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As only a live band it was called Misty. First albums were two live albums 1979 created by help from toilers in England and Sweden: Live at the Counter Eurovision and Misty Over Sweden. Both records are full of Rastafarian and anti-fascist songs. They were favoured by BBC Radio DJ John Peel, helping to bring roots reggae bands to a more mixed West European audience. With a career spanning 5 decades, they are one of the UKβs finest reggae groups. The band was one of the most powerful live reggae acts to emerge from 1970s London, and they were a major force in the Rock Against Racism movement.
This British based roots reggae band Misty first came together in 1974, as backing band for well known Jamaican reggae bands and artists performing in London. One was the late, great Nicky Thomas - one of Jamaica's all time greats who had achieved national chart success with songs such as "Love Of The Common People". Nicky Thomas was a great inspirer for Misty In Roots.
By 1978 Misty In Roots began to develop their own orthodox roots reggae sound. Their powerful lyrics inspired by the economic decline, a growing awareness of their African culture, and a spiritual awakening inspired tracks as "Ghetto Of The City", "Sodom & Gomorrah" and "Mankind", all off which can be found on the band's first album "Live At The Counter Eurovision" and the 'twin album' "Misty Over Sweden", recorded on their tour in Sweden 1979.
During the period 1977-78 the political situation in the U.K. was a breaking point. Black consciousness was at its peak and racism roamed the streets of London. Unemployment was affecting both black and white youths and through this depression a new musical alliance was born, young white youths totally fed up with the status quo turned to playing punk music whilst at the same time identifying strongly with the British reggae acts as Misty In Roots, Steel Pulse and Aswad. With the coming of the βRock against Racismβ movement, the musical fight-back had begun, and for the first time black and white musicians were playing together on the same platform bringing about a totally new concept in musical awareness.
Misty In Roots, one of the most powerful live reggae acts to have come out of London, and noted for their powerful roots reggae sound, and uncompromising lyrical vibrations, became the major force in Rock Against Racism, playing more concerts than any other band in the movement. This opened up a whole new audience for the band who quickly developed a very strong cross over audience, playing with acts such as Tom Robinson, The Ruts and Elvis Costello.
Despite Misty In Roots' huge success as a live act the band did not release their first album until 1979. The album Live At The Counter Eurovision, which was recorded live in Belgium during the band's 1978 tour, is today still proclaimed by many critics as the best live reggae album of all time. Misty In Roots followed Live At The Counter Eurovision with a string of limited edition singles such as "Oh Wicked Man", "Rich Man", "Salvation", "How Long Jah" and "See Them Ah Come".
The bandβs second album Wise And Foolish was released in 1982 and took on a more mellow, jazzy and soulful tone.
By 1982 Misty In Roots was a force to be reckoned with but because of their determination to remain independent the band took a major step into Africa spending nine months in Zimbabwe and Zambia. The period spent in Africa had a major impact on the development of Misty In Roots' following two albums Earth and Musi O Tunya, both of which were directly inspired by the bandβs experiences in Africa.
Earth, released in 1983, was a moving musical documentation of the devastation caused to mother Earth by mankind because of greed, cruelty and ignorance. The album consists of classic tracks as "Follow Fashion", "Earth", "Poor And Needy", "Own Them Control Them" and "Servant To Jah".
Musi O Tunya, released in 1985, was a reflection of the bandβs love for Africa. Musi O Tunya (The Smoke That Thunders) is a beautiful place where Zimbabwe and Zambia meet, and the great Zambezi river gives up all its might to form one of the most beautiful sights of Southern Africa. The Musi O Tunya falls are known in English as Victoria Falls.
During 1987, Misty In Roots took their first trip to West Africa, the spiritual home of their ancestors, it was indeed a pleasant experience to set foot in the region after four hundred years in exile.
1989 saw the beginning of a friendship between Misty In Roots and Kaz Records, which resulted in the release of the album Forward which saw Misty In Roots reach the heights once again.
At Roots Controller 2002 the band showed that roots reggae is a very alive, and they inspired new, young artists all over the world to change style from dancehall and digital ragga to roots.
