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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
I
Bunny Wailer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can do it better
I'm the toughest, I'm the toughest,
And I can do what you can't do,
For you'll never try to do what I do
I'm the toughest, I'm the toughest,
And any dub that you can make
I'm the dub master, I'm the dub master,
And I can play any dub you play
But you can never play the dub that I play
I'm the dub master, I'm the dub master,
Said I'm rough, I'm tough, I'm rough, I'm tough
Sayin' you're graced, but I'm bad
Said I'm rough, I'm tough, I'm rough, I'm tough
And any dance that you can cork (?)
I can cork it tighter
I'm the toughest, I'm the toughest,
I can draw better crowd than you
And you can never draw the crowd that I do
I'm the dub master, I'm the dub master,
Anything you can do
I can do it better
I'm the toughest, I'm the toughest,
And I can do what you can't do,
For you'll never try to do what I do
I'm the toughest, I'm the toughest,
Said I'm rough, I'm tough, I'm rough, I'm tough
I'm the toughest, I'm the roughest.....
The lyrics of Bunny Wailer's song "I'm The Toughest" illustrate a strong sense of confidence and competition. The singer claims that he can do anything his rivals can do, but better. He takes pride in his abilities, pushing himself to the limits and daring others to try and match him.
In the first verse, Bunny Wailer boasts that he is the toughest and can do things that others cannot. He challenges his opponents to attempt what he does, but doubts they will ever succeed. In the second verse, he continues this trend by proclaiming himself as the ultimate dub master, capable of creating dubs that surpass anyone else's. He even asserts that he can draw bigger crowds than his competitors.
The chorus repeats the message of the first verse, emphasizing that Bunny Wailer considers himself the toughest and the best. The song's energy is captured in the repetition of "I'm rough, I'm tough, I'm rough, I'm tough," highlighting the artist's pure grit and strength.
Overall, the lyrics of "I'm The Toughest" showcase a competitive spirit, self-assurance, and skill. Bunny Wailer portrays himself as a force to be reckoned with, challenging his rivals to keep up with him and prove they are tougher.
Line by Line Meaning
Anything you can do
No matter what you can do
I can do it better
I can do it with more precision and skill
I'm the toughest, I'm the toughest
I am the strongest, most resilient person
And I can do what you can't do
I can accomplish tasks that you cannot
For you'll never try to do what I do
You are not brave enough to attempt what I can do
And any dub that you can make
No matter what type of music you produce
I can make it better
I can elevate the quality to a higher level
I'm the dub master, I'm the dub master
I am the ultimate authority and expert
And I can play any dub you play
I can perform any music genre that you can
But you can never play the dub that I play
You cannot perform music as skillfully as I can
Said I'm rough, I'm tough, I'm rough, I'm tough
I am rugged, resilient, and highly capable
Sayin' you're graced, but I'm bad
You may think you are talented, but I am outstanding
And any dance that you can cork (?)
No matter what type of dance you engage in
I can cork it tighter
I can perform the dance with more precision and skill
I can draw a better crowd than you
I can attract more people to my performances than you can
And you can never draw the crowd that I do
You cannot match my ability to captivate an audience
I'm the toughest, I'm the toughest
I am the strongest, most resilient person
Said I'm rough, I'm tough, I'm rough, I'm tough
I am rugged, resilient, and highly capable
I'm the toughest, I'm the roughest.....
I am the strongest and most formidable individual
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: PETER TOSH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@aubynjones9643
Always big up to Bunny, for bringing us these solid memories.
@munyanyimunyanyi-ni5cm
Big madalas of reggae,brings back memories with my 2 uncles back in Masvingo Enock and Isaac Gwara,they loved this guy and that time he was the only living Wailer.rest in Peace.
@SeagalTembwe
Always taking me back in time to my early days growing up in Okavango swamps . My brother who I lost to car accident we would listen to Bunny Wailers and other reggae greats while we crossed waterways in wooden canoes dodging hippos, elephants and crocodiles. Rest in eternal peace legend
@brianobwanga2382
Good old memories bro for you.. The okavango from Kenya is some distance. Long live reagae music👌
@lewistharimba6132
loosing someone, especially a brother you used to enjoy with a certain Music genre is sad... Listening to the music you guys shared in the past may make you miss him more.... may your brother Rest In Peace....🙏
@sylvestermangwana2489
True may their souls rest in eternal peace
@flossynkwanda9957
f7u😮😮😮😮😮😮🎉😮😮😮😮😮😮
@user-bw3qu2yt6n
❤
@agripasakala3177
Bunny will always remind me of my brother, now late, with a very good sound system in the house, our weekends will be a reggae treat, taking long cross country drives with a wide selection of all roots reggae, driving through a starly sky... from vinyl records to cassettes and CDs, now am playing the mp3s and mp4s. Long live reggae... jah bless to all the departed and the living... memories will forever be fresh with reggae music.
@georgesagide3079
I will live to tell my Children about Bunny wailer ✊🏿💚💛❤️🔥 forever. Continue resting in power reggae Star 👊🏿