Informer by Snow Lyrics Meaning – Unwrapping the Blizzard of Clues in Snow’s Iconic Verse
Lyrics
Yeah what’s going on here?
I’m sick and tired of 5-0 running up on the block
You know what I’m saying?
Yo, Snow they came around here looking for you the other day
(Word?) Word, bust it
Informer, ya’ no say daddy me Snow me I go blame
A licky boom boom down
‘Tective man a say, say daddy me Snow me stab someone down the lane
A licky boom boom down
Informer, ya’ no say daddy me Snow me I go blame
A licky boom boom down
‘Tective man a say, say daddy me Snow me stab someone down the lane
A licky boom boom down
Police-a them-a they come and-a they blow down me door
One ee come crawl troo, troo my window
So dey put me in de back de car at de station
From that point on me reach my destination
Where the destination reachin’ outta East Detention, where dey
Looked down me pants, look up me bottom, so
Informer, ya’ no say daddy me Snow me I go blame
A licky boom boom down
‘Tective man a say, say daddy me Snow me stab someone down the lane
A licky boom boom down
Informer, ya’ no say daddy me Snow me I go blame
A licky boom boom down
‘Tective man a say, say daddy me Snow me stab someone down the lane
A licky boom boom down
So, bigger dem are they think dem have more power
De pon di phone me say dat one hour
Me for want to use a once an’ now me call me lover
Lover who me callin an’ a one Tamei
An’ mi love er’ in my heart down to my belly-a
Yes say daddy me Snow me I feel cool an’ deadly
Yes the one MC Shan an’ the one Daddy Snow
Together we-a love’em is a tor-na-do
Informer, ya’ no say daddy me Snow me I go blame
A licky boom boom down
‘Tective man a say, say daddy me Snow me stab someone down the lane
A licky boom boom down
Informer, ya’ no say daddy me Snow me I go blame
A licky boom boom down
‘Tective man a say, say daddy me Snow me stab someone down the lane
A licky boom boom down
So, listen for me, you better listen for me now
Listen for me, you better listen for me now
When-a me rock-a the microphone, me rock on steady-a
Yes a daddy me Snow me are de article don
But the in an a-out a dance an they say where you come from-a?
People dem say ya come from Jamaica
But me born an’ raised in the ghetto that I want ya to know-a
Pure black people man that’s all I man know
Yeah me shoes are a-tear up an’a me toes just a show-a
Where me-a born in are de one Toronto, so
Informer, ya’ no say daddy me Snow me I go blame
A licky boom boom down
‘Tective man a say, say daddy me Snow me stab someone down the lane
A licky boom boom down
Informer, ya’ no say daddy me Snow me I go blame
A licky boom boom down
‘Tective man a say, say daddy me Snow me stab someone down the lane
A licky boom boom down
Come with a nice young lady
Intelligent, yes she gentle and irie
Everywhere me go me never lef’ her at all-ie
Yes-a Daddy Snow me are the roam dance man-a
Roam between-a dancin’ in-a in-a nation-a
You never know say daddy me Snow me are the boom shakata
Me never lay-a down flat in-a one cardboard box-a
Yes-a daddy me Snow me-a go reachin’ out da top, so
Informer, ya’ no say daddy me Snow me I go blame
A licky boom boom down
‘Tective man a say, say daddy me Snow me stab someone down the lane
A licky boom boom down
Informer, ya’ no say daddy me Snow me I go blame
A licky boom boom down
‘Tective man a say, say daddy me Snow me stab someone down the lane
A licky boom boom down
Why wo ee, why wo ee, an’ wo ee an’ wo ee
Me sitting ’round cool with my dibbie-dibbie girl
Police knock my door, lick up my pal
Rough me up and I can’t do a thing
Pick up my line when my telephone ring
Take me to the station black up my hands
Trail me down ’cause I’m hanging with the Snowman
What I’m gonna do? I’m backed and I’m trapped
Slap me in the face and took all of my gap
They have no clues and they wanna get warmer
But Shan won’t turn informer
Informer, ya’ no say daddy me Snow me I go blame
A licky boom boom down
‘Tective man a say, say daddy me Snow me stab someone down the lane
A licky boom boom down
Informer, ya’ no say daddy me Snow me I go blame
A licky boom boom down
‘Tective man a say, say daddy me Snow me stab someone down the lane
A licky boom boom down
Diggity dum, diggity diggity dum, an’ wo ee, an wo, an wo ee
When Snow exploded onto the early ’90s music scene with ‘Informer,’ the reggae-infused track with its cryptic chorus and rapid-fire verses, he carved a niche in the realm of dancehall crossed over into pop. On the surface, the infectious hook of ‘A licky boom boom down’ might hypnotize listeners into the catchiness of the beat, but delving into the song’s lyrics reveal layers of meaning and narrative complexity
Through a careful examination, ‘Informer’ is more than just a chart-topping tune; it’s a storytelling masterpiece encapsulating themes of identity, false accusations, and the tribulations of inner-city life. This analysis invites readers to step into the blizzard of Snow’s words and unearth the multi-faceted messages embedded within.
