He was born Desmond Adolphus Dacres in St. Andrew, Jamaica and grew up in Kingston, where he attended the Alpha Boys' School. After his mother took ill and died, his father moved him to St. Mary's, and then to St. Thomas, where he apprenticed as a tailor before returning to Kingston and taking a job as a welder, singing around his workplace while his co-workers encouraged him. In 1961 he auditioned for Coxsone Dodd (Studio One) and Duke Reid (Treasure Isle). Neither were impressed by his talents, and the young man moved on to Leslie Kong's Beverley record label, where he auditioned before Derrick Morgan, then the label's biggest star.
With Morgan's support, Dekker was signed but did not record until 1963 because Leslie Kong wanted to wait for the perfect song, which "Honour Your Father and Mother" was felt to be.
“Honour Your Father and Mother” was a hit and was followed by “Sinners Come Home” and “Labour for Learning,” as well as a name change (from Desmond Dacres to Desmond Dekker). His fourth hit, however, made him into one of the island's biggest stars. It was “King of Ska,” a rowdy and jubilant song on which Dekker was backed by The Cherrypies (also known as The Maytals). The song remains well known among ska fans. Dekker then recruited four brothers, Carl, Patrick, Clive and Barry Howard, who became his backing band, The Four Aces.
Dekker and the Howards recorded a number of hits including “Parents,” “Get Up Edina,” “This Woman,” and “Mount Zion.” Until 1967 Dekker's songs were polite and conveyed respectable, mainstream messages. In that year, however, he appeared on Derrick Morgan's “Tougher Than Tough,” which helped begin a trend of popular songs glamourizing the violent rude boy culture. Dekker's own songs did not go to the extremes of many other popular tunes though he did introduce lyrics which resonated with the rude boys starting with one of his best-known songs, “007 (Shanty Town)”. The song established Dekker as a rude boy icon and also became an established hero in the United Kingdom's mod scene. “007 (Shanty Town)” was a Top 15 hit in the UK, and he toured that country with a posse of mods following him.
Dekker continued with songs in the same vein such as “Rude Boy Train” and “Rudie Got Soul”, as well as continuing with his previous themes of religion and morality in songs like “It's a Shame”, “Wise Man”, “Hey Grandma”, “Unity”, “It Pays”, “Mother's Young Girl” and “Sabotage.” His “Pretty Africa” is a long-standing favourite among his fans and may be the earliest popular song promoting repatriation. Many of the hits from this era came from his debut album, 007 (Shanty Town).
In 1968 Dekker's “Israelites” was released, appearing on both the U.S. and UK singles chart, and eventually topping the latter and peaking in the Top Ten of the former. He was the first Jamaican performer to enter U.S. markets with pure Jamaican music, though he never repeated the feat. Equally, the track became the first reggae song to top the UK chart. That same year saw the release of “Beautiful and Dangerous,” “Writing on the Wall,” “Music Like Dirt”, “Bongo Girl,” and “Shing a Ling.” In the same year, Dekker was mentioned as "Desmond" by his friend Paul McCartney in The Beatles' song "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da", when it was released on 'The White Album'.
1969 saw the release of “It Mek,” which first saw only lukewarm success but was re-recorded and became a hit both in Jamaica and the UK. He also released “Problems” and “Pickney Gal,” both of which were popular in Jamaica but saw only limited success elsewhere.
Mid career (the 1970s)
In the 1970s Dekker spent most of his time touring and moved to the UK, where he continued to record. Among his best known releases of this period was “You Can Get It If You Really Want,” written by Jimmy Cliff, which Dekker had not wanted to record but was convinced to do so by Leslie Kong. Dekker's recording of the song uses the same instrumental backing track as Cliff's original.
Kong, whose production had been an instrumental part of both Dekker's and Cliff's careers, died in 1971 and both his protegés lost direction for a period before returning to music.
Dekker continued recording, but with only limited success until he began working with the production duo Bruce Anthony in 1974. His first hit with the pair was 1975's “Sing a Little Song” which climbed in to the British Top Ten. Dekker was unable to follow its success, however, and did not chart in the UK for some time (except for the Top Ten re-charting of “Israelites” in 1975). Dekker also found only a limited audience in Jamaica.
At the end of the 1970s Dekker signed with Stiff Records, a punk label linked with the Two-Tone movement, a fusion of punk and ska. He recorded an album called Black & Dekker which featured his previous hits backed by The Rumour, Graham Parker's backing band. His first single was “Israelites,” a Top Ten Belgian hit, and was followed by “Please Don't Bend,” Jimmy Cliff's “Many Rivers to Cross” and “Book of Rules.” His next album was Compass Point, produced by Robert Palmer. Though Compass Point did not sell well, Dekker was still a popular live performer and he toured with The Rumour.
Later life
In the early 1980s, as the Two Tone movement died out, he saw his fortunes dwindle and he was declared bankrupt in 1984. Only a single live album was released in the late 80s, but a new version of “Israelites” reawakened public interest in 1990, following its use in a Maxell advertisement. He re-recorded some old singles, and worked with The Specials for 1992's King of Kings', which used hits from Dekker's musical heroes, including Derrick Morgan.
He also collaborated on a remix version of his classic “Israelites” with reggae artist Apache Indian.
