The first line-up of the group was Garth Dennis, Don Carlos, and Derrick "Duckie" Simpson. The group has undergone several lineup changes: Carlos left, replaced by Michael Rose; then Dennis left to play with The Wailing Souls, and was replaced by Errol Nelson. During this early period, the band's most famous recording is the album entitled Love Crisis, later rereleased as Black Sounds Of Freedom. In 1979 the group was joined by Sandra "Puma" Jones, a social worker from North Carolina, USA. Under this lineup, (Rose, Simpson and Jones), with Sly & Robbie as producers (and also permanently employed on drum and bass), they released the band's most popular albums: Sinsemilla, Red, Chill Out, and the Grammy-winning AnthemÂč, as well as others. During this period, Black Uhuru became one of the most popular reggae groups in the world, regularly touring with the likes of The Police and The Rolling Stones. Live 1984 (a concert at the Rockpalast in Germany, but was actually recorded on October 18, 1981) captures the band at the height of its powers.
After Rose went solo in 1985, Junior Reid joined for a few records and also left; Puma Jones left in 1987 (and died of cancer three years later, in 1990). In 1990, Simpson reunited with Dennis and Carlos in the original line-up of the group. They recorded several albums and toured extensively. By the end of the 90's, Dennis and Carlos left the band and fought a legal battle against Simpson over the name Black Uhuru. Simpson won the lawsuit and formed yet another incarnation of Black Uhuru with Andrew Bees as lead singer. Only one album, Dynasty, was released before Bees left the group.
In February 2004, it was announced in the Jamaican press that Simpson and Michael Rose had re-united under the name "Black Uhuru feat. Michael Rose". Together with a female backing singer named Kay Starr, they released a single, "Dollars" and performed at several concerts including "Western Consciousness 2004" on April 28 in Jamaica, of which a live video was released shortly thereafter. A new album has been reported to be in progress.
== Discography ==
'Group: Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Michael Rose, Errol "Tarzan" Nelson'
*1977 - 'Love Crisis'
*1981 - 'Black Sounds of Freedom' ("Love Crisis" reedition)
'Group: Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Michael Rose, Sandra "Puma" Jones'
*1979 - 'Showcase'
*1980 - 'Black Uhuru'
*1980 - 'Sinsemilia'
*1981 - 'Red'
*1982 - 'Chill Out'
*1983 - 'Guess Who's Coming To Dinner' ("Black Uhuru" reedition)
*1983 - 'Anthem'
'Group: Derrick Simpson, Delroy "Junior" Reid, Sandra "Puma" Jones'
*1986 - 'Brutal'
*1987 - 'Positive' (Puma Jones replaced Olafunke)
'Group: Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Garth Dennis, Don Carlos'
*1990 - 'Now'
*1991 - 'Iron Storm'
*1993 - 'Mystical truth'
*1994 - 'Strongg'
'Group: Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Jenifah Nyah, Andrew Bees'
*1998 - 'Unification'
*2001 - 'Dynasty'
'Live / Dub albums:'
*1982 - 'Uhuru in Dub'
*1982 - 'Tear It Up - Live' (album and video)
*1983 - 'The Dub Factor'
*1986 - 'Brutal Dub'
*1987 - 'The Positive Dub'
*1988 - 'Live'
*1988 - 'Live In New York City'
*1990 - 'Now Dub'
*1990 - 'Love Dub' ("Uhuru In Dub" reedition)
*1992 - 'Iron Storm Dub'
*1993 - 'Mystical Truth Dub'
*1994 - 'Strongg Dubb'
*2000 - 'Live 1984'
*2001 - 'In Dub'
*2001 â 'Dubbin'It Live' (summer 2001, at PalĂ©o Festival)
Solidarity
Black Uhuru Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Solidarity
Everybody wants the same thing, don't they?
