Early music and with the Wailers
Tosh was born in Westmoreland, the westernmost parish of Jamaica. He was abandoned by his parents and "shuffled among relatives". When McIntosh was fifteen, his aunt died and he moved to Trenchtown in Kingston, Jamaica. He first learned guitar after watching a man in the country play a song that captivated him. He watched the man play the same song for half a day, memorizing everything his fingers were doing. He then picked up the guitar and played the song back to the man. The man then asked McIntosh who had taught him to play; McIntosh told him that he had. During the early 1960s, as an aspiring musician, Tosh went to vocal teacher Joe Higgs, who gave free music lessons to young people. Through his contact with Higgs, Tosh met Robert Nesta Marley (Bob Marley) and Neville O'Reilly Livingston (Bunny Wailer). He then changed his name to Peter Tosh and the trio started singing together in 1962. Higgs taught the trio to harmonise and while developing their music, they would often play on the street corners of Trenchtown.
In 1964 Tosh helped organise the band the Wailing Wailers, with Junior Braithwaite, a falsetto singer, and backup singers Beverley Kelso and Cherry Smith. Initially, Tosh was the only one in the group who could play musical instruments. According to Bunny Wailer, Tosh was critical to the band because he was a self-taught guitarist and keyboardist, and thus became an inspiration for the other band members to learn to play. The Wailing Wailers had a major ska hit with their first single, "Simmer Down", and recorded several more successful singles before Braithwaite, Kelso and Smith left the band in late 1965. Marley spent much of 1966 in Delaware in the United States with his mother, Cedella (née Malcolm) Marley-Booker, and for a brief time was working at a nearby Chrysler factory. He returned to Jamaica in early 1967 with a renewed interest in music and a new spirituality. Tosh and Bunny were already Rastafarians when Marley returned from the US, and the three became very involved with the Rastafari faith. Soon afterwards, they renamed the musical group the Wailers. Tosh would explain later that they chose the name Wailers because to "wail" means to mourn or to, as he put it, "...express one's feelings vocally". He also claims that he was the beginning of the group, and that it was he who first taught Bob Marley the guitar. Also according to Bunny Wailer, the early Wailers learned to play instruments from Tosh.
During the mid-1960s Tosh, along with Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer, were introduced to Danny Sims and Johnny Nash who signed the three artists to an exclusive recording contract on Sims' and Nash's JAD Records label as well as an exclusive publishing agreement through Sims' music publishing company, Cayman Music. Rejecting the up-tempo dance of ska, the band slowed their music to a rocksteady pace, and infused their lyrics with political and social messages inspired by their new-found faith. The Wailers composed several songs for the American-born singer Nash before teaming with producer Lee "Scratch" Perry to record some of the earliest well-known reggae songs, including "Soul Rebel", "Duppy Conqueror", and "Small Axe". The collaboration had given birth to reggae music and in 1970 bassist Aston "Family Man" Barrett and his brother, drummer Carlton Barrett, joined the group. They recorded the album The Best of The Wailers, which was produced by Leslie Kong and released in 1971.[citation needed]
In 1972, Danny Sims assigned the balance of the JAD Records recording contract with the band to Chris Blackwell and Island Records company and released their debut, Catch a Fire, in 1973, following it with Burnin' the same year. The Wailers had moved from many producers after 1970 and there were instances where producers would record rehearsal sessions that Tosh did and release them in England under the name "Peter Touch".
In 1973, Tosh was driving home with his girlfriend Evonne when his car was hit by another car driving on the wrong side of the road. The accident killed Evonne and severely fractured Tosh's skull. After Island Records president Chris Blackwell refused to issue his solo album in 1974, Tosh and Bunny Wailer left the Wailers, citing the unfair treatment they received from Blackwell, to whom Tosh often referred with a derogatory play on Blackwell's surname, 'Whiteworst'. Tosh had written many of the Wailers' hit songs such as "Get Up, Stand Up", "400 Years", and "No Sympathy". Tosh began recording and released his solo debut, Legalize It, in 1976 with CBS Records company, and Treasure Isle. The title track soon became popular among endorsers of cannabis legalization, reggae music lovers and Rastafari all over the world, and was a favourite at Tosh's concerts.
That was his last album from the Wailers, Island Records. In 2013, a book co-written by French scholar Dr Jeremie Kroubo Dagnini and American Lee Jaffe, his former associate, says Tosh was part of a smuggling operation that raised money to fund this album.
