Lynn Taitt (Nerlynn Taitt, San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago, 22 June 1934 … Read Full Bio ↴Lynn Taitt (Nerlynn Taitt, San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago, 22 June 1934 – 20 January 2010) was a guitarist closely associated with Jamaican rocksteady music.

Lynn Taitt got his start as a musician playing in local Trinidadian steel drum bands, before taking up the guitar aged 14. He formed his own band, which was booked by Byron Lee to perform at the 1962 independence celebrations in Jamaica. Taitt decided to stay in Jamaica, living in Kingston, and played in a number of bands including The Sheiks, The Cavaliers, and The Comets, and worked with Baba Brooks, The Skatalites and Tommy McCook and the Supersonics. The most successful of his groups was The Jets, formed in 1966 and which included Hux Brown, Headley Bennett, Hopeton Lewis, Gladstone Anderson, and Winston Wright. Taitt's guitar style was inventive and unconventional, with a sharp percussive sound that accented the rocksteady beat. Lynn Taitt and the Jets played on hundreds of recording sessions for Jamaican producers such as Bunny Lee, Duke Reid, Joe Gibbs, Coxsone Dodd, and Sonia Pottinger, often performing up to five sessions a day. Their recording of "Take It Easy" was one of the first rocksteady singles and it reached number one in the Jamaican singles chart.

Taitt's contribution to Jamaican popular music includes his role as arranger and session leader for many of the recordings that he appeared on. He has been credited as having created the first rocksteady bassline, on the song "Take It Easy" by Hopeton Lewis. Various other Jamaican recordings have been cited as the "first" rocksteady release such as Alton Ellis & the Flames' "Girl I've Got a Date", and the Derrick Morgan rude boy anthem "Tougher Than Tough" with Lynn Taitt playing guitar on all of three.

Taitt emigrated to Toronto, Canada in August 1968, to take up the position of arranger for the house band at the West Indian Federated Club. Although he left Jamaica just before the rise of reggae, his playing was a strong influence on musicians such as Hux Brown who adapted Taitt's approach to the newer reggae style. Taitt's work can be heard on various 60s recordings by Derrick Morgan, Desmond Dekker, Lee Perry, Ken Boothe, Bob Marley and Joe Higgs, among others. He recorded with Johnny Nash on some of the latter's international hits, including "Cupid" and "Hold Me Tight".

Taitt remained active as a musician in Montreal, having recorded with such acts as The Kingpins ("Let's Go To Work" CD 1999) as well as performing live with the Montreal Ska All Stars and at the Montreal International Jazz Festival with The Jets (2002) and the Fabulous LoLo sings Rocksteady (2006).

He was the subject of the 2006 documentary Lynn Taitt: Rocksteady, directed by Generoso Fierro, and another titled Ruff 'n' Tuff.

Taitt died on 20 January 2010 after a long battle with cancer. His death was recorded in Montreal, Canada, at the age of 75.

Discography
Glad Sounds (1968), Bigshot (Gladdy with Lynn Taitt & the Jets)
Rock Steady: Greatest Hits (1968), Merritone (Lynn Taitt & the Jets)
Hold Me Tight: Anthology 65-73 (2005), Trojan

To Sir With Love
Lynn Taitt & The Jets Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Somethings are too painful to say out loud
Well, they live behind a veil and see through a shroud
Words fly through his mouth, like paper butterflies
They flutter around and burn holes in your side

And he's half in love with Elizabeth
And he's half in love with you

I knew that you were thinking of him last night
'Cause I saw the blood seep down to your toes
Turn away if you must but how can you put your trust
In a man who always sleeps in his clothes?

And he's half in love with Elizabeth
And he's half in love with you
Yes, he's half in love with Elizabeth
And he's half in love with you

You're the sweet scent on an envelope
A folded photo in his purse
But if you pin your hopes to his back my dear
I'm afraid the bubble will burst

The bubble will burst
The bubble will burst
The bubble will burst
The bubble will burst

The bubble will burst
The bubble will burst
The bubble will burst
The bubble will burst

The bubble will burst
The bubble will burst
The bubble will burst
The bubble will burst

And he's half in love with Elizabeth
And he's half in love with you

And he's half in love with Elizabeth
And he's half in love with you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Lynn Taitt & The Jets' song "To Sir With Love" speak of a complex and tumultuous love triangle. The singer describes how some painful truths are often left unspoken, hidden behind a metaphorical veil and shroud. The words of the man they are referring to are compared to paper butterflies that flutter around but also have the power to hurt deeply.

The first verse suggests that the man they are talking about is torn between two women - Elizabeth and the singer. He is "half in love" with both of them, unable to fully commit to either. The singer reveals that they were aware of the singer's thoughts about him, as evidenced by the imagery of blood seeping down to their toes. This suggests that their feelings for him were intense and consuming.

The second verse raises doubt and questions the trust the women can place in this man. The line about him always sleeping in his clothes hints at his restlessness and inability to fully let go. Despite the singer's warning, they express a bittersweet longing and describe themselves as a sweet scent on an envelope or a folded photo in his purse. However, they warn that if they continue to pin their hopes on him, the bubble of their love may burst.

Overall, the lyrics of "To Sir With Love" explore themes of unrequited love, uncertainty, and the pain of being caught in a love triangle. It portrays the struggle between infatuation and rationality, showcasing the complexities and mixed emotions that can arise in relationships.

Line by Line Meaning

Somethings are too painful to say out loud
There are certain things that are so emotionally overwhelming that it's too difficult to verbalize them openly

Well, they live behind a veil and see through a shroud
Those emotions are concealed and understood silently, as if they reside behind a metaphorical barrier and are perceived through introspection

Words fly through his mouth, like paper butterflies
When he speaks, his words come out delicately and with fragility, resembling gentle paper butterflies in flight

They flutter around and burn holes in your side
But despite their fragile nature, those words have the power to deeply wound and leave lasting scars within oneself

I knew that you were thinking of him last night
I was aware that your thoughts were consumed by him last night, dwelling intently upon his presence

'Cause I saw the blood seep down to your toes
The profound impact of your emotions became apparent as I witnessed the metaphorical blood trickling downwards, reaching even your toes

Turn away if you must but how can you put your trust
Although you may choose to look away from this situation, how can you truly have faith and rely on someone

In a man who always sleeps in his clothes?
Who habitually remains guarded and distant, never fully allowing himself to be vulnerable or accessible

You're the sweet scent on an envelope
You possess a captivating allure, reminiscent of the enticing fragrance emanating from an envelope

A folded photo in his purse
You hold a special place in his heart, like a cherished photograph discreetly kept within his wallet

But if you pin your hopes to his back my dear
However, if you heavily rely on him as the source of your aspirations and dreams

I'm afraid the bubble will burst
I fear that the illusion of happiness and security that you've constructed will shatter abruptly

The bubble will burst
That fragile protective layer of false contentment will inevitably rupture

And he's half in love with Elizabeth
He experiences a divided affection, with a significant portion of his heart belonging to Elizabeth

And he's half in love with you
Nevertheless, he also harbors deep feelings of love and attraction towards you

Yes, he's half in love with Elizabeth
Elizabeth occupies a significant place in his emotions, receiving a substantial share of his love

And he's half in love with you
Simultaneously, he also feels a profound connection and adoration towards you

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: HENRY WILLIAM HARRISON, KAI FISH, KAPIL TRIVEDI, STEVEN BLAINE HARRISON, WILLIAM REES

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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