After going their separate ways, and each converting to the Rastafari movement, they reunited in Kingston and formed a vocal group. Funding for their first album came in the form of a grant from the Twelve Tribes of Israel branch of Rastafari after Hugh Booth, a member of the Twelve Tribes, had overheard the three men singing in a wooded area outside Kingston. Apple and Wiss were living in the area, which they had converted into a home.
Israel Vibration recorded three albums; "The Same Song", "Unconquered People", and "Why You So Craven" before temporarily disbanding in 1981 after recording sessions for the latter were left incomplete. The three men moved to the United States to seek professional health care and escape the growing Dancehall movement in Jamaica. In 1988, Gary "Dr. Dread" Himmelfarb, founder of RAS Records, urged the trio to reunite and record an album. Skelly, Apple, and Wiss were flown to Washington, D.C. to record a new album at Lion and Fox Recording Studios. "Strength of my Life", the group's fourth album and first of 18 CD releases on the RAS label, was met with great praise and is considered one of the few post-golden era touchstones of the roots reggae genre.
In 1997, Apple Gabriel left the group to pursue a solo career. Skelly and Wiss continue to record albums and tour the world as Israel Vibration, backed by longtime associates Roots Radics.
Traveling Man
Israel Vibration Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The earth is The Lord, the Fulness thereof
And those that dwell therein
I'm a sojourner, sent on this journey, roaming open country
I'm a travelling man
My bags are all packed, I'm ready to roll
The taxi cab is honking outside of my door
My suitcase my closet, upon this bunk I resqt my head
Riding this Greyhound bus, roaming open country
There are places to go, and faces to see
Carrying the message of His Imperial Majesty
The earth is The Lord, the Fulness thereof
And those that dwell therin
I'm a sojourner, sent on this journey, roaming open country
Music sojourners roaming this open country
The Culture and The Spear, Mystic Revealers and Bunny you see
The Vibes and The Radics, Super Cat was there with we
Carrying the message of His Imperial Majesty
The song "Traveling Man" by Israel Vibration speaks to the journey of life that we all must take part in. The lyrics suggest that everything on this earth belongs to God, and we are merely travelers, sojourners sent on a journey. The singer talks about being a "traveling man," always on the move, roaming the open country. He is prepared to go anywhere and witness all of the beauty that life has to offer. His bags are packed, his taxi is waiting outside, and he is ready to roll.
As the song continues, the singer talks about riding on a Greyhound bus and carrying the message of His Imperial Majesty, which suggests that this journey is not just a physical one but a spiritual one too. The various musical acts that are mentioned, such as The Culture and The Spear or Super Cat, signify that the singer has been traveling and experiencing different cultures and sounds throughout his journey. The final message of the song is that we are all sojourners on a journey through life, and we must carry the importance of our spirituality with us throughout the entirety of that journey.
Overall, "Traveling Man" is a song that speaks to the universal human experience of living life as a journey. The lyrics emphasize the importance of being ready to roll with whatever comes our way, experiencing different cultures and sounds, and remaining spiritually grounded throughout.
Line by Line Meaning
Traveling man
I am a man constantly on the move
The earth is The Lord, the Fulness thereof
God is the creator and owner of the earth and everything in it
And those that dwell therein
Including all of the people who inhabit the earth
I'm a sojourner, sent on this journey, roaming open country
I am a traveler, on a mission, exploring new places
My bags are all packed, I'm ready to roll
I have prepared myself and am eager to begin my journey
The taxi cab is honking outside of my door
My ride is here and it's time to go
My suitcase my closet, upon this bunk I resqt my head
My suitcase is all I need, and it serves as my closet. I sleep in bunk beds while traveling
Riding this Greyhound bus, roaming open country
I travel by bus and enjoy seeing the countryside
There are places to go, and faces to see
There are many destinations to explore and people to meet
Carrying the message of His Imperial Majesty
I am spreading the message and teachings of Emperor Haile Selassie
Music sojourners roaming this open country
People who love music and have a wandering spirit are traveling through this open country
The Culture and The Spear, Mystic Revealers and Bunny you see
Different musical groups with unique styles and names
The Vibes and The Radics, Super Cat was there with we
More musical groups with additional names included
Carrying the message of His Imperial Majesty
Reiterating the message shared in a previous line. This is the purpose of their journey
Contributed by Ethan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Lala 2pac's Apprentice
OMG Thaaaaaank you!! I didn't think I would find this rare gem!!
great vibes
big up u selves
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💜💜💜💜💜💜💙💙💙💙💙💙💛💛💛💛💛💛💖💖💖💖💖
Cheikh Tidiane NDAO
big up
bill delana
2019 this classic jingle still got it.
Light Up from Texas.
rozgonyizoltan
Love! One of the bests.....
Jhon Dread
Israël vibs for ever 😎👌from 🇳🇨
MickyP4
ah thanks my brother ,because you got some KILLA TUNES . it will be great to hear them , let me know when you've redone them & ill be tuning in one love & unity Micky P.
Cheikh Tidiane NDAO
Ur welcome irie ite...#weareone. Give thanks and respect.
keith moran
Anyone felling Irie in 2020.