McKay moved to New York City at the age of 17 to study architecture. In 1969 McKay launched the group "Exuma" with his then-partner and lifelong friend Sally O'Brien. He enlisted several musician friends, forming his backup band, the Junk Band. The band included O'Brien (as Princess Sally), Bogie, Lord Wellington, Villy, Spy Boy Thielheim, Mildred Vaney, Frankie Gearing, Diana Claudia Bunea (as Princess Diana), and his good friend Peppy Castro (Emil Thielhelm, lead singer of the Blues Magoos).
By the 1980s McKay had moved to New Orleans and was a regular at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
Over the years the group Exuma played and / or toured with Patti LaBelle, Curtis Mayfield, Rita Marley, Peter Tosh, Toots & the Maytals, Sly and the Family Stone, Steppenwolf, Black Flag and the Neville Brothers. Numerous artists performed on his recordings and in his stage shows.
After growing up on Cat Island, Tony McKay moved to New York City at the age of 17 to study architecture. However, he did not complete his studies and soon entered the music industry in a group called Tony McKay and the Islanders. In New York's 1960s Greenwich Village folk scene McKay often found himself performing with such greats as Bob Dylan, Richie Havens, Jimi Hendrix, and Barbra Streisand among others.
He soon gained the attention of Blues Magoos manager Bob Wyld. Wyld brought McKay to Mercury Records and convinced them to sign him. In 1970 McKay, now redubbed Exuma, released the albums Exuma and Exuma II. From those albums he released the singles "Exuma, The Obeah Man", "Junkanoo", "Damn Fool", and "Zandoo". Exuma also garnered recognition for his song "You Don't Know What's Going On", which was featured on the soundtrack to John G. Avilsen's 1970 film Joe starring Peter Boyle, Susan Sarandon, and Dennis Patrick.
Exuma left Mercury in 1971 to sign with the Kama Sutra label, where he released the albums Do Wah Nanny (1971), Snake (1972), Reincarnation (1972), and Life (1973). From these albums he released the singles "Do Wah Nanny", "The Bowery", "Brown Girl", "Rushing Through the Crowd", and a cover of Paul McCartney's "Monkberry Moon Delight". After low sales and seeking the freedom of independence, Exuma was no longer featured on a major record label for the rest of his career. He released Penny Sausage, Going to Cat Island, Universal Exuma and Street Life in the early 1980s, but none of these albums received much exposure.By this time, Exuma was enjoying his greatest recognition. In the Bahamas, he even scored two hit singles, "Shirlene" and "Rose Mary Smith." He had moved to New Orleans and was a regular at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage festival. He performed regularly at the Old Absinthe Bar. These nights could become jam sessions, as he had a habit of starting songs that were not in the set list and he still attracted great musicians, such as Bill Wyman and Bob Dylan's backing band. In 1986 under the ROIR label, Exuma released Rude Boy, which garnered slightly more attention and featured songs from some of his previous 1980s releases.
Over the years Exuma has played and/or toured with Patti LaBelle, Curtis Mayfield, Rita Marley, Peter Tosh, Toots & the Maytals, Sly and the Family Stone, Steppenwolf, Black Flag and the Neville Brothers. Exuma was even recognised by Queen Elizabeth II in 1978 when she awarded him the British Empire Medal for his contributions to Bahamian culture.
In the late 1980s, Exuma suffered a mild heart attack, and thus devoted much more of his time to painting, his other great talent. His paintings have been exhibited several times and collected by many art lovers. Never abandoning his music however, he still wrote and performed his original music. He continued to perform at the New Orleans Jazz Festival until 1991. The last years of his life saw him splitting his time between Miami, Florida and Nassau, in a house that his mother had left him. He died in his sleep in 1997.
Professor and fellow Bahamian Alfred M. Sears stated that Exuma was "A Bahamian visionary, humanistic philosopher and people's poet. Exuma gives expression to the beauty and power of the cultural life of the Bahamas - the people's every day experiences, folklore, myths, stories, junkanoo, rake and scrape, pain, joy, struggle and survival. His life and art reflect the wonderful cultural heritage and personality of Bahamians, drawing on the roots of Africa and the branches of the Amerindians, Europeans and Americans."[2]
Tony McKay had many children including Gavin, Kenyatta, Acklins and Jahleena. His first son, Shaw and his mother, "Sammy" were murdered in the early 1970s in New York's Lower East Side. Both Acklins and Kenyatta Alisha are vocal artists, carrying on the tradition of their father through their individual genres.
