What was the motivation for such a title – Sent From Overseas?
As a youngster, one of my favourite songs was Third World’s 96 Degrees in the Shade, about Britain’s execution of Paul Bogle, a freedom fighter later named a National Hero of Jamaica. The lyrics went something like this: 96 degrees in the shade real hot in the shade said it was 96 degrees in the shade ten thousand soldiers on parade taking i and i to meet a big fat boy sent from overseas the queen employ excellency before you i come with my representation you know where i’m coming from you caught me on the loose fighting to be free now you show me a noose on the cotton tree entertainment for you martyrdom for me 96 degrees in the shade real hot in the shade some may suffer and some may burn but i know that one day my people will learn as sure as the sun shines, way up in the sky today i stand here a victim the truth is I’ll never die I could easily relate to the underlying story in the song.
