Peter Tosh, ʙ Winston Hubert McIntosh 19 Oct 1944, đ 11 Sept 1987), was a devoted rastafarian and a legendary Jamaican reggae musician, known for songs as "Legalize It", "Igziabeher (Let Jah Be Praised", "Stop that Train", "Bush Doctor", "Equal Rights", "Stepping Razor", "Mama Africa" and "Get Up Stand Up" with Bob Marley. He was founding member of The Wailers, and went on to have a successful solo career after their album Burnin'. Tosh was born in Petersfield (Westmoreland, Jamaica) by parents too young to take care of him. Read Full BioPeter Tosh, ʙ Winston Hubert McIntosh 19 Oct 1944, đ 11 Sept 1987), was a devoted rastafarian and a legendary Jamaican reggae musician, known for songs as "Legalize It", "Igziabeher (Let Jah Be Praised", "Stop that Train", "Bush Doctor", "Equal Rights", "Stepping Razor", "Mama Africa" and "Get Up Stand Up" with Bob Marley. He was founding member of The Wailers, and went on to have a successful solo career after their album Burnin'. Tosh was born in Petersfield (Westmoreland, Jamaica) by parents too young to take care of him. He grew up raised by his aunt. Nicknamed 'Stepping Razor', he began to sing and learn guitar at an early age, inspired by American radio stations. After an illustrious career with The Wailers and as a solo musician and a reggae Grammy, he was murdered at his home during a robbery.
He often struggled in Jamaica with his group the Wailers (aka the Wailing Wailers - the group included Bunny Wailer and the world-renowned Bob Marley). Tosh joined them on a tour of England in 1972. This was to become his first step to world fame, as during this trip the group signed with Chris Blackwells' Island Records. Their first album for this record label was the classic LP Catch A Fire. This album represented an entirely new breed of reggae, which meshed Jamaican roots riddims with American soul music and British rock. Tosh songs included "Stop That Train" and "400 Years."
A tour of America and Britain followed as well as follow up "Burnin" which featured Tosh's most well known song "Get Up, Stand Up". However, tension grew within the group, especially between Peter Tosh and Bob Marley, as Tosh witnessed Marley's persona within the group overshadow his own. Both Tosh and Bunny Wailer left in 1975 in pursuit of solo careers.
Tosh's solo career included a series of major hits. The year after his departure from the Wailers he released Legalize It, a record heavily promoting Rastafarian issues, most notably the use of marijuana to which the title refers. To this day the song "Legalize It" is regarded as an anthem for many promoters of marijuana legalization.
More important than this however was his political impact, especially in pro-black questions. Whilst his former band mate Bob Marley became world renowned for his uplifting but universally relevant spiritualism, Tosh was always more interested in catering to the more militant pan-Africanists of the world. His second album, Equal Rights, released in '77, is a prime example of such, including songs like "African," "Downpressor Man" and "I Am that I Am."
In his effort to establish a larger career as a solo artist, Tosh signed with The Rolling Stones record label for three albums. "Bush Doctor" featured a duet with Mick Jagger on "You Gotta Walk (And Don't Look Back," and Keith Richards on "Bush Doctor" both songs are among his most well known. "Wanted Dread and Alive," and "Mystic Man" followed before he moved to EMI for "Mama Africa." It is said that "Mama Africa" sold over a million copies, but sales data is hard to find for Tosh given the era of his work, and his popularity in the third world.
After an illustrious career with the Wailers and as a solo musician, Tosh's life was cut short when he was brutally murdered at his home. Though robbery was officially stated as the reason for Tosh's death, many believe that there were ulterior motives to the killing, citing that nothing was taken from the house. "No Nuclear War" recorded before his death won Tosh a Grammy Award. To this day he remains the second most reknowned reggae artist of all time behind bandmate Bob Marley.
He often struggled in Jamaica with his group the Wailers (aka the Wailing Wailers - the group included Bunny Wailer and the world-renowned Bob Marley). Tosh joined them on a tour of England in 1972. This was to become his first step to world fame, as during this trip the group signed with Chris Blackwells' Island Records. Their first album for this record label was the classic LP Catch A Fire. This album represented an entirely new breed of reggae, which meshed Jamaican roots riddims with American soul music and British rock. Tosh songs included "Stop That Train" and "400 Years."
A tour of America and Britain followed as well as follow up "Burnin" which featured Tosh's most well known song "Get Up, Stand Up". However, tension grew within the group, especially between Peter Tosh and Bob Marley, as Tosh witnessed Marley's persona within the group overshadow his own. Both Tosh and Bunny Wailer left in 1975 in pursuit of solo careers.
