- - -
Bunny Wailer was a singer, songwriter and percussionist, born Neville O'Riley Livingston on April 10, 1947 in Kingston, Jamaica. He was founder and an original member of ska, rocksteady and reggae group The Wailers (formed 1963) along with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. The young Livingston spent his earliest years in the village of Nine Mile in St. Ann Parish. It was there that he first met Bob Marley, and the two toddlers became fast friends. The boys both came from one parent families; Livingston was being brought up by his father, Marley by his mother. Later, Bunny's father Thaddeus "Toddy" Livingston lived with Bob Marley's mother Cedella Booker and had a daughter with her named Pearl Livingston. Peter Tosh had a son, Andrew Tosh, with another of Bunny's sisters, Shirley, making Andrew his nephew
Livingston was underused as a writer and lead vocalist in The Wailers compared with Marley and Tosh. When Wailers regularly changed producers during the early reggae years in the late 1960s, Livingston continued to be a key part of the group's distinctive harmonies. He sang however lead on "Dreamland" (a cover of El Tempos' My Dream Island, which soon became Bunny's signature song), "Riding High", "Brainwashing" and on one verse of the Wailers' Impressions-like "Keep On Moving", both produced by Lee "Scratch" Perry. In 1971, he recorded the original version of Pass It On
Bunny Wailer toured with the Wailers in England and the United States, but soon became reluctant to leave Jamaica. He and Tosh became more marginalized in the group as the Wailers became an international success, and attention was increasingly focused on Marley. Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh subsequently left the Wailers to pursue solo careers. They were replaced by the I Threes, a move to broaden the base of success for the Wailers in the non-Jamaican market.
After leaving the Wailers, Bunny became more focused on his spiritual faith. He identified with the Rastafari movement, as did the other Wailers. He self-produced a number of his recordings after striking out on his own. He has also written much of his own material as well as re-recording a number of cuts from the Wailers catalogue. Bunny Wailer has recorded primarily in the roots style, in keeping with his often political and spiritual messages. The album "Blackheart Man" is a good example of his roots reggae style and the dub version,Dub d*sco vol 1 equally magnificent if hard to find. "Sings the Wailers" successfully reworks many of The Wailers songs with the backing of top Jamaican musicians, Sly and Robbie. He has also had success recording in the typically apolitical, more pop dancehall style. He has outlived his contemporaries in a culture where death by violence is commonplace.
Bunny Wailer has won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 1990, 1994 and 1996.
Bunny Wailer died on 2 March 2021.
ALBUMS WITH ORIGINAL MATERIAL
* ''Blackheart Man'' (1976) [[Island Records|Island]]/Solomonic
* ''Protest'' (1977) Island/Solomonic
* ''Struggle'' (1978) Solomonic
* ''Dubd'sco vol.1'' (1978) Solomonic
* ''In I Father's House'' (1979) Solomonic
* ''Bunny Wailer Sings the Wailers'' (1980) Island/Solomonic
* ''Dubd'sco vol.2'' (1981) Solomonic
* ''Rock 'n' Groove'' (1981) Solomonic
* ''Tribute'' (1981) Solomonic
* ''Hook Line & Sinker'' (1982) Solomonic
* ''Roots Radics Rockers Reggae'' (1983) [[Shanachie Records|Shanachie]]
* ''Live!'' (1983) Solomonic
* ''Marketplace'' (1985) Solomonic
* ''Rootsman Skanking'' (1987) Shanachie (international re-release of ''Rock And Groove'' edited version plus 3 extra tracks)
* ''Rule Dance Hall'' (1987) Shanachie
* ''Liberation'' (1989) Shanachie
* ''Time Will Tell: A Tribute to Bob Marley'' (1990) Shanachie (international re-release of ''Tribute'' + 2 extra tracks)
* ''Gumption'' (1990) Shanachie
* ''The Never Ending Wailers'' (1991)
* ''Dance Massive'' (1992)
* ''Just Be Nice'' (1993) [[RAS Records|RAS]]
* ''Hall of Fame: A Tribute to Bob Marley's 50th Anniversary'' (1996) RAS
* ''Communication'' (2000) Solomonic/Tuff Gong
* ''World Peace'' (2003) Solomonic
* ''Rub A Dub'' (2007) Solomonic
* ''Cross Culture'' (2009) Solomonic
* ''Combinations Vol.1'' (2009) Solomonic
* ''Blackheart Man (Remastered & Extended)'' (2009) Solomonic
* ''Reincarnated Souls'' (2013), VP - 3CD + 2DVD set
Craven Choke Puppy
Bunny Wailer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Craven a go choke puppy
Craven a go choke puppy not
Craven a go choke puppy
Whoa
(wow wow wow wow)
So you want all for yourself alone
(wow wow wow wow)
man
(wow wow wow wow)
Let me tell you my friend if you gonna
live
this life
(wow wow wow wow)
It's not good for you to build strife
Craven a go choke puppy
Can you dig it
(wow wow wow wow)
Want all lose all
(wow wow wow wow)
Then I know the wicked must fall
(wow wow wow wow)
I say want it, want it can't get it
(wow wow wow wow) oh no,
And get it, get it, no want it
(wow wow wow wow)
Oh that's why I say
Craven a go choke puppy
Craven a go choke puppy now
Craven a go choke puppy
Whoa, can you dig it (wow wow wow
wow)
Oh yeah (wow wow wow wow)
The craven dog will lose his bone
(wow wow wow wow)
The craven dog
(wow wow wow wow)
The craven dog will lose his bone
(whoo) Grafting after something else
(whoo)
They'll take it for themselves alone
(whoo)
They don't think about the other man
(whoo)
The old time people say, want it,
want it can't get it yeah
The song "Craven Choke Puppy" by Bunny Wailer is a powerful call against greed and selfishness. Its message is expressed through a metaphor, comparing people who crave for everything to a dog that chokes on its own bone. Wailer sings that those who want everything for themselves and don't care about others will eventually fall, echoing the Jamaican saying "wanti-wanti can't getti-getti." The song is a warning that selfishness is a self-destructive behavior that ultimately leads to loss and failure.
