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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
Soul Rebel
Bunny Wailer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a rebel - rebel in the morning time.
Soul rebel - an' in the evening too.
I'm a capturer, soul adventurer.
Hear me singing!
I'm a rebel - rebel in the morning time.
Soul rebel - an' in the evening too.
Now see the morning sun, (ahh.)
On the hillside.
An' if you're not living good,
You better travel wide,
You better travel wide.
Said I'm a living man, (ahh.)
An' I've got work to do.
An' if you're not happy then,
Then you must be blue,
You must be blue, you must be blue.
I'm a rebel - rebel in the morning time.
Soul rebel - an' in the evening too.
I'm a capturer, soul adventurer.
Hear me singing!
I'm a rebel - rebel in the morning time.
Soul rebel - an' in the evening too.
I'm a capturer, soul adventurer.
Now see the morning sun, (ahh.)
On the hillside.
If you're not living good,
Said you better travel wide,
You better travel wide.
Said I'm a living man, (ahh.)
An' I've got work to do.
An' if you're not happy then,
Then, then, then, you must be blue,
You must be blue, you must be blue, hey!
The song 'Soul Rebel' by Bunny Wailer is an anthem of self-realization and liberation. The musician declares himself a rebel of the soul, both in the morning and evening time. He is an adventurer, a seeker, and a capturer of souls, a metaphor that suggests he is capable of recognizing the essence of human beings beyond their social and cultural conventions. The song encourages listeners to travel wide if they are not living good, meaning that they must venture out of their comfort zone, broaden their horizons, and seek new experiences to gain a fresh perspective.
The second stanza reinforces the idea that the singer is a living man with a purpose, and his mission is to do work that brings him fulfillment. He challenges those who are not happy, implying that they need to find their path and follow it with passion and dedication. The song's repetitive structure and the use of "must be blue" suggest that those who are not rebels and adventurers of the soul are missing out on something important, perhaps a sense of purpose, meaning or happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey!
Introducing the song with an energetic 'Hey!'
I'm a rebel - rebel in the morning time.
I am a person who goes against the norms of society, even in the early hours of the day.
Soul rebel - an' in the evening too.
I remain a rebel, even as the sun goes down.
I'm a capturer, soul adventurer.
I capture the essence of the soul and go on adventures that enrich my spirit.
Hear me singing!
Listen to me express myself through music.
Now see the morning sun, (ahh.) On the hillside.
The sun rises and shines on the hillside, symbolizing a new day and new opportunities.
An' if you're not living good, You better travel wide, You better travel wide.
If you're not living your life to the fullest, you should broaden your horizons and seek new experiences.
Said I'm a living man, (ahh.) An' I've got work to do.
I am alive and have a purpose to fulfill.
An' if you're not happy then, Then you must be blue, You must be blue, you must be blue.
If you're not content with your life, you might be feeling sad or depressed.
Writer(s): Bob Marley Copyright: Odnil Music Ltd., Fifty Six Hope Road Music Ltd.
Contributed by Samantha L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@gideonpeter6129
I have been loyal to his music since 1984 and I will never quit
@user-on5it9yw5p
I have been listening to Bunny wailer for 40 years. Im not tired
@mafe7567
Remembering when I was thirteen with my best fren feather all wasted an pledging we will play this song for each others at our funeral I miss my fren luv her guts❤❤❤❤
@yehshuabendavid5894
ME ALEGRA QUE CON LA PELICULA, PUEDAN COBRAR UN DINERO, SE LO MERECEN AUE GRANDES MÚSICOS SALUDOS DESDE BUENOS AIRES ARGENTINA
@user-zv3mq9ti7y
Love this music
@nixonnguni3166
I like this one as a personal inspiration and causes me to undertake my battles... courageously.
@fernandojorge634
Banny,um mito do seguimento reegae
@margaretcronin7300
Luv this Tune memories by the score
@thaynasantos9034
Melhor sensação 😍😍😍😍
@christianarrizon9796
Not a big fan of bunny but his im a rebel is the best pure fire