Tosh's solo career included a series of major hits. The year after his departure from the Wailers he released Legalize It, a record heavily promoting Rastafarian issues, most notably the use of marijuana to which the title refers. To this day the song "Legalize It" is regarded as an anthem for many promoters of marijuana legalization.
More important than this however was his political impact, especially in pro-black questions. Whilst his former band mate Bob Marley became world renowned for his uplifting but universally relevant spiritualism, Tosh was always more interested in catering to the more militant pan-Africanists of the world. His second album, Equal Rights, released in '77, is a prime example of such, including songs like "African," "Downpressor Man" and "I Am that I Am."
In his effort to establish a larger career as a solo artist, Tosh signed with The Rolling Stones record label for three albums. "Bush Doctor" featured a duet with Mick Jagger on "You Gotta Walk (And Don't Look Back," and Keith Richards on "Bush Doctor" both songs are among his most well known. "Wanted Dread and Alive," and "Mystic Man" followed before he moved to EMI for "Mama Africa." It is said that "Mama Africa" sold over a million copies, but sales data is hard to find for Tosh given the era of his work, and his popularity in the third world.
After an illustrious career with the Wailers and as a solo musician, Tosh's life was cut short when he was brutally murdered at his home. Though robbery was officially stated as the reason for Tosh's death, many believe that there were ulterior motives to the killing, citing that nothing was taken from the house. "No Nuclear War" recorded before his death won Tosh a Grammy Award. To this day he remains the second most reknowned reggae artist of all time behind bandmate Bob Marley.
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Get up Stand Up
Peter Tosh Lyrics
Get up, stand up
Stand up for your rights
Get up, stand up
Don't give up the fight
Get up, stand up
Stand up for your rights
Get up, stand up
Don't give up the fight
You, preacher man don't tell me
Heaven is under the earth
You a duppy and you don't know
What life is really worth
It's not all that glitter is gold
And half the story has never been told
So now we see the light
We gonna stand up for your rights
Come on, get up, stand up, brother
Stand up for your rights
Come on, get up, stand up, sisters
Don't give up the fight
Get up, stand up
Stand up for your rights
Get up, stand up
Don't give up the fight
'Cause you know most people think
A great God will come from the skies
And take away every little thing
And left everybody dry
But if you know what life is worth
Then you would look for yours on earth
And now we see the light
We gonna stand up for our rights
Come on, get up, stand up, don't make them push you 'round
Stand up for your rights
Come on brothers, get up, stand up
Be brave now, don't give up the fight
I say, get up, stand up
Stand up for your rights
Don't let them hold you down, get up, stand up
Don't give up the fight
We're sick and tired of this game of technology
Humbly asking Jesus for His mercy
We know, we know and we understand
Almighty Jah is a living man
You fool some people sometimes
But you can't fool all the people all the time
And now we see the light
We gonna stand up for our rights
Come on, get up, stand up
Stand up for your rights
Come on brothers, get up, stand up
I said, don't give up the fight
Isaid, get up, stand up
Stand up for your rights
Get up, stand up
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Bob Marley, Peter Tosh
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
Iara Lin
O mais pesado do Reggae, ideologia foda, sons e letras monstras. Desde criança eu sou apaixonada de amor por esse homem. 🔥
Juscelio de Oliveira
hino da música regae ,
Portia Dubazana
Reggae helped me grow ❤ 🤍
Abraham Palmer
Same
PhilouGanJa DuB-SelecToR
Peter Tosh is a legend. 🎸♥️😎
T Bonsai
Yes a true legend!!!
Stephane Djemaa
@Ezra Spurlock t ki
willieluncheonette
Continuing our little tribute to Peter Tosh one day after the anniversary of his passing on September 11, 1987. It must have been difficult for Peter to come up with an album approaching the greatness of Legalize It, but with his second solo effort, Equal Rights (1978) he succeeded. As with Legalize It, there is not a weak track on the whole album. The backing band is superb---Al Anderson gtr Earl Lindo keyboards Robbie Skakespeare b and Sly Dunbar d. Bunny Wailer, who had already left the Wailers, sings background vocals. Dunbar has stated " Sly and Robbie's international career started when we toured with Peter Tosh in support of the Equal Rights album." Get Up Stand Up first appeared on the Wailers' Burnin' album with Bob singing lead and Peter taking one chorus. Here it's all Peter and he changes some of the lyrics. One of the most famous songs in the history of Jamaican music, this version is also outstanding . The opening song on Equal Rights.
david Roberts
Best version of this song without a doubt 🔥
Abraham Palmer
old school reggae music is the best it use to be so uplifting talking about the struggles of oppression and love for black women unlike nowadays many so called reggae artists that promote nothing but negativity in their music drugs cars materialism women sex etc... I stick to the roots