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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
Fig Tree
Bunny Wailer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When every mans got to find where he does come from
Never never knew that the time would come
When every fig must find its fig tree
jump little figs into your tree
And say you are free. say you are free, say you are free
I've been rebuked and I've been scorned,
To live a new, so won't you too,
My loved ones come drink new wine with me
Lets live and love in peace and harmony
And say we are free, say we are free, say we are free
in my fig tree, (Chorus: in my little fig tree) where I wanna be,
So safe and free, in my fig tree (Chorus:in my little fig tree),
Where I long to be from all misery
in my fig tree (Chorus: in my little fig tree) where I wanna be
So safe and free in my fig tree (Chorus: In my little fig tree)
Where I long to be from all misery, yeah yeah yeah yea
Now ever man is a man and every mickle make a mottle
Don't free some and put some in a shackle
For now is the time and the time is now
When we should live like in the days of old
When every sheep had their fold
to say they are free, (Chorus:say they are free) to say they are free
In my fig tree,(Chorus:in my little fig tree) where I wanna be,
So safe and free in my fig tree, (Chorus:in my little fig tree)
Where I long to be from all misery.
In my fig tree (Chorus:in my little fig tree)
Where I wanna be, so safe and free
In my fig tree (Chorus:in my little fig tree)
Where I long to be from all misery
In my my my my fig tree where I wanna be so safe and free
In my my my my fig tree where I long to be from all misery
The song “Fig Tree” by Bunny Wailer is a metaphorical representation of the need for people to reconnect with their roots and be true to themselves. The lyrics suggest that this reconnection is necessary for personal growth and development, and that one should embrace their history and where they come from. The “fig tree” represents a person's true self or identity, and the “little figs” are the people who need to find their place and purpose in life.
The singer acknowledges that he has faced rejection and mistreatment from others, but has now found a sense of liberation and freedom in reconnecting with his heritage. He invites others to join him in this journey of self-discovery and to live in harmony with one another. Through this process, he believes that a sense of peace can be established and people can live freely without the constraints of society.
Overall, “Fig Tree” is a call to embrace one’s identity and find a sense of belonging. It encourages self-reflection and a connection to one’s cultural background, in order to live a more fulfilling life.
Line by Line Meaning
Never never knew that the time would come
I had no idea that there would be a time when things would be different
When every mans got to find where he does come from
Everyone has to figure out where they came from at some point
When every fig must find its fig tree
Every person must find their place in the world
jump little figs into your tree
Move forward and start living freely
And say you are free. say you are free, say you are free
Declare your freedom and liberation
I've been rebuked and I've been scorned,
I have faced rejection and disdain
Rejected of men, now I'm born
Despite all this, I have been reborn and given another chance
To live a new, so won't you too,
I want others to start anew and live freely as well
My loved ones come drink new wine with me
Join me in enjoying a fresh start and new life
Lets live and love in peace and harmony
Let us live together peacefully and with love
And say we are free, say we are free, say we are free
Declare our collective freedom and liberation
In my fig tree, (Chorus: in my little fig tree) where I wanna be,
My safe and happy place in the world
So safe and free, in my fig tree (Chorus:in my little fig tree),
A place where I can live without fear or restraint
Where I long to be from all misery
Where I want to be to escape all sadness and hardship
Now ever man is a man and every mickle make a mottle
Everyone is equal and every little bit makes a difference
Don't free some and put some in a shackle
Do not liberate some while oppressing others
For now is the time and the time is now
This is the moment to act and make a change
When we should live like in the days of old
When we should return to a simpler, freer way of living
When every sheep had their fold
When everyone had a place they belong to
to say they are free, (Chorus:say they are free) to say they are free
To declare their own freedom and liberation
Where I wanna be, so safe and free in my fig tree, (Chorus:in my little fig tree)
Where I want to be: safe and free in my own world
In my fig tree (Chorus:in my little fig tree)
My own, safe place where I can be free
Where I long to be from all misery
Where I want to be to escape all sadness and hardship
In my my my my fig tree where I wanna be so safe and free
In my own, safe place where I can be free
In my my my my fig tree where I long to be from all misery
Where I want to be to escape all sadness and hardship
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: NEVILLE O LIVINGSTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@pipeandslippersman
...and the last wailer falls. a sad day for any roots fan. rest in peace, bunny, you will be missed!
@Krabadaque
This must be one of the best records ever! I wore out my first vinyl copy, bought another, then a CD of it. I never seem to grow tired of this masterpiece!
@timonkokalj5911
Right! :D
@theonlysimma
masterpieceis right!
@cliveruddock5545
Wicked tune..
@misslou3624
Bunny left us some Jewels and this should have more likes
@bervely8800
May Your Soul Rest In Eternal Peace
@candylion1451
R.I.P Jah Bunny Livingston 🎶 Honour and Respect . This Train to Zion in your Fig Tree Rasta man ah Lion Rasta come from Zion🦁😢 Sadly missed Condolences to his family. Jah Live for Iver.
@waymanirwin2539
Rest In Paradise, Bunny! We love you so much!
@karajones2530
RIP bro Bunny I always love u