Some interviews go better than others. Last week, I called Jamaican music legend Lee "Scratch" Perry, Bob Marley and the Wailers' producer, with a brief to ask him his views on 50 years of Jamaican independence. This is how the conversation went:

Mr Perry, you must remember Jamaican independence well, you were a young man of 25 in 1962...?

1962! What happened then?

Jamaican independence…

Where you are?

I'm in London. I was just wondering if you were involved at all?

I wasn't involved in anything with colonial government business. I have my own music government, black supremacy, Ethiopia family, Africa family, Addis Ababa, something like that. All the riches of the earth is black. The isle is black. When they came and see the isle they brought the vampire with them to eat the children's blood, they hijacked them and they lowjacked them… Do you have a tape machine running?

I do.

That's very good. The old fella sings a cappella and he took his umbrella and here comes the lightning flash, KNNNNNARARCARHHHH.

When did the lightning flash?

It flashed for the government exterminator, the high priest become low priest and then low beast, moo cow HOOOOOWARGHhhhhh.

When did this happen, in 1962?

Nahhhh. It's coming shortly! Fire government, water government, flood government. It's coming soon…!

Will you be around to see it?

I will be coming to you from fire fire fire fire! Super hot hot hot! Here comes the jungle god! Lee Scratch Perry on the wire!

And after you arrive?

A few people will be gods and goddesses and angels! And the others all kaput! Great balls of fire… WAAAAAARGHHH!

Will you be a benign ruler do you reckon?

Cosmic energy telepathic all the time!

Are you receiving that energy already?

In my music.

When did you feel it first?

Back in Jamaica!

Was that before independence?

Independence! I don't want no white coat, I don't want no white goat! Baaaa baaaa! This is the future speaking! I feel the telepathic power! I was born 1936. Nine nine nine, I never changed my mind. I have the hot line... why should I die, I'm not eating dead mwaah, I'm not eating dead moooo, why should I die? I was travelling from BC to AD when you called. I'm in my black coat. My mission is secret. Secret number 9. Nine nine nine... so that's my news on independence! Hahahahahahahahah…

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