with Michael Johnson (Lord Sassafrass) and his two sisters Jackie Johnson and Paulette Johnson. Interview by Author via telephone to Marverly, Jamaica. 14, April, 2017.
Rich Lowe, Jamaica Way, 2018
Sassafrass started to dj on Miss Mary Sound in Marvelley, Jamaica at age 16 in 1970. Sassafrass first integrated Obeah lyrics into his live dancehall performances while working on Soul Expert Sound in Patrick City. Soul Expert was a sound that played approximately three quarters Soul music and one-fourth Reggae.
In 2017, Lord Sassafrass was in his hometown of Marvelley, Jamaica with his two sisters Jackie and Paulette. The three discussed Michael's work as a dancehall toaster and his reputation as The Obeahman. Sassafrass' very first Obeah lyrics were created for toasting on a tune called "Troja." "Troja" is a song based on a true incident where a group of church goers were traveling by bus to the country and the bus crashed. Sassfrass commented, "That is my first Obeah lyrics. That one lickle lyric started it all. In my lyrics "Troja," it's a group of church people that are traveling to Troja in Jamaica." The lyrics as recited by Sassafrass are,
We went to Troja, to buy Obeah,
And the Minivan tun over (The minivan crashed and turned upside down).
So ya no buy Obeah (Once again, something bad happens and Obeah is to blame),
So ya no buy Obeah,
But mi love Missa Gray Sonia
Sassafrass explains the lyrics, "This was a news, A real event. When the group went to country and the minivan turn over, everyone say it because they seek Obeah. At the end, the comment on 'Missa Gray Sonia ' is a man's daughter that the person wants to tie or have the Obeahman set a love potion number nine." To "tie" is to make someone love another person through an Obeah practice and be unable to leave that person.
Sassafrass' sisters laugh and add commentary in the background of our phone conversation. Some comments are pure merriment, but other comments are adjustments to the meaning of what is being discussed - classifying the specific topic to be interpreted as humor or as serious.
Sassafrass continues to discuss "Troja," "In the ghetto, anytime something bad happen, people say it happen because of Obeah. When ya walk, ya toe buck (trip or stumble), an' yu get cut. People say that happen because of Obeah.
So in the dance, when I chat those lyrics, people love it! They say, 'The dj a talk reality man!'" Sassafrass' sisters add, "Any time you talk good things in the dance, they say the dj see far or see things from a great distance."
Sassafrass continues, "Some people don't like it. The Rastaman bun that type of lyric. Mi no dj everything everyone like - you must have opposition." Sassa chuckled and said, "Donkey say the world no level. This means, not everyone will have the path they prefer all the time."
When asked about any issues that may have arisen by speaking about a topic which is often considered taboo, Sassfrass responded, "Inna real life mi no inna Obeah thing. I use the lyrics to hold the people in the dance. As a dj, you must come in with your own program."
Sassafrass' namesake lyric is a tune that he never recorded onto vinyl. This song is titled "Obeahman" and the lyrics are,
Obeahman, mi ah de Obeahman,
Obeahman, mi ah de Obeahman.
The mic inna mi hand is like a magic wand.
Mi just a chant two psalms and sing dis song.
Ac aca ca ca dab - cadabra,
Inna hippopotamus mi ah go turn Yellowman.
Sassafrass describes these lyrics as being used by many other djs after he introduced the lyrics. It was used when the djs would chat (dj) about Obeah. Sassafrass would often sing this song in combination with General Trees. Sassafrass once used the song to battle fellow dancehall dj Yellowman. Sassfrass explains, "The abracadabra piece is like a Genie. I turn Yellow into a Hippo! When Yellow hear this him say, 'Mi no want Sassafrass, ca him wuk Obeah.' When Nicodemus hear me, he say, 'Sassafrass keeping a dance before God a come. No want Sassafrass cuz Obeah him bring down.' In those days all a we get along."
Another Obeah lyric is called "Isle of Fire,"
Oil a catch me,
Oil ah mek yu tan.
Oil ah run way your wife,
Run way your husband.
