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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
Rastaman
Bunny Wailer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But them can't kill the Rasta Man at all, 'tall, 'tall.
Them can't kill the Rasta Man at all.
That's the strangest man I've seen.
(That's because he's a Rasta Man)
Having the mark of a Nazarine.
(That's because he's a Rasta Man)
(That's because he's a Rasta Man)
Borning out of time and out of age.
(That's because he's a Rasta Man)
The Rasta come from Zion.
Rasta Man a Lion.
(Oh what a Rasta Man) (repeat)
Remember Jeremiah children.
(He was a Rasta Man)
Or even Iziah.
(He was a Rasta Man)
Moses in the pit of mud.
(He was a Rasta Man)
Trodding from Buzrak with his garments dipped in blood.
(He was a Rasta Man)
Oh what a dread, dread whola one,
The Rasta Man come from Zion.
What a strange, what a dread, but a righteous man,
The Rasta Man, him come from Zion.
What a dread, dread up-full one,
The Rasta Man come from Zion.
What a dread-black, dread-lock one,
The Rasta Man come from Zion.
Lightening!
Seven years years of famine for seven years of plenty
Is like two grains of wheat for one bale of barley.
A hand-full of corn shall be on the hillside
And with that you've got to be satisfied.
It was Elijha who prayed that it did not rain.
(He was a Rasta Man)
He prayed and the rains came again.
(He was a Rasta Man)
It was Joshua who commanded the sun stand still.
(He was a Rasta Man)
He did that according to his Master's will.
(Who was a Rasta Man)
What a dread, dread whola one,
The Rasta Man come from Zion.
What a strange, what a dread, but a up-full one.
The Rasta Man come
The lyrics of Bunny Wailer's song "Rastaman" speak to the historical and ongoing oppression faced by black people and the resilience of Rastafarianism in the face of that oppression. The first verse alludes to the murder of Patrice Lumumba, a Congolese independence leader who was assassinated in 1961 after opposing the country's colonial powers. Despite the violence and oppression faced by black people, the chorus affirms that the Rastaman cannot be killed. The Rastaman is described as a "strange" and "dread" individual who carries a "prophetical message," born "out of time and out of age." This imagery suggests that Rastafarianism is a movement that transcends history and exists beyond the confines of time.
Throughout the rest of the song, Bunny Wailer references biblical figures, including Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Moses, who all display characteristics of Rastafarianism. The lyrics suggest that Rastafarianism is a continuation of these biblical traditions and that the Rastaman is a figure who can perform miracles through prayer and faith, much like Elijah and Joshua. The song ends with a reference to a famine and a reminder that people must be satisfied with what they have.
Overall, "Rastaman" is a powerful anthem that celebrates the strength and resilience of Rastafarianism in the face of violence and oppression. It draws on biblical imagery to argue that Rastafarianism is a continuation of ancient traditions, and that the Rastaman is a figure with supernatural abilities and a "prophetical message." The song also highlights the ongoing struggle for justice and equality faced by black people in the present.
Line by Line Meaning
Them kill Limumba for his own-a-rights,
They killed Limumba for defending his rights,
But them can't kill the Rasta Man at all, 'tall, 'tall.
But they cannot kill the Rasta Man, not at all,
That's the strangest man I've seen.
That man looks different than most,
(That's because he's a Rasta Man)
(Because he's a Rasta Man)
Having the mark of a Nazarine.
He has the markings of a Nazarene,
He carries a prophetical message.
He has a message of prophecy to share,
Borning out of time and out of age.
He has returned from a different time period.
The Rasta come from Zion.
The Rasta people originate from Zion.
Rasta Man a Lion.
Rasta Man is strong like a lion.
(Oh what a Rasta Man) (repeat)
(Oh, what an incredible Rasta Man)
Remember Jeremiah children.
Remember the children of Jeremiah.
(He was a Rasta Man)
(He too was a Rasta Man)
Or even Iziah.
Even Isaiah was a Rasta Man.
Moses in the pit of mud.
Moses was forced into the mud.
(He was a Rasta Man)
(And even he was a Rasta Man)
Trodding from Buzrak with his garments dipped in blood.
He walks from Buzrak with his clothes stained in blood.
(He was a Rasta Man)
(Again, he was a Rasta Man)
Oh what a dread, dread whola one,
What an intimidating person,
The Rasta Man come from Zion.
This Rasta Man comes from Zion.
What a strange, what a dread, but a righteous man,
He is strange, intimidating, but is also morally correct,
The Rasta Man, him come from Zion.
This Rasta Man comes from Zion.
What a dread, dread up-full one,
What a terrifying and awe-inspiring person,
The Rasta Man come from Zion.
This Rasta Man comes from Zion.
What a dread-black, dread-lock one,
What an intimidatingly black and dreadlocked person,
The Rasta Man come from Zion.
This Rasta Man comes from Zion.
Lightening!
Lighting!
Seven years years of famine for seven years of plenty
Seven years of famine to pay for seven years of plenty
Is like two grains of wheat for one bale of barley.
This is like getting less value for your return.
A hand-full of corn shall be on the hillside
You'll have to be content with a small amount of corn on the hills.
And with that you've got to be satisfied.
You'll have to be content with that.
It was Elijha who prayed that it did not rain.
Elijah prayed for the rain to stop.
(He was a Rasta Man)
(And he was a Rasta Man)
He prayed and the rains came again.
He prayed and the rains started again.
(He was a Rasta Man)
(And yep, he was definitely a Rasta Man)
It was Joshua who commanded the sun stand still.
It was Joshua who once told the sun to stand still.
(He was a Rasta Man)
(He too was a Rasta Man)
He did that according to his Master's will.
He fulfilled his Master's wishes by doing so.
(Who was a Rasta Man)
(His Master was also a Rasta Man)
What a strange, what a dread, but a up-full one.
What an intimidating, yet uplifting person.
The Rasta Man come from Zion.
This Rasta Man originates from Zion.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: NEVILLE LIVINGSTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kmc1steelers998
Nothing like this song. The struggle, the hardships, the sickness n sadness but JAH still got me through. I am the Rastaman....the Bless 🙏one
@dylandinda1806
After hearing your transition today I just had to come and listen to this great tune
@Strezo28
"But them can't kill the Rasta Man at all" Rest in Power legend !
@stephanlarsen8169
For I ver
@miroz5824
Rest in Power JAH B, JAH guidance and Itection! ❤️ 💛 💚
@juanestadian8471
✊✊✊✊✊ thanks for the music Bunny Wailer. Black Heart Man was as good an LP as Exodus
@timosnorthshore
Thanks sooo much for uploading this.
It saves me the hassle of playing either my cassette tape, 8-track cartridge, cd, 7 inch, or vinyl.
@pjmacone
Because, he was a Rastamon 🙏🏾
Rest In Power Bunny ❤️💛💚
@maryhadda6796
Rip to the last legend of the wailers here in 2021 😫😫😭 it's ok though Zion got a hell of a concert . Say his name . Bunny wailer ❣️➕✔️
@toyaryking6075
Jah Live This Song Is My Strength