- - -
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
Quit Trying
Bunny Wailer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You better quit trying stop nagging me so constantly
You better quit trying, I just want for you to let me be
Cause I've got who I want to show me the way.
I Don't need sympathy so please go your way.
Go away you hypocrite go away
O promise is a comfort to a fool
You hypocrite go away-o
And please don't you sorry for me you hypocrite go away-o
Cause since I've seen the light
You don't know what its done for me
And its such a fight only who'se
Got eyes to see can see (rep.)
You better quit trying
And give the little youth a chance
You better quit trying
For they can make this place a better land
You better quit trying
I hope you elders understand
They got their own mind. They too can lead the way
They can make the garden red, gold and green for little children to play
Go away, you hypocrite go away-o
Promise is a comfort to a fool you hypocrite go away-o
I don't need no sympathy you hypocrite go away-o and please
Don't you sorry for me you hypocrite go away-o
Cause since I've seen the light
You don't know what its done for me
And its such a light only whose
Got eyes to see can see (rep.)
You better quit trying to live my life for me
You better quit trying stop nagging me so constantly
You better quit trying and give the little youth a chance
You better quit trying for they can make this place a better land (rep.).
In Bunny Wailer's song "Quit Trying," he is pleading with someone to stop trying to control his life and to let him be himself. He warns them that he does not need their sympathy and that he has found someone who can guide him. Bunny has seen the light and he knows the truth, and he does not want anyone else to interfere with his path.
Bunny seems to be talking specifically to elders, asking them to step back and give the younger generation a chance to lead. He knows that children can make this place a better land, and he wants to give them every opportunity to do so. Bunny is urging everyone to let go of their need for power and control, and to let life unfold as it was meant to.
Overall, Bunny Wailer's "Quit Trying" is a message of empowerment, encouraging people to live their own lives and to let others do the same. It is a call for unity and cooperation, and an acknowledgement that everyone has something valuable to contribute to the world.
Line by Line Meaning
You better quit trying to live my life for me
Please stop trying to control my life and let me make my own decisions.
You better quit trying stop nagging me so constantly
It would be helpful if you could stop nagging me all the time.
You better quit trying, I just want for you to let me be
I'm asking you to leave me alone and let me be.
Cause I've got who I want to show me the way.
I have found someone who can guide me and don't need anyone else to do so.
I Don't need sympathy so please go your way.
I don't want your sympathy, so please leave me alone.
Go away you hypocrite go away
You are a hypocrite, please go away.
O promise is a comfort to a fool
False promises only provide comfort to those who are foolish enough to believe them.
You hypocrite go away-o
You are a hypocrite, please leave.
I don't need no sympathy you hypocrite go away-
I don't need your sympathy, you are a hypocrite and should leave.
And please don't you sorry for me you hypocrite go away-o
Please don't pretend to be sorry for me, you are a hypocrite and should leave.
Cause since I've seen the light
Since I've gained a new understanding or perspective.
You don't know what its done for me
You don't understand how it has benefited me.
And its such a fight only whose
It's a difficult journey that only those
Got eyes to see can see (rep.)
Who are aware enough can truly comprehend.
And give the little youth a chance
Give the younger generation an opportunity.
For they can make this place a better land
Young people have the potential to make this world a better place.
I hope you elders understand
I hope that older generations can comprehend this and support youth.
They got their own mind. They too can lead the way
Young people have their own ideas and should be given the chance to lead.
They can make the garden red, gold and green for little children to play
Youth can create a world full of joy and vibrancy for future generations.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: NEVILLE LIVINGSTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ulrikemorgan1195
The great Bunny wailer has passed on this morning now you have joined back together with bob Marley and Peter tosh the original wailers back together indeed in heaven we will miss you forever we will remember you and love you Jah B you're one of the greatest champions of reggae music we will always remember you
@leodoamaral9359
Rest in Paradise Jah B! 3/2/2021
@kingarthur6683
Go well Jah B.💔💛💚
@joshhawks7231
Also song i thought of when heard the news RIP legend
@justagamebeatz5921
Rip