Death
Desmond Dekker died of a heart attack on 25 May 2006, at his home in Thornton Heath in the London Borough of Croydon , England, aged 64. He was preparing to headline a world music festival in Prague. Mr. Dekker was divorced and is survived by a son and daughter.
Isrealites
Desmond Dekker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So that every mouth can be fed.
Poor me, Israelites.
Get up in the morning, slaving for bread, sir,
So that every mouth can be fed.
Poor me, Israelites.
"Darling," she said "I was yours to recieve."
Poor me, Israelites.
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 calming.
You catch me in your farm, you sound your alarm.
Poor me, Israelites.
I said I get up in the morning, stabbing for bread, sir,
So that every mouth can be fed.
Poor me, Israelites.
Said my wife and my kids, they pack up and a leave me.
"Darling," she said "I was yours to recieve."
Poor me, Israelites.
Look, me 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 calming.
You catch me in your farm, you sound your alarm.
Poor me, Israelites.
Poor me, Israelites.
I'm wonder why I'm working so hard.
Poor me, Israelites.
I look down and out, sir.
The Desmond Dekker song "Israelites" is a powerful commentary on the struggles of working class people in Jamaica during the 1960s. The lyrics describe the day-to-day challenges of trying to make ends meet, including working hard to feed everyone in the family. The singer is poor, alone and struggling to keep his family together, as his wife and kids leave him. He is torn apart and wonders why he puts himself through so much pain and suffering, working so hard every day. Through the lyrics, Dekker gives voice to the struggles of the Jamaican people and depicts their harsh realities of life.
The lyrics are simple but their meaning is profound. As a result, the song became an anthem for many people around the world who struggle to get by. The repetitive phrase "Poor me, Israelites" has become a symbol of the hardships faced by people who are marginalized and denied access to basic necessities like food, shelter, and healthcare.
Line by Line Meaning
Get up in the morning, slaving for bread, sir,
I wake up every morning and work hard to earn a living, so that everyone in my community can have enough to eat.
So that every mouth can be fed.
My work is important because it ensures the survival of my community.
Poor me, Israelites.
Despite working hard to support others, I am still struggling and feeling down on my luck.
My wife and my kids, they pack up and a leave me.
My family has left me, perhaps because they are unable to live with my financial struggles.
"Darling," she said "I was yours to recieve."
The woman I loved left me, even though I provided for her to the best of my abilities.
Shirt them a-tear up, trousers are gone.
My clothes are in a state of disrepair and I don't have the means to replace them.
I don't want to end up like Bonnie and Clyde.
I don't want to be involved in illegal activities and risk my freedom for money.
After a storm there must be a calming.
Despite my struggles, there will eventually be a time of peace and prosperity for myself and my community.
You catch me in your farm, you sound your alarm.
If I trespass on your land looking for food, you will be angry and sound the alarm.
I'm wonder why I'm working so hard.
Despite my hard work, I am still struggling and wondering if it is all worth it.
I look down and out, sir.
My financial struggles have left me feeling hopeless and defeated.
Contributed by Noah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@JohnnyNowhere
@@gerardjachymiak5822 Who me? Seventeen is awfully young to be concerned about what to do. I was twenty-one and still had no clue, and was hitch-hiking through the Mid West. My cousin - she joined the USAF at seventeen and toured the world. I became a songwriter and she became a combat medic. I was playing bars while she was saving lives and getting shot at.
You tell me - who made the right choice?
We both did what we were drawn toward - and as different as our paths were - we both went into our chosen careers with all that we had.
I ended up a third-tier songwriter, and she got shot by a Taliban sniper, became diabetic, and retired from the Air Force. Who made the right choice?
We both did.
Neither of us have regrets. That's all that matters. Find what you love, and kick it in the ass with all you have. Take chances.
One day you, too, will be 65. Don't waste your life worrying. Life only lasts for a few moments. Carpe Diem.
@zeramarks8168
@@teeayew
The lyrics are clear if this message seems to be hidden, it's hidden to those who are already lost. This song speaks exclusively to ''the twelve tribes of the house of Israel''.
No disrespect, or harm intended; However, if your ancestors were not scattered from one end of the Earth to the other, On slave ships helplessly forced to build white supremacist societies, not to mention that this was free labor with Blood Sweat and Tears of the so-called negroes' forefathers.
There is no doubt about it; We hear his voice.
John 10
4 And when he put forth his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
If you or your ancestors were not taken against their will into captivity, sorry you will never understand.
@komah
Who's still here in 2024?
See you in 2034
@BarneyDunn
I'll be there. See you then.
@ilovebabybelle
See you then 😌🌞
@user-um6lz9hg3r
Me
@realityusedtobeafriendofmi9159
I am here.
@scottburgess4526
Here and staying my brother
@GrandmaRose9000
That moment when you realize you've been singing the wrong lyrics since 1969.
@jahuti5065
I think we all were. "Darling, she said, I was yards too greasy" was my favourite line.
@PinnaclePete
At least I was able to get the,
"I don't want to end up like Bonnie and Clyde" part right. 😂
@iandowney4630
It’s “poor” and not for…? Okay 😂
I think the toughest line is (as I can sort of hear it) : “shuck them a tearup choses ago”…which isn’t remotely close to what the lyrics are. In fact, it makes zero sense 🤣 I was pretty good at lip syncing , though 😂!
Thanks for the correct lyrics…in March of 2024 🎉 Better late than never.