From Dancehall to the Snowstorm – The Origin of ‘Informer’
Snow, born Darrin Kenneth O’Brien, weaves his personal history of growing up in Toronto’s Allenbury Gardens housing project into the fabric of ‘Informer.’ It’s not directly a song about cool beats and the warmth of romance; it’s a raw narration of a confrontation with law enforcement, a depiction that pierces through the glamorization of street life often portrayed in ’90s music.
This connection to Snow’s own run-ins with the police grounds ‘Informer’ in a reality many urban dwellers of the era could relate to, transforming the song from catchy reggae-pop into a gritty reflection of systemic issues faced by marginalized communities.
The Infectious Hook – Decoding ‘A Licky Boom Boom Down’
While the chorus ‘A licky boom boom down’ might seem like nonsensical ear candy, it is, in fact, a crucial piece of the puzzle. In the patois that permeates the song, it’s suggested that ‘licky boom boom down’ could infer a downfall or punishment. It’s a testament to Snow’s clever wordplay, where a seemingly random assortment of sounds becomes an indictment of the informer’s fate.
This catchy phrase has survived in the collective consciousness, often detached from its original context, yet still managing to evoke the song’s underlying tension between catchy rhythm and the serious issues it addresses.
Narrative of Injustice – The Hidden Meaning of Wordplay
Snow’s lyrics provide a narrative arc of being wrongly accused by an informer and the resulting altercation with the authorities (‘Tective man a say, say daddy me Snow me stab someone down the lane’). This is a storytelling device that uses personal anecdote to reflect a larger societal problem – the mishandling of justice and the reliance on unreliable tipsters which often leads to wrongful convictions.
In presenting this narrative, Snow also tackles his own identity crisis as it reflects in the line ‘People dem say ya come from Jamaica / But me born an’ raised in the ghetto that I want ya to know-a.’ Here, the artist contends with assumptions about his origins and belongs, affirming his roots while confronting stereotypes.
A Global Phenomenon – How ‘Informer’ Echoed Across Borders
Surprisingly, while grounded in the specificities of Snow’s experience, ‘Informer’ resonated across cultures and borders. The beats and flow captured a universal appeal, reaching audiences who may not have direct experience with the song’s urban narrative yet could relate to feelings of injustice or the sting of being falsely judged.
Furthermore, the melding of different musical styles within the song—ragga, hip hop, and pop—spoke to the growing globalization of music during the early ’90s, breaking down genre barriers and paving the way for future cross-genre collaborations.
Memorable Lines – An Ode to Authenticity and Resilience
‘Yeah me shoes are a-tear up an’a me toes just a show-a / Where me-a born in are de one Toronto,’ Snow emphasizes his genuine life experiences and the rough edges that shape him. It’s a declaration of authenticity, a rebuttal to superficial judgments, and a nod to the resilience inherent in his character and, by extension, his community.
In celebrating his origins and owning his narrative, Snow crafts lines that have stayed in the public memory, testifying to the power of truth in art. ‘Informer’ thus becomes not only a snapshot of a moment in Snow’s life but a larger commentary on the human ability to endure and remain real in the face of adversity.
