Born in Stewarton, in the parish of Clarendon, Jamaica, Derrick Morgan entered in 1957 the Vere Johns Opportunity Hour, a talent show held at the Palace Theatre in Kingston. He won with rousing impressions of Little Richard and, shortly after that, was recruited to perform around the island with the popular Jamaican comedy team Bim and Bam. In 1959 Morgan entered the recording studio for the first time. Duke Reid, the acclaimed sound system boss, was looking for talent to record for his Treasure Isle record label. Morgan cut two popular shuffle-boogie sides "Lover Boy", a.k.a. "S-Corner Rock", and "Oh My". Soon after, Morgan cut the bolero-tinged boogie "Fat Man", which also became a hit. He also found time to record for Coxsone Dodd.
In 1960 Morgan became the only artist ever to fill the places from one to seven on the Jamaican pop chart simultaneously. Among those hits were "Don't Call Me Daddy", "In My Heart", "Be Still", and "Meekly Wait and Murmur Not". But it was the following year that Morgan released the biggest hit of his career, the Leslie Kong production of "Don't You Know", later retitled "Housewives' Choice" by a local DJ. The song featured a bouncing ska riddim, along with a duet by Morgan and Millicent "Patsy" Todd.
"Housewives' Choice" began the legendary rivalry between Morgan and Prince Buster, who accused Morgan of stealing his ideas. Buster quickly released "Blackhead Chiney Man", chiding Morgan with the sarcastic put-down, "I did not know your parents were from Hong Kong" – a swipe at Kong. Morgan returned with the classic "Blazing Fire", in which he warns Buster to "Live and let others live, and your days will be much longer. You said it. Now it's the Blazing Fire". Buster shot back with, "Watch It Blackhead", which Morgan countered with "No Raise No Praise" and "Still Insist". Followers of the two artists often clashed, and eventually the government had to step in with a staged photo shoot depicting the rivals as friends.
Morgan had a major success in 1962 with "Forward March", a song celebrating Jamaican independence from Great Britain.
In the mid-1960s, when ska evolved into the cooler, more soulful rocksteady, Morgan continued to release top quality material, including the seminal rude boy classic, "Tougher Than Tough", "Do the Beng Beng", "Conquering Ruler", and a cover of Ben E. King's soul hit, "Seven Letters". Produced by Bunny Lee, "Seven Letters" is often cited as the first true reggae single. In 1969 Morgan cut the famous skinhead anthem "Moon Hop" (on Crab Records). However, failing eyesight then forced him to give up regular stage appearances. Morgan still performs occasionally at ska revival shows across the world – often backed by the guitarist Lynn Taitt. He remained popular in Jamaica and the UK into the early 1970s, and has lived primarily in the UK or the US since the late 1960s.
Morgan has written several songs that have won the Festival Song Contest for other artists, including "Jamaica Whoa" (1998, Neville Martin), "Fi Wi Island A Boom" (2000, Stanley Beckford), and "Progress" (2002, Devon Black).
In July 2002 in Toronto, Canada, a two-night "Legends of Ska" concert was held. Reuniting were The Skatalites, Lloyd Knibb, Rico Rodriguez, Lloyd Brevett, Lester Sterling, Johnny Moore and Lynn Taitt; along with Prince Buster, Alton Ellis, Owen Gray, Lord Creator, Justin Hinds, Derrick Harriott, Winston Samuels, Roy Wilson, Patsy Todd, Doreen Shaffer, Stranger Cole, Lord Tanamo and Derrick Morgan. In 2007 Morgan appeared on the bill at the annual Augustibuller music festival. His song "Tougher Than Tough" was featured in the video game Scarface: The World is Yours.
He worked with Desmond Dekker, Bob Marley, and Jimmy Cliff a.o..
Discography
Albums
Seven Letters (1969)
Derrick Morgan in London (1969)
Moon Hop (1970)
Feel So Good (1975) (featuring Hortense Ellis)
People's Decision (1977)
Still in Love (1977) (also featuring Hortense Ellis)
Sunset at Moonlight City
Love City
The Legend of Derrick Morgan (1980)
I Am the Ruler (1992) – Trojan Records
Tougher Than Tough (Rudie in Court) (1992)
The Conquering Ruler (and the Sensational Yebo) (1994) – Pork Pie Records
Ska Man Classics (1995)
Ska Man Classics (1997)
21 Hits Salute (1997)
Meets the High Notes Live (2003)
Moon Hop: Best of the Early Years 1960–69 (2003)
Derrick:Top the Top (2003)
Derrick Meets the High Notes (2004)
Shake A Leg (2014)
Singles
"The Hop" / "Tell It To Me", 7-inch: Island WI 006, UK, 1962
"Forward March" / "Please Don't Talk About Me", 7-inch: Island WI 011, UK, 1962
"See The Blind" / "Cherry Home", 7-inch: Island WI 013, UK, 1962
"I Am The Ruler" / "I Mean It" Pyramid 1968
"No Dice" / "I Mean It" Pyramid 1968
"Moon Hop" – 1970 – UK No. 49
Singles on Crab Records
"River to the Bank" / "Reggae Limbo", 7-inch (B side – Peter King)
"Seven Letters" / "Lonely Heartaches", 7-inch (B side – The Tartons)
"The First Taste of Love" / "Dance All Night", 7-inch
"Don't Play That Song" / "How Can I Forget You", 7-inch
"Mek It Tan Deh" / "Gimme Back", 7-inch
"Send Me Some Loving" / "Come What May", 7-inch
"Hard Time" / "Death Rides A Horse", 7-inch (B Side – Roy Richards)
"Man Pon Moon" / "What A Thing", 7-inch
"Moon Hop" / "Harris Wheel", 7-inch (B Side – Reggaeites)
"A Night at the Hop" / "Telephone", 7-inch
"Oh Baby" / The Rat", 7-inch (B Side – The Thunderbirds)
"Need To Belong" / "Let's Have Some Fun", 7-inch (with Jennifer Jones)
"I Wish I Was An Apple" / "The Story", 7-inch