ALBUM DISCOGRAPHY
* Live at the Counter Eurovision 79 (1979) [recorded live in Belgium]
* Misty Over Sweden (1979) [Swedish release - recorded live in Sweden]
* Wise and Foolish (1981)
* Earth (1983)
* Musi-O-Tunya (1985)
* Forward (1989)
* Chronicles - The Best of (1994)
* The John Peel Sessions (1995)
* Jah Sees Jah Knows (1997) [2CD version includes bonus CD of Live at the Counter Eurovision '79]
* Roots Controller (2002) [6 new tracks plus previously-released material]
Ghetto Of The City
Misty In Roots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Get it now you no want it
Come here to look for prosperity
What you found was hatred and oppression
Down, down, down in the ghetto of the city
Down, down, down in the ghetto of the city
They're going down to vanity
They're going down to the ghetto of the city
Where there is hatred and poverty
Where there is hatred and poverty
Ignorance, ignorant minds
Corrupted and confused
Build their lives on vanity
Has no love for humanity
Dreams are just an illusion
Pavements are not gold
Hatred, hatred and oppression
Down in the ghetto
Down, down, down in the ghetto of the city
Down, down, down in the ghetto of the city
(Rap)
Like it was said earlier on
I don't feel anything for love
But I say if money could buy love the rich would live and the poor would die
This is what we found in the ghetto of the city
Ignorance, ignorant minds
Corrupted and confused
Build their lives on vanity
Has no love for humanity
Dreams are just an illusion
Pavements are not gold
Hatred, hatred and oppression
Down in the ghetto
Down, down, down in the ghetto of the city
Down, down, down in the ghetto of the city
Ignorance, ignorant minds
Corrupted and confused
Build their lives on vanity
Has no love for humanity
Dreams are just an illusion
Pavements are not gold
Hatred, hatred and oppression
In the ghetto of the city
Down, down, down in the ghetto of the city
Down, down, down in the ghetto of the city
The song "Ghetto of the City" by Misty In Roots is a poignant and powerful social commentary on the cycle of poverty and violence embedded in inner-city neighborhoods. The lyrics reflect on the tendency for individuals to aspire towards material wealth and success, only to be met with the grim reality of the conditions of the ghetto. The song highlights the frustration and disillusionment that often comes with living in poverty, and the lack of resources and hope that are available to those trapped in the cycle.
The opening lines of the song - "All you want you can get, Get it now you no want it" - suggest that individuals in the ghetto are constantly seeking a way out of their circumstances. However, the subsequent lines reveal that what they experience is not prosperity, but rather "hatred and oppression." The song speaks about how the search for material success often results in vanity and hypocrisy, leading individuals to "build their lives on vanity, [without] love for humanity." The verses use vivid and poignant imagery to depict the despair and hopelessness of living in the ghetto.
The chorus repeatedly reinforces the idea that the ghetto is a place of hatred and poverty, bringing attention to the vicious cycle of struggle that characterizes many inner-city neighborhoods. The use of the word "down" throughout the song emphasizes the feeling of being trapped and unable to escape the cycle of poverty, while the repetition of certain phrases in the song emphasizes the message and makes it stick with the listener.
Overall, "Ghetto of the City" is a powerful reminder of the persistence of poverty and the necessity for addressing social injustice. The song speaks to the frustration and hopelessness often felt by those living in impoverished neighborhoods, and their lack of opportunities and resources.
Line by Line Meaning
All you want you can get
Whatever you desire is within reach
Get it now you no want it
Once you obtain what you crave, it no longer brings satisfaction
Come here to look for prosperity
People move to cities seeking wealth and success
What you found was hatred and oppression
Instead of prosperity, city life often brings discrimination and mistreatment
Down, down, down in the ghetto of the city
The impoverished neighborhoods of urban areas
They're going down to vanity
People are drawn to superficiality
They're going down to hypocrisy
People act inconsistently with their beliefs
Where there is hatred and poverty
The ghetto is characterized by animosity and lack of resources
Ignorance, ignorant minds
Lack of knowledge and awareness leads to poor decision-making
Corrupted and confused
Morally compromised and bewildered
Build their lives on vanity
People prioritize superficiality over substance
Has no love for humanity
Individuals do not value the welfare of others
Dreams are just an illusion
Hopes for a better life are unattainable
Pavements are not gold
Urban life is not as glamorous as it seems
Hatred, hatred and oppression
Discrimination and mistreatment are prevalent
Down in the ghetto
The impoverished areas of the city
Like it was said earlier on
Referring to previous lyrics
I don't feel anything for love
Love is not a priority or concern
But I say if money could buy love the rich would live and the poor would die
Wealthy individuals would have access to love whereas impoverished people would be deprived of it
This is what we found in the ghetto of the city
The realities of urban poverty and inequality
In the ghetto of the city
The deprived and underserved urban areas
Contributed by Caroline A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@the-sherpa2041
i was there in Brussels on March 30th, 1979. Thank you RIP Jean-Claude Garot and POUR.
@verkauf9310
Still one of my favourite of their songsππ»
Love from South Africa πΏπ¦
@dr666green
hab ich live gesehn hier in deutschland ende der 80 jahre einfach nur geil!!!
@duncangerrard6828
It was my Love of Punk that got me to where i am now in life...a love of reggae and especially Misty in Roots..probably the greatest British Reggae band ever!!
@geminirhythmspirit2573
I understand the conection Duncan, divided and conquered, is not sustainable β€
@louloubrit
This is true heartfelt nostalgia for me...I grew up in Recreation Rd Southall where the Tyson boys lived...we went to the same school. The "Rock against Racism" movement at that time gave us some awesome music but none better than Misty So glad that John Peel took them to heart....sad he has gone along with one of Mistys brothers...I live in Devon now and have loved seeing them play Exeter. Forever in our hearts....
@orthodoxreuben1974
Hard militant Roots Muzik!!!
@rbc864
Serious sound..
@paulstephens9415
definitly the TOP live reggae act all time
@Hirsute63
Wow! Saw em live at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff in 1980/1 and this album is a trip right back to that concert!