Originally formed in 1997 for Easy Star Records’ first recordings, the All-Stars primarily existed as a studio entity until releasing Dub Side of the Moon. The success of that album led to the formation of a touring version of the collective. The core of the touring line-up has remained relatively intact, including Ras Iray (bass/vocals), Junior Jazz (guitar/vocals), Ive-09 (drums) and Jeremy Mage (keyboards) in the rhythm section. Tamar-kali and Menny More provide additional lead and backing vocals, while the group is filled out by the Chronic Horns (Jennifer Hill on saxophone & flute and Buford O’Sullivan on trombone). The band is always mixed live by a dub engineer, usually Marcos Ferrari or Jocko Randall (of John Brown’s Body). Other members of the musical collective, such as Victor Rice (Victor Rice Octet, Version City All-Stars and bassist on Dub Side of the Moon), reggae legend Ranking Joe, trumpet player Pam Fleming (of the Burning Brass), singers Kirsty Rock (of Trumystic) and Stephanie McKay, Groove Collective’s Jay Rodriguez, Antibalas’s Stuart Bogie, John Brown Body’s Josh Driscoll, and even Ticklah and Michael G join the All-Stars on specific gigs, adding their abilities to the already talented ensemble.
The Easy Star All-Stars—in any combination of members—have been a resounding success. The band has played at numerous major festivals or headlined their own shows in the U.S., U.K., France, Italy, Chile, Poland, Turkey, Mexico, Argentina, Israel, Croatia, Ireland, Egypt, Brazil, and beyond.
As individuals, the band’s vocalists and instrumentalists have toured and recorded with Burning Spear, Toots and the Maytals, Jimmy Cliff, Gil Scott-Heron, The Toasters, The Meditations, Bernie Worrell, DJ Logic, MC Solaar, King Django, Antibalas, The Scofflaws, Diana King, Dennis Brown, Monty Alexander, Sister Carol, and many others. Each of these musicians gets a chance to shine in the typical Easy Star set, whether it is through soloing, composing, or singing, or simply through playing an essential part in this tight-knit collective. Each line-up may result in slightly different sounds for this unique reggae band, but regardless of who plays, the one thing that never changes is that the Easy Star All-Stars deliver a fun, exciting, and different show every time out.
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Easy Star All-Stars Lyrics
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Breathe, keep breathing
You can laugh a spineless laugh
We hope that you choke
The first line of the song, "Wake from your sleep," is a call to action. It could be interpreted as a call to someone who has been inactive or complacent to wake up and take action. The tone of the song is somber and foreboding. The repetition of the words "Breathe, keep breathing" creates a sense of urgency or panic. It seems as if the singer is urging the listener to keep breathing as if they are on the brink of suffocation.
The dark tone of the song continues with the next line, "You can laugh a spineless laugh." This statement could be directed at someone who is pretending to be happy or carefree when they are really just pretending. The line "We hope that you choke," adds to the ominous feeling of the song. It could be interpreted as a call for the person to stop pretending and take action or face the consequences of their inaction.
Line by Line Meaning
Wake up from your state of ignorance and unawareness
Realize the truth about your surroundings and existence
Continue to take in air and stay alive
Keep existing and surviving
You may choose to deny reality and laugh it off
You have the option to ignore the truth and distract yourself with humor
But we wish you would struggle and suffer
But we desire for you to face the truth and its consequences, rather than avoiding it.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Colin Charles Greenwood, Edward John O'Brien, Jonathan Richard Guy Greenwood, Philip James Selway, Thomas Edward Yorke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind