Bunny Wailer (born as Neville Livingston on 10 April 1947 in Kingston, Jama… Read Full Bio ↴Bunny Wailer (born as Neville Livingston on 10 April 1947 in Kingston, Jamaica-2 March 2021) was a three-time Grammy Award winner, singer, percussionist and devoted Rastafarian, known for the reggae classic Dreamland. He is founding member of reggae group The Wailers with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. Bunny, Marley's step brother, toured with the band in England and USA after the success with the 1973 albums Catch A Fire and Burnin', but meant it was against Rastafari to perform for almost only white people and left Wailers 1973. He then made a number of solo reggae albums. Blackheart Man (1976) is a good example of his religious roots reggae, and Rock 'n' Groove (1981) of solid uptempo Sly & Robbie based reggae. He started to tour internationally again and is regarded as one of the most important reggae artists ever. Bunny Wailer has won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 1991, 1995 and 1997.
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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

Rasta Dread
Bunny Wailer Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hey yeah yeah yaaaay nanananaaah eey dread rasta dreadlock
(A rasta dreadlock) dreadlock congo bombo wild (a rasta dreadlock)
Rasta dreadlock ina babylon(a rastadreadlock)
A rasta congobombo wild
(A rasta dreadlock)
Children get your cultures
(A rasta dreadlock)
And dont just stay there in gestures(a rasta dreadlocks)

For the battle will be hotta(a rastadreadlockd)
And u"ll get no supper a rasta dread a rasta dread nowww
Drealocklock a congo bombo wild
Rasta dreadlock ina babylon
Roots rasta rootts rastaa
When i forward to london town
And then i take another flight to hongkong town
And then i travelled up to americaa
And then i took a lil trip to canada
Rastadreadlock travell from jamaica travelling to africaa
Rastadreadlock ina italy
Rastadreadlock ina germany rastadreadlock rastadreadlock congobombo wild na nananaaaannaaa rasta dread 20 thousand miles from home nanaanaaanaa ooh rasta dreadlocks
And thats long way for rasta to be away from home
Dont care what the world say i an i will i never go astray
Just like a bright n sunny day
I n i gonna have i n i wayy eey rastadreadlock ina babylonn roots rassta roots rasssta
Children get your culture and dont stay there in gesture
Coz the battle will be hotter

And u will get no supper
So me nah say rasta dread now rasta dread now

Overall Meaning

The Bunny Wailer's song "Rasta Dread" is a tribute to the Rastafarian movement, which was founded in Jamaica in the late 1930s. The Rastafarian culture had a significant impact on music, especially reggae. The song's title is taken from the Rastafarian hairstyle called dreadlocks, which is a symbol of one's connection to the divine. Bunny Wailer starts the song by singing "Hey yeah yeah yaaaay nanananaaah eey dread rasta dreadlock," which is the chorus and sets the tone of the song. The phrase "Rasta dreadlock ina babylon" refers to the Rastafarian belief that Babylon represents the oppressive Western world, which they are fighting against. Bunny Wailer also sings about the importance of preserving one's culture and not getting lost in superficial gestures. The battle will be tougher, and one would get no supper if they don't get serious about their cultures.

Furthermore, the song carries a message that people should embrace their roots and travel to other countries to learn from different cultures. It showcases the Rastafarian culture and its followers' willingness to travel and spread the message of love and unity. Bunny Wailer sings about his travels to various countries like Hong Kong, America, Canada, Italy, and Germany. The song suggests that Rastafarians can be found all over the world, and they always stay true to their roots.

In conclusion, "Rasta Dread" by Bunny Wailer is a powerful reggae anthem that promotes the Rastafarian culture and encourages listeners to embrace their roots and culture. The song talks about the importance of unity, love, and preserving one's culture. It is an inspiring song that instills pride in one's heritage and encourages people to explore other cultures and learn from them.

Line by Line Meaning

Hey yeah yeah yaaaay nanananaaah eey dread rasta dreadlock
This opening line is just a joyful exclamation about the power and beauty of having Rasta dreadlocks.

(A rasta dreadlock) dreadlock congo bombo wild (a rasta dreadlock)
The repetition of 'dreadlock' emphasizes that having Rasta locks is a wild and free thing that fills you with spirit, like the beat of a congo drum.

Rasta dreadlock ina babylon(a rastadreadlock)
Being a Rasta dreadlock in Babylon – meaning a world of oppression and struggle – is a powerful and deeply meaningful experience.

A rasta congobombo wild (A rasta dreadlock)
The 'congobombo' is a type of drum, so this line is just reinforcing the idea that being a Rasta dreadlock is like the wild, rhythmic beat of a drum.

Children get your cultures (A rasta dreadlock)
This line is a call to people of all ages to learn about their cultural roots and to appreciate the diversity of the world around them.

And dont just stay there in gestures(a rasta dreadlocks)
This is a warning to not only embrace other cultures superficially (i.e., through gestures), but to really engage with them and learn from them.

For the battle will be hotta(a rastadreadlockd)
This is a reminder that we live in a world of struggle and we need to be prepared for that.

And u'll get no supper a rasta dread a rasta dread nowww
This line is a reference to the Biblical story of Jacob and Esau, where Esau gave away his birthright for a bowl of soup. It's a reminder to not sell out one's beliefs for something as trivial as food.

Drealocklock a congo bombo wild
This line is just another nod to the idea that being a Rasta dreadlock is like the wild and free beat of a drum.

Rasta dreadlock ina babylon
Repeating this line just reinforces the idea that being a Rasta dreadlock in a world of oppression is a powerful identity to hold.

Roots rasta rootts rastaa
This is a reference to the African diaspora and the importance of holding onto cultural roots.

When i forward to london town And then i take another flight to hongkong town And then i travelled up to americaa And then i took a lil trip to canada
These lines are just a reference to the global reach of Rastafarianism and the fact that people with Rasta locks can be found all around the world.

Rastadreadlock travell from jamaica travelling to africaa Rastadreadlock ina italy Rastadreadlock ina germany rastadreadlock rastadreadlock congobombo wild na nananaaaannaaa rasta dread 20 thousand miles from home nanaanaaanaa ooh rasta dreadlocks
These lines are a continuation of the idea that Rastafarianism has spread around the world and that people with Rasta locks can be found far from home. The repetition of the phrase 'rasta dreadlock' underscores the power of this identity.

And thats long way for rasta to be away from home
This line just reinforces the idea that Rastafarians are dispersed throughout the world, but still hold onto their roots and identity.

Dont care what the world say i an i will i never go astray
This is a statement of strength and defiance, like saying 'we don't care what the world thinks, we will always stay true to ourselves.'

Just like a bright n sunny day I n i gonna have i n i wayy eey rastadreadlock ina babylonn roots rassta roots rasssta
This line is all about being optimistic and hopeful, no matter how oppressive the world may seem. It's a reaffirmation of the power of Rasta identity.

Children get your culture and dont stay there in gesture Coz the battle will be hotter And u will get no supper So me nah say rasta dread now rasta dread now
This is a repetition of earlier themes – a call to really engage with other cultures, a reminder that the world is full of struggle, and a warning not to sell out one's beliefs.

Contributed by Avery L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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