Wailer's use of metaphors and wordplay adds to the depth and power of the song. The phrase "Craven a go choke puppy" is a play on words, using the name of a popular cigarette brand in Jamaica (Craven A) to sound like "craving a choke puppy." This clever wordplay emphasizes the theme of the song, which is that craving and greed will choke people like a bone that is too big to swallow. Wailer's passionate delivery and the backing music of the Wailers create a sense of urgency and reinforce the song's message.
Overall, "Craven Choke Puppy" is a thought-provoking and powerful critique of greed and selfishness. Through a memorable metaphor and clever wordplay, Bunny Wailer warns listeners of the dangers of craving everything for oneself and ignoring the needs of others.
Line by Line Meaning
Craven a go choke puppy
The person obsessed with being selfish will end up hurting themselves.
Craven a go choke puppy not
Those who are not selfish will prevent themselves from being choked.
Craven a go choke puppy
Selfish people will face the consequence of their actions.
Whoa
Expressing surprise or awe at the situation.
(wow wow wow wow)
So you want all for yourself alone
You are only concerned with your own benefit.
(wow wow wow wow)
And you don't think about the other man
You do not care how others may be affected by your actions.
(wow wow wow wow)
Let me tell you my friend if you gonna
live
this life
Living a good life means not causing strife.
(wow wow wow wow)
It's not good for you to build strife
Strife is not good for anyone.
Craven a go choke puppy
Selfish actions will lead to negative consequences in life.
Can you dig it
Do you understand this message?
(wow wow wow wow)
Want all lose all
Being too selfish will cause you to lose everything in the end.
(wow wow wow wow)
Then I know the wicked must fall
Selfish people will face negative consequences in life.
(wow wow wow wow)
I say want it, want it can't get it
Just wanting something does not guarantee you will get it.
(wow wow wow wow) oh no,
And get it, get it, no want it
Taking something without earning it is wrong.
(wow wow wow wow)
Oh that's why I say
Craven a go choke puppy
This is why selfish people will face negative consequences.
Craven a go choke puppy now
Selfish people will face negative consequences now.
Craven a go choke puppy
Selfish actions will lead to negative consequences in life.
Whoa, can you dig it (wow wow wow
wow)
Asking if the listener understands the message.
Oh yeah (wow wow wow wow)
Expression of agreement or affirmation.
The craven dog will lose his bone
Selfish people will lose their possessions or advantages.
(wow wow wow wow)
The craven dog
Selfish people who covet material possessions.
(wow wow wow wow)
The craven dog will lose his bone
Selfish people will lose out in the end.
(whoo) Grafting after something else
(whoo)
Trying to take something that is not yours.
They'll take it for themselves alone
(whoo)
Taking something without considering others is selfish and wrong.
They don't think about the other man
(whoo)
Not considering others when you take something is wrong.
The old time people say, want it,
want it can't get it yeah
Desiring something does not guarantee you will receive it.
Writer(s): Bob Marley
Contributed by Claire C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
LambomanZA
on Boderation
It’s a great song and thanks for the lyrics. Message still ring soo true even 2dae.
Nyakwar Osera
on Boderation
Yes reggae surpasses all music in the spread.
Neph
on Cease Fire
How do I get the lyrics to one of his best songs, Ceasefire
Hendrix Banda
on Keep on Movin'
Rest in Eternal Peace King Bunny! We shall miss you for real
Atom. Dread. Adoko
on Reggae In The U.S.A.
Yes i. Love. Bunny. Wailer. Songs
Getrude Rusere
on The Conqueror
I want lyrics
Yassir Waleed Ali
on Gamblings
nice n good stuffs
Wavvy Shotzz
on I Stand Predominate
i love the song.
Wavvy Shotzz
on I Stand Predominate
i love the song.
Basu Ghoshdastider
on Bellyfull
when belly full party on....