Few songs define 90s reggae and dancehall culture quite like “Murder She Wrote” by Chaka Demus & Pliers. Released in 1992, this track remains one of the most iconic Jamaican music exports, a staple in club playlists and dancehall parties even decades later.
The vibrant rhythm, unforgettable hook, and charismatic vocal interplay between Chaka Demus (the deejay) and Pliers (the singer) gave birth to a global anthem that transcends borders.
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Murda She Wrote – Full Lyrics
Here’s a verse-by-verse breakdown of the lyrics of “Murder She Wrote” by Chaka Demus & Pliers, including interpretations of each part. The song uses Jamaican patois, so I’ve translated and explained the meaning for better clarity.
🔹 Intro
Now dis one dedicated to the girls dem
Wid di angel face and the devil heart
Yuh kno say ragamuffin Chaka Demus an’ yute
Pliers come to deal with case
Step up my yute, hear dis!
Meaning:
This song is dedicated to women who look innocent (“angel face”) but act immorally (“devil heart”). Chaka Demus & Pliers introduce themselves as ready to address the issue.
🔹 Verse 1
I know this little girl, her name is Maxine
Her beauty is like a bunch of rose (let her know)
If I ever tell you ’bout Maxine
Yuh would a say I don’t know what I know but
Meaning:
Maxine is beautiful, but there’s a hidden, darker side to her that people wouldn’t believe if he told them.
🔹 Chorus
Murder she wrote (fi real, fi real)
Murder she wrote
Murder she wrote
Murder she wrote
Meaning:
The repeated phrase “Murder she wrote” metaphorically implies that Maxine has done serious moral or emotional wrongs.
🔹 Verse 2
Lyrics:
Watch ya now, it name
A pretty face and bad character
Dem the kinda livin’ can’t hold Chaka, follow me!
A pretty face and bad character
Dem the kinda livin’ can’t hold Chaka
Meaning:
Having beauty without integrity is unacceptable to the singer. He values character over looks.
🔹 Verse 3
Seh gal yuh pretty
Yuh face it pretty but yuh character dirty
Gal yuh just act too, flirty, flirty
Yuh run to Tom, Dick an’ also Harry
An’ when yuh find yuh mistake
Yuh talk ’bout yuh sorry, sorry, sorry (come now)
Meaning:
Maxine is physically attractive but morally questionable—flirting with many men, then apologizing when things go wrong.
🔹 Verse 4
Have her cruise di corner
Where she jooks an’ where she jam
She kno about Lou, crack an’ every money man
Make love with a coolie Chinese, white man and Indian
Di wickedest kind a girl, that Mr. Pliers wuk upon
Meaning:
She’s involved in the street life, linked with drugs and men of different ethnicities—living a reckless lifestyle.
🔹 Verse 5 (Repeat Structure)
Now I kno yuh heard about this girl, her name is Maxine
Her beauty is like a bunch of rose
And if I ever tell you ’bout Maxine
Yuh would a say I don’t know what I know but
Murder she wrote (murderation man)
Murder she wrote
Murder she wrote, na na na
Murder she wrote
Meaning:
Again emphasizing the contradiction between her outer beauty and inner actions—suggesting deception and heartbreak.
🔹 Verse 6
Watch yuh now stand still
Yuh no pay me light bill
If yuh tes’ di ragamuffin
Gal ya gwan n’ get kill, gyal keep ‘way
Caw yuh a crebbie crebbie
An’ di lyrics weh mi talk, a it mi DJ
Gyal come out
Becaus’ yuh nuh shockout
Now when yuh hear di ragamuffin
Yuh haffi jump and shout
Nuh touch mi gate
Yuh nuh pay mi water rate
Becaus’ great is great
Great yah underate, follow me!
Meaning:
He expresses frustration at Maxine’s entitlement, saying she doesn’t contribute but still causes trouble. He warns her to stay away.
🔹 Verse 7 (Refrain Repeats)
Yuh pretty face an’ bad character
Dem the kinda livin’ cyaan hold Chaka, follow me!
Yuh pretty face an’ bad character
Dem the kinda livin’ cyaan hold Chaka
Meaning:
Reaffirming the core message: looks without morals are unacceptable.
🔹 Verse 8 (Repeat)
Seh girl yuh pretty
Yuh face is pretty, but yuh character dirty
Gal yuh just act too, flirty, flirty
Yuh run to Tom, Dick, an’ also Harry
An’ when yuh find yuh mistake
Yuh talk ’bout yuh sorry, sorry, sorry
Meaning:
Repeated for emphasis: Maxine’s behavior cycles through flirtation, regret, and apology—but never real change.
🔹 Verse 9
Now every middle of the year dis girl go have abortion
Fi di coolie white man, Indian, no seekin’ an infant
An jus’ di other day me, see her six months pregnant
Now she walk pass with a girl with other baby in a pram
Meaning:
He criticizes her for having multiple abortions and pregnancies from different men, suggesting irresponsibility.