"Take A Letter Maria" / "Just A Little Loving", 7-inch (with Owen Gray)
"Rocking Good Way" / "Wipe These Tears", 7-inch (with Jennifer Jones)
"My Dickie" / "Brixton Hop", 7-inch
"I Can't Stand It No Longer" / "Beyond The Wall", 7-inch
"Endlessly" / "Who's Making Love", 7-inch
"Hurt Me" / "Julia", 7-inch
"Searching So Long" / "Drums of Passion", 7-inch
Israelites
Derrick Morgan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I get up in the mornin', slaving for bread, sir
So that every mouth can be fed
Poor me Israelites
My wife an' the kids, them a pack up an' a leave me
Darling, she said, I was yours to be seen
Poor me Israelites
My shirt them a-tear up, trousers are gone
I don't want to end up like Bonnie and Clyde
Poor me Israelites
After a storm, there must be a calm
They catch me in your farm, you sound your alarm
Poor me Israelites
I get up in the mornin', slaving for bread, sir
So that every mouth can be fed
Poor me Israelites
Look, my wife an' the kids, them a pack up an' a leave me
Darling, she said, I was yours to be seen
Poor me Israelite
My shirt them a-tear up, trousers are gone
I don't want to end up like Bonnie and Clyde
Poor me, the Israelite
Now, after a storm, there must be a calm
Catch me in your farm, you sound your alarm
Poor me Israelite
My wife an' the kids, them a pack up an' a leave me
Darling, she said, I was yours to be seen
Poor me Israelite
My shirt them a-tear up, trousers are gone
I don't want to end up like Bonnie and Clyde
Poor me Israelite, yeah
I get up in the mornin', slaving for bread, sir
So that every mouth can be fed
Poor me Israelites
I'ma workin', I'ma workin' so hard
Poor, poor, poor me Israelites
I'm workin', I'ma workin' so hard
Poor, poor, poor me Israelites
Poor me Israelites
I'm workin', I'ma workin' so hard
Poor, poor, poor me Israelites
Oh, yeah, poor me Israelites
I'm workin', I'ma workin' so hard
I'ma wonderin', ah wonderin', poor me Israelites
I'm working, working hard
Poor me Israelites
I'm workin', I'ma workin' so hard
Poor, poor, poor me Israelites
I'ma wonderin', ah working so hard
Poor, poor, poor me Israelites
Derrick Morgan's song "Israelites" is a poignant song that captures the cyclical nature of slavery and poverty. The lyrics describe the daily struggles of Israelites who are slaving away to provide bread for their families. The Israelites in the song are lamenting about the tough life they are living. They are working hard to provide for their families but still struggling to make ends meet. The singer highlights that they are not just slaving for themselves, but also to ensure that every mouth can be fed, showing the deep sense of responsibility they feel towards their families and community.
The Israelites are facing many challenges, including a lack of support from their loved ones. The singer's wife and kids have left him, leaving him to face the harsh reality of life alone. The lyrics suggest that they have left him because of the challenges they were facing, and the tough living conditions they were experiencing. The singer is left with torn clothes and has to work extremely hard to avoid ending up like Bonnie and Clyde, which is a reference to the notorious American robbers of the 1930s. The lyrics, therefore, suggest that poverty and desperation can drive individuals to desperate acts.
The lyrics also suggest that after a storm, there must be a calm. However, this calm is not forthcoming for the Israelites in the song. Instead, they are caught trespassing and are constantly under threat of being caught by the authorities. The song, therefore, highlights the hardships and challenges that the Israelites faced on a daily basis.
Line by Line Meaning
Poor me Israelites
The singer expresses his difficulties and struggles as a member of the Israelite community.
I get up in the mornin', slaving for bread, sir
The singer wakes up every morning to work hard for his daily bread, driven by the desire to feed his community.
So that every mouth can be fed
The singer works hard to ensure that everyone in his community has enough to eat.
My wife an' the kids, them a pack up an' a leave me
Despite his hard work, the singer's family leaves him, adding to his hardships.
Darling, she said, I was yours to be seen
The singer's wife tells him that he should have appreciated her more and worked harder to keep the family together.
My shirt them a-tear up, trousers are gone
The singer's clothes are old and torn, reflecting his poverty and lack of resources.
I don't want to end up like Bonnie and Clyde
The singer does not want to become an outlaw like Bonnie and Clyde, implying that he wants to obey the law and work hard for his livelihood.
After a storm, there must be a calm
The singer believes that even storms pass and there will be a time of peace and calm after the hardships he is facing.
They catch me in your farm, you sound your alarm
The singer is caught trespassing on someone's farm, and the owner raises an alarm, leading to his arrest and punishment.
I'ma workin', I'ma workin' so hard
The singer emphasizes his hard work and effort to provide for his community despite the challenges he is facing.
I'ma wonderin', ah wonderin', poor me Israelites
The singer wonders why he is facing so many difficulties despite his hard work and good intentions, feeling sorry for himself and his community.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Desmond Dekker
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind