McDonald learned to play the blues on his father's guitar from the age of 8, although by the time he was 12 years old he had opted to perform doo-wop. Having completed his high school education, he left Dayton with a band called the Ohio Hustlers, which broke up not long after relocating to New York City. His first professional work as a musician began when he formed the Entertainers who toured the east coast through to the mid-70s.
He moved on to Hartford, Connecticut, and there's when he met Doug Wimbish, who played in a band called Wood, Brass & Steel. Wood, Brass & Steel recorded a selftitled album for All Platinum Records, the label of Sylvia and Joe Robinson, in 1976. Skip and Doug played a lot of music together, in clubs and colleges around New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts.
In 1979, three years after the Wood, Brass & Steel album, Skip and Doug teamed up with drummer Keith LeBlanc and they became the house band for Sugarhill Records, the Robinson's new label. The trio played on some of the earliest rap hits such as The Message and White Lines (Don't Do It) with Grandmaster Flash.
While they worked at Sugar Hill, LeBlanc also freelanced at Tommy Boy Records where he first met Adrian Sherwood. LeBlanc introduced his colleagues to Sherwood and the trio were persuaded to relocate in London. Upon their entry into the On-U Sound fold, the group formed a production team and, again, a house band, this time for On-U. The three participated in dozens of records on Sherwood's label.
The partnership developed and metamorphosed into a fully-fledged band, Tackhead. Though good working relationships remain to this day, the dispersion of Tackhead in the early 1990s saw Keith and Doug pursue more of their own projects and play less often togther.
For Skip the time since has seen him work ever more closely with Sherwood, both on his own projects and as a musician or guest vocalist on many other of Adrian's On-U Sound productions - such as by Junior Delgado, Bim Sherman, Dub Syndicate and African Head Charge, sometimes along side Keith and /or Doug.
Skip has been the prime mover behind Little Axe since around 1992. Under a name inspired by Bob Marley's Small Axe and gospel singer Willmer 'Little Ax' Broadnax, the debut album Wolf That House Built was a personal take on blues and dub, and was released to critical acclaim in 1994. This had followed a partial release in Japan compiled in a slightly different form and with a different title (Never Turn Back) the previous year. The second Little Axe album, Slow Fuse, was also well received. Both albums featured tabla player Talvin Singh, for Slow Fuse the gifted voices of Kevin Gibbs and Sas Bell were added.
Then it remained silent for far too long. In 2002 Skip's third Little Axe album Hard Grind became the first release for four years on Sherwood's revived and re-launched On-U Sound label with a mixture of raw blues and reggae. While Hard Grind no doubt will also draw comparisons to Moby's Play, it was Skip who pioneered the fusion of blues and electronic music with Little Axe.
In 2006 Skip McDonald finished the fifth Little Axe album, Stone Cold Ohio, after Champagne and Grits (2004), the second record released on Peter Gabriel's Real World Records. Skip still has got the blues but this time the emphasis is on the gospel, another of Skip's old loves. The production and mixing was done Adrian Sherwood; 'gospel dub' like you never heard before.
Rockin' Shoes
Little Axe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hallellou, hallellou
I put on my rockin' shoes in the morning
Hallellou, hallellou
Gonna rock down to the water
Hallellou, hallellou
Well I know my name's been written in the kingdom
I know my name's been signed by the angels
Hallellou, hallellou
The Little Axe song “Rockin’ Shoes” is a bluesy track with a distinct rhythm and simple yet meaningful lyrics. The song starts with the repetition of “I put on my rockin’ shoes in the morning, Hallellou, Hallellou,” which is a metaphorical way of telling the listener that the singer is ready to embrace the day and all that it brings. The shoes symbolize the power to move forward and take on whatever challenges may come.
The next lyrics talk about “rockin’ down to the water,” reminding the listener that sometimes it’s necessary to let go and just flow with the tide of life. Here, water becomes a metaphor for life’s unpredictable journey. The phrase “Hallellou, hallellou” is repeated throughout the song and acts like a chant, an affirmation of the singer’s positive attitude and readiness to take on the world.
The last few lines of the song are quite significant, where the singer says, “Well I know my name’s been written in the kingdom, Hallellou, hallellou, I know my name’s been signed by the angels, Hallellou, hallellou.” Here, the singer is expressing his belief in a greater power that has already planned out his life and that he’s just following the path laid out for him. The angels are a reference to the divine force, and “the kingdom” represents the eternal world the singer is destined for.
Line by Line Meaning
I put on my rockin' shoes in the morning
Every morning I wear my favorite shoes to prepare for the day ahead.
Hallellou, hallellou
Rejoice and celebrate!
Gonna rock down to the water
I am excited to go to the water and have a good time.
Well I know my name's been written in the kingdom
I have faith that I am destined for greatness and a place in heaven.
I know my name's been signed by the angels
I believe that the angels have blessed me and have a special plan for my life.
Contributed by Carson J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.