Baal
Exuma Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baël will cause
Your downfall
You will fall down
In your hole
Then you'll find
You'll find
You've lost your soul
You cursed the moon
And you fought
I saw you fighting the sun
Your hand is withered
And your life
Your life is done
In the manger, oh
In the manger
In the manger
There is
Big danger
You have crucified
Your saintly king
Now, now, now
You don't have
You don't have anything
Baël, Baël
Oh Baël, Baël, Baël
Baël will cause
Your downfall
You've born your babies
Oh they eat your flesh
They said Baël put your souls
Your souls at rest
Your big search
Your big search
Big search for gold
Made you kill your young
Now your blood
Your blood runs cold
From life
To your death
You've lived without a son
You were shooting everybody, everybody
With a paper money gun
Money, money, money, money
Money has been your Baël
Money's been your Baël
Now for eternity
Oh your soul
Your soul's in jail, jail, jail
Baël, Baël
Baël, oh Baël
Baël will cause
Your, your downfall
Baël, Baël
Oh Baël, ohh Baël
Baël will cause
Your, your downfall
Oh Baël will cause
Your, your downfall
Baël, Baël will cause
Your downfall
Baël, Baël, Baël
Baël, Baël, Baël
Baël
Baël
Baël will cause
Your downfall
The song "Baal" by Exuma is a cautionary tale about the dangers of being consumed by greed and the pursuit of material gain. Baal, a biblical term referring to a false idol, is used as a symbol for the destructive forces that can overtake a person's life. The lyrics warn that those who place money and wealth above all else will ultimately suffer a great loss, including their own soul.
The song begins with a repetition of the name Baal, setting the tone for the narrative that follows. Exuma sings that Baal will cause one's downfall, leading them to fall into a hole and lose their soul. The imagery of falling into a hole represents a descent into darkness, where one becomes lost and disconnected from their own spirit.
The lyrics then describe the consequences of fighting against nature and the elements, noting that those who do so will experience the decay of their own physical body. The line "you cursed the moon and you fought, I saw you fighting the sun" suggests that the pursuit of power and control can lead to an exhausting and ultimately self-destructive battle.
The final verse of the song warns against the dangers of pursuing wealth above all else. Exuma sings that those who sacrifice their own children for the sake of riches will ultimately pay a great price. The line "money has been your Baal" emphasizes that this pursuit is ultimately empty and meaningless, leading to the imprisonment of one's soul.
Overall, "Baal" is a powerful song with a clear message about the dangers of greed and obsession with material gain. It serves as a warning to those who seek to enrich themselves at any cost, reminding listeners that true fulfillment and happiness cannot be found in wealth alone.
Line by Line Meaning
Baël, Baël, Baël, oh Baël
Baël, the Luciferian demon, is being addressed and called upon with reverence.
Baël will cause
Baël is capable of causing destruction and ruin.
Your downfall
You will be destroyed and suffer a great loss.
You will fall down
You will be defeated and humiliated.
In your hole
You will be trapped and stuck in a difficult situation.
Then you'll find
You will come to realize.
You'll find
You will discover the truth.
You've lost your soul
You've betrayed your values and are spiritually corrupted.
You cursed the moon
You deliberately sought to harm the moon's influence and energy.
And you fought
You engaged in a battle or conflict.
I saw you fighting the sun
You were attempting to challenge and overpower the sun's power and brightness.
Your hand is withered
Your hand is shriveled and useless due to a loss of strength or vitality.
And your life
Your existence and well-being.
Your life is done
You have reached the end of your life's journey.
In the manger, oh
The location where Jesus was born.
In the manger
A place of great danger and foreboding.
There is
Exists within the confines of the manger.
Big danger
A significant threat to one's life and safety.
You have crucified
You have put to death by nailing to a cross.
Your saintly king
Jesus, the savior of humanity.
Now, now, now
Quickly and suddenly.
You don't have
You lack or have lost.
You don't have anything
You have no possessions or means of support.
You've born your babies
You have given birth to children and raised them.
Oh they eat your flesh
Your offspring are consuming you physically, emotionally, or psychologically.
They said Baël put your souls
Someone or something has claimed that Baël has taken possession of your soul.
Your souls at rest
Your soul is in a state of peace or tranquility.
Your big search
Your pursuit of material wealth or fortune.
Big search for gold
You're seeking to accumulate vast quantities of precious metals.
Made you kill your young
Your relentless pursuit of wealth has resulted in the death of innocent individuals, including children.
Now your blood
Your life essence, the symbol of vitality and vigor.
Your blood runs cold
You feel no compassion, empathy, or human connection; you are cold-hearted.
From life
Throughout your lifetime.
To your death
Until the moment of your ultimate demise.
You've lived without a son
You have not had a male heir or offspring, and your legacy dies with you.
You were shooting everybody, everybody
You were indiscriminately attacking and harming everyone around you.
With a paper money gun
You've used fake or illusory money to exert power and control over others.
Money, money, money, money
Money has a strong hold on you and is the focus of your life.
Money has been your Baël
Money has become your false god, the object of your worship and adoration.
Now for eternity
From now on and forevermore.
Oh your soul
The essence of who you are.
Your soul's in jail, jail, jail
Your soul is confined and imprisoned, unable to find true freedom or liberation.