Sassfrass' sisters explain, "This is a song to tie or reject a lover. Obeah is not 100 percent fear, some believe in the badness and some believe in cure. Like the song Louise Bennett have dialect called 'Obeah Win the War.' That dialect talk bout, 'Nigga duppy inna submarine. A little Obeah can save them - can settle Hitler.'"
After the release of his song "Pocomania Jump," Sassafrass received increased attention. Sassafrass describes his song, "In Poco Church a Obeah them a work - they speak in tongues. So in my song I have the part that say 'Hemme, Hemme' (Sassafrass sings in a guttural tone)." "Pocomania Jump" went to number one on the Jamaican music charts. The popularity of this song further galvanized Sassafrass' reputation as being connected with Obeah, especially because Sassa was was featured on the cover dressed in robes and a turbin as if he was an Obeahman. After "Pocomania Jump" hit the charts, he received a phone call. Sassfrass describes the call, "An old lady called me saying that she have body cramp from morning. She listen to 'Poco Jump' and her body revive. The song ah wet up them in them system. Seaga even use 'Pocomania Jump' in the election to get elected. Everyone say that a Laborite (Jamaican Labor Party - JLP) song. I used those 'Poco Jump' lyrics in the dancehall before I record the song. In the dance, everybody get the spirit."
Sassafrass and his sisters make the point that they laugh at the people who are afraid of ghosts or duppies. Later, they engage in a discussion about late night walks in Jamaica when there is no light. The discussion involved a process for protection from duppies, "Take up stone, spit on stone, throw it behind, and keep a straight course." Sassafrass restates that he does not believe in Obeah.
Sassafrass was asked about his earliest memories of Obeah. As a youth, he was very aware that when something bad would happen, Obeah would be identified as the cause. Sassafrass provides examples, "When I was very young, if we saw someone walk with sore foot and it take long to heal, it Obeah. If someone could not speak, people would say that a duppy box that one an' he can't talk."
"My Granny told me about these things when I was young. My Granny was the woman on the cover of my 'Pocomania Jump' album on Black Scorpio Records. Her name was Adela Dixon, but we call her Grandin. My Granny have a bedtime story about duppy when I was young. I make a lyric about this story that General Trees and me woulda use I the dancehall. I would start with,"
My Granny is the nicest Granny
My granny take care of me
My granny superstitious
She make me laugh
She say its bad luck when a black cat cross your path
(then, Trees would come in an' say in a scary voice....)
Teeth like these longer that these?
Ever see duppy eat rice and peas?
"Those lyrics would tear up the dancehall man! Trees is the best!
My Granny also would tell me a story about 'Old Knock,' which is a duppy story about a duppy in a big house. The house was old and empty. A man go into the house to sleep and hides under a bed. The house if full of duppy. The duppy Knock had a wooden foot and that why they call him 'Old Knock.' The man hear Old Knock walking on the wood floor and many other duppies join Knock The duppies all drink liquor and talk while the man hides. A duppy offers Old Knock a drink. In a very nasal voice, a duppy says 'Time and time again, Old Knock never refuse a drink.' The old man comes out from under the bed. All the duppy run, but old knock cannot run cuz him a one foot and his shirt hitch up on the bedpost. Knock say, 'Who holding me? Lete (sic) me go! Who hold me man?'"
"Fom that day we call our grandma Old Knock. Ca she cant eat certain food like Old Knock, so we say,'"told Knock you want a drink?'"
"After I do 'Pocomania Jump' and the song 'Kumina To Kumina,' the police raid a Obeah yard. This was a place where the person read up or read people palm and tell their future. In the house, the Police they find names on a piece of paper and they say they find the name Michael Johnson on it. That what my name is and people say I must be a real Obeahman. That's how the ghetto run. A candle, a tent, a drum, and glass - that how them make money. The whole thing is superstition."
Sources:
Group Interview with Michael Johnson (Lord Sassafrass) and his two sisters Jackie Johnson and Paulette Johnson. Interview by Author via telephone to Marverly, Jamaica. 14, April, 2017.
Rich Lowe, Jamaica Way, 2018