Peak
10
Weeks
18
Score
2,388
Chart Year
1983
A "Dutchie" is a Jamaican cooking pot, and while there's not much reason to pass one around, it was an acceptable substitute for the original lyric: "Pass The Kutchie," Kutchie being Jamaican slang for a pot that holds marijuana (a pot pot?). "Pass The Kutchie" was a song that came out earlier in 1982 by the reggae group The Mighty Diamonds, which was adapted by Musical Youth, or at least their handlers. The five boys in the group were between the ages of 11 and 16 years old at the time, and their manager suggested they record the song with the modified lyric. The Mighty Diamonds' "Pass The Kutchie" has a heavy, slow beat and got very little airplay, but Musical Youth's take on the song was an instant hit in the UK, where it sold 100,000 copies the first day it was released and made #1 in September 1982. The band members were of Jamaican descent and lived in the Birmingham area of England. The group was formed by Freddie Waite, who had been in a reggae band in Jamaica. Waite put his two sons, Patrick and Junior, in the band with two of their classmates, Kevin and Michael Grant, and recorded a single on their own called "Political," which got the attention of the BBC DJ John Peel, who played it on his show. This led to a deal with MCA Records, who convinced Waite to replace himself with a youngster: 14-year-old Dennis Seaton. The group, now entirely underage, was seasoned for about six months before their The Youth Of Today album was released and "Pass The Dutchie," the first single, became a huge hit. Musical Youth became the first Black act to go in regular rotation on MTV when "Pass The Dutchie" was added to their playlist, preceding Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" video by a few weeks. The MTV airplay helped break the song in the United States, and it entered the Top 40 on January 15, 1983, reaching its peak position of #10 on February 26. The video was directed by Don Letts, a Black filmmaker from England who would later work with The Clash, directing their "Rock the Casbah" clip. Letts was aware of the color barrier on MTV and went out of his way to make sure the kids appeared as non-threatening as possible in the video. The network flatly rejected Rick James, but they were OK with little kids singing in British accents. Musical Youth had genuine talent and played their own instruments, but they suffered from poor and/or corrupt management, and quickly floundered. They had more success in the UK, with hits "Youth Today" and "Never Gonna Give You Up," but in 1985 they were dropped from their label, MCA Records, and replaced by New Edition as the hot boy band. When Musical Youth fell apart, some of the group members struggled; Patrick Waite got involved with drugs and died in 1993 at age 24. His brother Junior Waite was later institutionalized, and Kelvin Grant went into seclusion. This was used in the 2000 movie The Wedding Singer. When remaining band members didn't get the royalties they expected, they sued their former law firm, which they claimed failed to protect the copyright to the song. This lawsuit was rejected in British court on grounds that they didn't write the song and thus weren't entitled to any of the publishing rights, but the group later sued their old record company, MCA, and reached a settlement for performance royalties they were denied. These legal actions reunited band members Michael Grant and Dennis Seaton, who began performing again, mostly on '80s nostalgia shows. The lyrics are really a faux pas in etiquette. When passing a cooking pot (or anything else on the table), you pass it to your right, not your left. You can pass to your immediate left only if the item requested is closest to you. >> While Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" got the most attention, this song also saw a huge spike when it was used in Stranger Things Season 4. "Pass The Dutchie" appears in two episodes as a sort of stoner theme for Jonathan's pothead pal, Argyle.
This generation Rules the nation With version Music happen to be the food of love Sounds to really make you rub and scrub Pass the dutchie on the left hand side Pass the dutchie on the left hand side It a gonna burn, give me music make me jump and prance It a go done, give me the music make me rock in the dance It was a cool and lovely breezy afternoon (How does it feel when you've got no food?) You could feel it 'cause it was the month of June (How does it feel when you've got no food?) So I left my gate and went out for a walk (How does it feel when you've got no food?) As I pass the dreadlocks' camp I heard them say (How does it feel when you've got no food?) Pass the dutchie on the left hand side (I said) pass the dutchie on the left hand side It a gonna burn, give me music make me jump and prance It a go done, give me the music make me rock in the dance So I stopped to find out what was going on. (How does it feel when you've got no food?) 'Cause the spirit of Jah, you know he leads you on (How does it feel when you've got no food?) There was a ring of dreads and a session was there in swing (How does it feel when you've got no food?) You could feel the chill as I seen and heard them say (How does it feel when you've got no food ?) Pass the dutchie on the left hand side (I said) pass the dutchie on the left hand side It a gonna burn, give me music make me jump and prance It a go done, give me the music make me rock in the dance 'Cause me say listen to the drummer, me say listen to the bass Give me little music make me wind up me waist Me say listen to the drummer, me say listen to the bass Give me little music make me wind up me waist, (I say) Pass the dutchie on the left hand side (I say) Pass the dutchie on the left hand side It a gonna burn, give me music make me jump and prance It a go done, give me the music make me rock in the dance You play it on the radio, a so me say, we a go hear it on the stereo A so me know you a go play it on the disco A so me say we a go hear it on the stereo Pass the dutchie on the left hand side (I say) Pass the dutchie on the left hand side It a gonna burn, give me music make me jump and prance It a go done, give me the music make me rock in the dance On the left hand side (I said) On the left hand side (I said) On the left hand side We meet on the left hand side (I'm fellin') on the left hand side I say east, say west, say north and south (on the left hand side) This is gonna make us jump and shout (on the left hand side) I say east, say west, say north and south (on the left hand side) This is gonna make me be able to jump and shout, I say (on the left hand side)
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dec 11, 1982 | 80 | 46 |
| 2 | Dec 18, 1982 | 68 | 58 |
| 3 | Dec 25, 1982 | 59 | 67 |
| 4 | Jan 1, 1983 | 59 | 67 |
| 5 | Jan 8, 1983 | 52 | 74 |
| 6 | Jan 15, 1983 | 31 | 95 |
| 7 | Jan 22, 1983 | 27 | 99 |
| 8 | Jan 29, 1983 | 17 | 109 |
| 9 | Feb 5, 1983 | 14 | 112 |
| 10 | Feb 12, 1983 | 13 | 113 |
| 11 | Feb 19, 1983 | 13 | 113 |
| 12 | Feb 26, 1983 | 10 | 116 |
| 13 | Mar 5, 1983 | 10 | 116 |
| 14 | Mar 12, 1983 | 23 | 103 |
| 15 | Mar 19, 1983 | 33 | 93 |
| 16 | Mar 26, 1983 | 51 | 75 |
| 17 | Apr 2, 1983 | 92 | 34 |
| 18 | Apr 9, 1983 | 99 | 27 |