Oh Baël will cause
Baël is certain to bring about disaster and ruin.
Baël, Baël will cause
The repeated invocation of Baël reinforces the conviction that he will wreak havoc on your life.
Your downfall
Your destruction and ruin are inevitable.
Contributed by Avery N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jesajalauscher5168
Welcome to the first community approved lyrics sheet to this wonderful song..
@Moujib Cruchade: Thank you for that hint! I'd like to welcome you (and everybody else who's interested) to the creation of the first community approved lyrics sheet to this wonderful song (as you can't find anything on the web..let's put an end to this!).
In fact, there are a few more parts where I got corrections and/or doubts of my own. Well, English is not my native tongue and I have to admit that I'm unsure if I get all the religious references right. So again, if anybody can share some knowledge about the culture and history of the bahamas or the singer himself, stories, statements, semantics whatever, please let me know!
Ok, let's go:
1) instead of "you've paced" --> you faced the moon
2) in the manger there is big danger
What's the picture, the message here?
3) you have crucified your sacred king
Tough one.. I've listened with headphones over and over again, it sounds like "safely". But that doesn't make sense, does it?! So "sacred" is the closest I can think of. Or maybe "saintly"?
4) instead of "all they eat your flesh" --> Oh, they eat..
they said..they put your souls at rest..
your big search for gold
made you kill your young
..
Again, can somebody enlighten me about the metaphors used?
5) your blood runs.. what?
Surely "runs cold" is a common expression. But no matter how hard I try, I don't hear a "c" in front of "old". So the question is, does it makes sense? And furthermore, is it good English or at least lyrical English? To me it sounds legitimate (semantically): if you kill your young ones, your legacy (or family tree if you will) and hence your blood runs old. Please let me know what you think!
6) instead of "you've lived without the sun" --> without your son
Not a 100% sure about this, but it sounds more like that and fits better in general, doesn't it?
7)you were shooting everybody with a paper money gun
No questions here, but I have to state that this is one of the strongest lines I've ever heard in a song.. Just brilliant.. and he sang this at the age of 27
7a)money's been your Baäl ..now for eternity..Oh your soul's in jail
** like, what I said at 7 :-)
The rest is the chorus in variations I'd say. In fact, the second part of the song reminds me of somewhat shamanic rituals. Words are merely mumbled, the cries, the drums..
Ok, these are my thoughts for today. Thank you for reading and please feel free to comment! I'd love to learn everything about the song, its origins and how people feel about it.
@woodwoserecordings9245
Leviathan is turning into Narcissus, admiring its own synthetic image in its own synthetic pond, enraptured by the spectacle of itself.
It is a good time for people to let go of its sanity, its masks and armors, and to go mad, for they are already being ejected from its pretty polis.
In ancient Anatolia, people danced on the earth-covered ruins of the Hittite Leviathan, building their lodges with the stones which contained the records of the vanished empire's great deeds.
The cycle has come around again. America is where Anatolia was. It is a place where human beings, merely to stay alive, have to jump, to dance, and by dancing they revive the rhythms, recover cyclical time. Anarchic and pantheistic dancers no longer sense the artifice and its History as all-encompassing, but merely one long cycle...
One long night, a stormy night that left Earth wounded, but a night that ends, as all nights end, when the sun rises.
@autdelux
there is music you listen to with your ears and then there is music for the soul where this masterpiece belongs to
@michalpiskorski9731
I literally cried. This can not be more pure
@arjunkirtane0519
This is without a doubt one of the greatest songs of all time
@musicforidiots411
Its a song of the time, i reckon
@Aigracier
Indeed brother
@Sindbad232
Exuma's 'Baal' is a haunting siren call from the depths of ancestral memory, drawing listeners into an otherworldly realm where ancient gods clash with modern follies. The echoing chants of 'Baäl, Baäl' resonate like a ritualistic incantation, summoning forth the specters of forgotten deities, warning of the perils of unchecked materialism and the hollow worship of false idols. This chilling composition is not just a song, but a journey through time, confronting us with the age-old battle between spiritual depth and superficial desires.
Exuma himself is an enigma, a modern-day mystic channeling the spirits of centuries past. His voice, heavy with the weight of ages, carries the whispered secrets of the Obeah, the hidden tales of the Bahamian sands, and the fervent energy of African roots. Cloaked in an aura of mystery, Exuma stands at the crossroads of the known and the unknown, beckoning listeners to step beyond the veil, to confront their deepest fears and embrace their most profound truths. In 'Baal,' he offers a chilling testament to the consequences of losing one's way, crafting a musical mosaic that is as beautiful as it is bone-chilling.
@popmeta
Best comment on a song ever. 🤓
@vladpetrescu9727
Thank you!
@jamesmurphy5499
I like this type of music. It feels like it's full of wisdom.
@fredof4413
you want wise music? check out Burzum