Everybody wants a happy end
They want to see the game on Saturday
They want to be somebody's friend
Everybody wants to work for a living
Everybody wants their children warm
Everybody wants to be forgiven
They want a shelter from the storm
Look at me, I ain't your enemy
We walk on common ground
We don't need to fight each other
What we need, what we need
Solidarity
Solidarity
Solidarity
Solidarity
Nobody likes to ask for money
Nobody likes to play the clown
Nobody likes to wait in a long line
Nobody likes to be pushed around
Everybody wants their family protected
They want to express themselves
Everybody wants to live forever
Look at me I ain't your enemy
Don't believe everything you hear
This is no time to fight each other
What we need, what we need
Solidarity
Solidarity
Solidarity
Solidarity
Solidarity
Solidarity
The lyrics of "Solidarity" by Black Uhuru convey the message of the unifying power of solidarity among people, despite their differences in background, social status, or beliefs. The song begins with the singer questioning what is bothering the people, emphasizing the need for solidarity to unite individuals. The lyrics articulate that everyone has the same basic and essential needs - to have a happy life, to have reliable friends, to work for a living, to raise their children well, to be protected, and to live forever. It aims to promote the concept that everyone is not different from each other, that they share common ground, and that there is no need to be each other's enemies.
The song accentuates that nobody likes negative experiences such as asking for money, playing the clown, waiting in lines or being pushed around. The artist's intent to ultimately convey that everyone deserves access fair level of protection and the right to have a voice, whether it be in protecting their opinions or beliefs. They urge listeners not to believe everything that they hear but to stand in solidarity for a common cause. Ultimately the song highlights the need for solidarity in society as it can take care of a lot of the struggles individuals face by standing as one entity.
Line by Line Meaning
What's the matter, people?
Is there something bothering you all?
Solidarity
Let's stick together
Everybody wants the same thing, don't they?
We all want similar things in life, right?
Everybody wants a happy end
We all want a happy ending in our own way
They want to see the game on Saturday
They want to enjoy their leisure time
They want to be somebody's friend
They want to feel a sense of belonging
Everybody wants to work for a living
We all want to earn money honorably
Everybody wants their children warm
We all want our children to have the best and stay safe
Everybody wants to be forgiven
We all want to be given another chance
They want a shelter from the storm
They want to be protected from life's storms
Look at me, I ain't your enemy
I come in peace, let's not fight
We walk on common ground
We have similar beliefs and values
We don't need to fight each other
There's no need to engage in a conflict among us
What we need, what we need
The solution is clear, we need solidarity
Nobody likes to ask for money
We all feel uncomfortable asking for financial assistance
Nobody likes to play the clown
We don't want to be ridiculed
Nobody likes to wait in a long line
Waiting in line is a tedious task
Nobody likes to be pushed around
We all want to be treated with respect
Everybody wants their family protected
We all want to protect our loved ones
They want to express themselves
They want to express their thoughts and feelings
Everybody wants to live forever
We all want to be immortalized in some way
Don't believe everything you hear
Question what you hear and make your own conclusions
This is no time to fight each other
We should come together instead of fighting
Solidarity
We need each other now more than ever
Solidarity
Our strength lies in unity
Solidarity
Together we stand, divided we fall
Solidarity
Let's work together to achieve our common goals
Solidarity
Let's be strong, together
Solidarity
We can overcome anything as one
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave
Written by: STEVEN VAN ZANDT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@scorpionking6665
R.I. P to the legendary bassist Mr. Robbie Shakespeare!
@dee_dee_place
RIP- Ms. Sandra "Puma" Jones!
@ToyotaGuy1971
Rasta never die.
@gostrum1
Puma and Robbie
Gone but not forgotten â€
@tiffanip.2582
Rest in to peace both of them. Puma was my grandmother and she died before I was born. Through the music I get to experience who she really was back then.
@gentlegiant6585
I can remember the 1st time hearing this song. I was San Diego surfer back then and was in auto shop class in 1983-84 (Poway high school class of 1985. Go Titans đ). A classmate had a VW Bug which he was working on. His doors were open and his back seat was replaced with a carpeted wooden panel with 6 speakers. 4 Pioneer 6x9's and 2 Pioneer 5 inch. All with amplifiers. It sounded fantastic đ! He was playing Solidarity and I was mesmerized. Had to get it after asking Who is that? Good times then đđđââïžđ”đ¶đ!
@bluehibiscus502
Wow! Fantastic & well told story.
@NunyaHarmonee
Music is life's jukebox
@feroniafreeman
it's ironic you said "mesmerized" to describe when you first heard it because I used that very same word. I SO very much understand youâ€â€â€â€
@rodshaw8472
I saw them that year when they came to SDSU Open Air Amphitheater. When they played this, the whole crowd moved as one. A mystical experience.