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As only a live band it was called Misty. First albums were two live albums 1979 created by help from toilers in England and Sweden: Live at the Counter Eurovision and Misty Over Sweden. Both records are full of Rastafarian and anti-fascist songs. They were favoured by BBC Radio DJ John Peel, helping to bring roots reggae bands to a more mixed West European audience. With a career spanning 5 decades, they are one of the UK’s finest reggae groups. The band was one of the most powerful live reggae acts to emerge from 1970s London, and they were a major force in the Rock Against Racism movement.
This British based roots reggae band Misty first came together in 1974, as backing band for well known Jamaican reggae bands and artists performing in London. One was the late, great Nicky Thomas - one of Jamaica's all time greats who had achieved national chart success with songs such as "Love Of The Common People". Nicky Thomas was a great inspirer for Misty In Roots.
By 1978 Misty In Roots began to develop their own orthodox roots reggae sound. Their powerful lyrics inspired by the economic decline, a growing awareness of their African culture, and a spiritual awakening inspired tracks as "Ghetto Of The City", "Sodom & Gomorrah" and "Mankind", all off which can be found on the band's first album "Live At The Counter Eurovision" and the 'twin album' "Misty Over Sweden", recorded on their tour in Sweden 1979.
During the period 1977-78 the political situation in the U.K. was a breaking point. Black consciousness was at its peak and racism roamed the streets of London. Unemployment was affecting both black and white youths and through this depression a new musical alliance was born, young white youths totally fed up with the status quo turned to playing punk music whilst at the same time identifying strongly with the British reggae acts as Misty In Roots, Steel Pulse and Aswad. With the coming of the ‘Rock against Racism’ movement, the musical fight-back had begun, and for the first time black and white musicians were playing together on the same platform bringing about a totally new concept in musical awareness.
Misty In Roots, one of the most powerful live reggae acts to have come out of London, and noted for their powerful roots reggae sound, and uncompromising lyrical vibrations, became the major force in Rock Against Racism, playing more concerts than any other band in the movement. This opened up a whole new audience for the band who quickly developed a very strong cross over audience, playing with acts such as Tom Robinson, The Ruts and Elvis Costello.
Despite Misty In Roots' huge success as a live act the band did not release their first album until 1979. The album Live At The Counter Eurovision, which was recorded live in Belgium during the band's 1978 tour, is today still proclaimed by many critics as the best live reggae album of all time. Misty In Roots followed Live At The Counter Eurovision with a string of limited edition singles such as "Oh Wicked Man", "Rich Man", "Salvation", "How Long Jah" and "See Them Ah Come".
The band’s second album Wise And Foolish was released in 1982 and took on a more mellow, jazzy and soulful tone.
By 1982 Misty In Roots was a force to be reckoned with but because of their determination to remain independent the band took a major step into Africa spending nine months in Zimbabwe and Zambia. The period spent in Africa had a major impact on the development of Misty In Roots' following two albums Earth and Musi O Tunya, both of which were directly inspired by the band’s experiences in Africa.
Earth, released in 1983, was a moving musical documentation of the devastation caused to mother Earth by mankind because of greed, cruelty and ignorance. The album consists of classic tracks as "Follow Fashion", "Earth", "Poor And Needy", "Own Them Control Them" and "Servant To Jah".
Musi O Tunya, released in 1985, was a reflection of the band’s love for Africa. Musi O Tunya (The Smoke That Thunders) is a beautiful place where Zimbabwe and Zambia meet, and the great Zambezi river gives up all its might to form one of the most beautiful sights of Southern Africa. The Musi O Tunya falls are known in English as Victoria Falls.
During 1987, Misty In Roots took their first trip to West Africa, the spiritual home of their ancestors, it was indeed a pleasant experience to set foot in the region after four hundred years in exile.
1989 saw the beginning of a friendship between Misty In Roots and Kaz Records, which resulted in the release of the album Forward which saw Misty In Roots reach the heights once again.
At Roots Controller 2002 the band showed that roots reggae is a very alive, and they inspired new, young artists all over the world to change style from dancehall and digital ragga to roots.
ALBUM DISCOGRAPHY
* Live at the Counter Eurovision 79 (1979) [recorded live in Belgium]
* Misty Over Sweden (1979) [Swedish release - recorded live in Sweden]
* Wise and Foolish (1981)
* Earth (1983)
* Musi-O-Tunya (1985)
* Forward (1989)
* Chronicles - The Best of (1994)
* The John Peel Sessions (1995)
* Jah Sees Jah Knows (1997) [2CD version includes bonus CD of Live at the Counter Eurovision '79]
* Roots Controller (2002) [6 new tracks plus previously-released material]
How Long Jah
Misty In Roots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jah Jah how long? Jah Jah, Jah Jah how long?
Jah Jah how long? Jah Jah, Jah Jah how long?
Over four hundred years down here in captivity
Satan set I free but I'm not free
How long, Jah Jah, do we have to suffer? How long,
Jah Jah, must we feel the pain, must we feel the pain?
Here me shouting
Jah Jah how long? Jah Jah, Jah Jah how long?
Jah Jah how long? Jah Jah, Jah Jah how long?
There's not a place on earth for the human race
The way man can't be free from money controller, money controller
How long, Jah Jah, do we have to suffer? How long,
Jah Jah, must we feel the pain, must we feel the pain?
Here me shouting
Jah Jah how long? Jah Jah, Jah Jah how long?
Jah Jah how long? Jah Jah, Jah Jah how long?
(repeat)
In Misty In Roots's song How Long Jah, the lyrics talk about the tribulations on the land and the feelings of captivity and suffering. The song opens with the question, "Can you feel it, my brother?" inviting the listener to join in the struggle of overcoming oppression. The lyrics go on to say that after over four hundred years of captivity, they have not truly been set free because of the power of those who control money.
The repeated line "Jah Jah how long?" invokes a sense of urgency and a search for redemption or liberation. The frustration and pain in the lyrics express the desire for freedom from the chains of oppression and the longing for a better existence. The use of "Jah Jah" refers to God or a divine being who the singer is appealing to for help and guidance.
The lyrics also touch upon the idea that there is hardly any place on earth where the human race can be truly free from the control of money. The mention of "money controller" highlights the economic and power structures that continue to oppress and marginalize people.
Overall, Misty In Roots's How Long Jah is a powerful and emotional song that speaks to the struggle against oppression, the longing for freedom, and the desire for a better world.
Line by Line Meaning
Tribulation's upon the land - can you feel it, my brother?
Do you feel the trouble that's happening in the world?
Jah Jah how long? Jah Jah, Jah Jah how long?
Asking Jah (God) how long will they have to wait?
Over four hundred years down here in captivity
They have been in captivity for over 400 years.
Satan set I free but I'm not free
Even though the oppressor is gone, they are still not free.
How long, Jah Jah, do we have to suffer? How long,
Jah Jah, must we feel the pain, must we feel the pain?
Pleading with Jah (God) to free them from pain and suffering.
There's not a place on earth for the human race
The world is not a safe place for humanity.
The way man can't be free from money controller, money controller
Money controls everything and people are not truly free.
Here me shouting
Jah Jah how long? Jah Jah, Jah Jah how long?
Continuing to ask Jah (God) how long they have to wait.
Contributed by Oliver T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.