🔹 Verse 10 (Refrain Repeats)
Do yuh heard about this girl, her name is Maxine
Her beauty’s like a bunch of rose
An’ if I ever tell you bout Maxine
Yuh would a say I don’t know what I know, but
Murder she wrote
Murder she wrote
Murder she wrote, na na na
Murder she wrote
Meaning:
Reiterating the song’s theme: Maxine’s outer beauty masks destructive choices.
🔹 Verse 11
Excuse me
Gal me never know yuh a so yuh stay
Ragamuffin Chaka Demus com fi flash it same way
Whoa, follow me!
Meaning:
He claims he never realized Maxine was this way and insists on calling her out publicly.
🔹 Verse 12 (Refrain Repeats)
Yuh pretty face an’ bad character
Dem the kinda livin’ can hold Chaka, follow me!
Yuh pretty face an’ bad character
Dem the kinda livin’ cyaan hold Chaka
Meaning:
Reemphasizing the main idea of character over appearance.
🔹 Verse 13
Lyrics:
Seh girl yuh pretty
Yuh face is pretty, but yuh character dirty
Gal yuh just act too, flirt, y flirty
Yuh run to Tom, Dick, an’ also Harry
An’ when yuh find yuh mistake
Yuh talk ’bout yuh sorry, sorry, sorry
Meaning:
Again pointing out Maxine’s repeated behaviors of infidelity and superficial remorse.
🔹 Verse 14
Di gal a boast an’ a brag how she look sexy
All she worship is pure vanity
Di gal a boast and a brag, how she look ready
When she wash her clothes it dirty
Gyal yuh no ready
If yuh cyaan cook fi mi
Gal yuh no ready
If yuh cyaan wash fi mi
Gal yuh nuh ready
If yuh kno yuh flirty, flirty, follow me!
Meaning:
She brags about her appearance, but the singer says a woman must do more than look good—she must also be nurturing and responsible.
🔹 Final Chorus
Yuh pretty face an’ bad character
Dem the kinda livin’ cyaan hold Chaka, follow me now!
Yuh pretty face an’ bad character (murder she wrote)
Dem the kinda livin’ cyaan hold Chaka (murder she wrote)
So stand still
Yuh no pay me…
Meaning:
The song ends with a strong reiteration: Chaka Demus won’t tolerate someone who looks good but lives poorly or disrespectfully.
The Story Behind the Song: Origin and Production
“Murder She Wrote” was produced during a golden age of Jamaican dancehall music. The duo, Chaka Demus (John Taylor) and Pliers (Everton Bonner), were already gaining attention individually in the 1980s before officially teaming up in the early 90s. Their chemistry as a deejay/singer combo was electric and helped define a new era of reggae fusion.
The track was produced by Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare, legendary figures in the reggae world, under their Taxi Records label. Its foundation is built on the classic “Bam Bam” riddim — a beat that dates back to 1966 and has been reused in countless reggae and dancehall tracks. The riddim’s infectious bounce perfectly supports Pliers’ melodic lines and Chaka Demus’s gritty delivery.
Interestingly, the song was recorded before the duo officially signed with Island Records, but it was the label’s support and global distribution that helped catapult the single into international fame. The song reached massive success in the UK and even charted on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of the biggest ’90s reggae hits.
What Does “Murder She Wrote” Really Mean?
At first glance, the phrase “Murder She Wrote” might seem like a simple reference to the popular detective TV show, but in the song, it’s a metaphorical way of saying someone’s life is filled with drama or questionable choices.
The track tells the story of a girl named Maxine, whose promiscuity and dishonesty lead to social complications. Chaka Demus and Pliers use humor, rhythm, and streetwise commentary to reflect on personal responsibility and consequences — a common theme in Jamaican music.
Cultural Significance
“Murder She Wrote” is more than just a catchy tune; it’s a dancehall classic that embodies the energy of early 90s Jamaican music. Its universal appeal lies in the seamless fusion of rugged deejay verses with soulful melodies — a hallmark of Chaka Demus and Pliers songs.
This track played a pivotal role in bringing dancehall to mainstream audiences. Its crossover success opened doors for other Jamaican acts and helped establish reggae fusion as a viable genre in international markets. The song’s impact is still felt today:
- DJs regularly spin it at parties and clubs around the world.
- It has been sampled and referenced by modern artists.
- Its riddim continues to inspire new tracks in contemporary dancehall and afrobeats.
Why “Murder She Wrote” Still Matters Today
In the era of TikTok, remixes, and nostalgic playlists, “Murder She Wrote” finds new life every few years. Whether it’s used as a backing track in viral dance videos or played during 90s reggae hits throwback sets, its infectious energy is undeniable.
For fans of Jamaican music, it’s a rite of passage — a reminder of the golden age when lyrics, riddims, and culture came together with soul and swagger.