Solo career
Tosh started to make his own albums with Rolling Stones Records and CBS Records Equal Rights followed in 1977, featuring his recording of a song co-written with Marley, "Get Up, Stand Up", and a cover of "Stepping Razor" that would also appear on the soundtrack to the film Rockers.
Tosh organised a backing band, Word, Sound and Power, who were to accompany him on tour for the next few years, and many of whom performed on his albums of this period. In 1978, the Rolling Stones record label Rolling Stones Records contracted with Tosh, on which the album Bush Doctor was released, introducing Tosh to a larger audience. The album featured Rolling Stones frontmen Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, and the lead single – a cover version of The Temptations song "Don't Look Back" – was performed as a duet with Jagger.
During Bob Marley's free One Love Peace Concert of 1978, Tosh lit a marijuana spliff and lectured about legalising cannabis, lambasting attending dignitaries Michael Manley and Edward Seaga for their failure to enact such legislation. Several months later he was apprehended by police as he left Skateland dance hall in Kingston and was beaten severely while in police custody.
Mystic Man (1979), and Wanted Dread and Alive (1981) followed, both released on Rolling Stones Records. Tosh tried to gain some mainstream success while keeping his militant views, but was only moderately successful, especially when compared to Marley's achievements.
In 1984, after the release of 1983's album Mama Africa, Tosh went into self-imposed exile, seeking the spiritual advice of traditional medicine men in Africa, and trying to free himself from recording agreements that distributed his records in South Africa. Tosh had been at odds for several years with his label, EMI, over a perceived lack of promotion for his music.
Tosh also participated in the international opposition to South African apartheid by appearing at anti-apartheid concerts and by conveying his opinion in various songs like "Apartheid" (1977, re-recorded 1987), "Equal Rights" (1977), "Fight On" (1979), and "Not Gonna Give It Up" (1983). In 1987, Peter Tosh seemed to be having a career revival. He was awarded a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Performance in 1987 for No Nuclear War, his last record.
Death
On 11 September 1987, just after Tosh had returned to his home in Jamaica, a three-man gang came to his house on motorcycles demanding money. Tosh replied that he did not have any with him but the gang did not believe him. They stayed at his residence for several hours and tortured Tosh in an attempt to extort money from him. Over the hours, as various associates of Tosh arrived to visit him, they were also taken hostage by the gunmen. The gunmen became more and more frustrated, especially the chief thug, Dennis "Leppo" Lobban, a man whom Tosh had previously befriended and tried to help find work after a long jail sentence. Tosh said he did not have any money in the house, after which Lobban and the fellow gunmen began opening fire in a reckless manner. Tosh was shot twice in the head and killed. Herbalist Wilton "Doc" Brown and disc jockey Jeff 'Free I' Dixon also died as a result of wounds sustained during the robbery. Several others in the house were wounded, including Tosh's common law wife Andrea Marlene Brown, Free I's wife Yvonne ("Joy"); Tosh's drummer Carlton "Santa" Davis, and musician Michael Robinson.
According to Police Commissioner Herman Ricketts, Dennis "Leppo" Lobban surrendered and two other men were interrogated but not publicly named. Lobban went on to plead innocent during his trial, telling the court he had been drinking with friends. The trial was held in a closed court due to the involvement of illegal firearms. Lobban was ultimately found guilty by a jury of eight women and four men and sentenced to death by hanging. His sentence was commuted in 1995 and Lobban remains in jail. Another suspect was acquitted due to insufficient evidence. The other two gunmen were never identified by name.
Discography
Legalize It (1976)
Equal Rights (1977)
Bush Doctor (1978)
Mystic Man (1979)
Wanted Dread & Alive (1981)
Mama Africa (1983)
No Nuclear War (1987)
Crystal Ball
Peter Tosh Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I say Lookin' in your crystal ball culture man
What do you see culture man
Tell me what do you see culture man
I see people victim
Prices rising
Gas shortage
In the city
In a you shitty
In the city
In a the shitty
Come on lookin' at your crystal ball culture man
Come on lookin' at your crystal ball culture man
What do you see culture man
Tell What do you see culture man
I see them churches locked down
Schools closed down
Politicians promising
Teacher striking
In the city
In a you shitty
In the city
In a the shitty
Come on come on lookin' at your crystal ball culture man
I say lookin' at your crystal ball culture man
Tell me tell me what do you see culture man
Tell me what do you see culture man
I see youths rising
Blood running
Fire burning
Got crying
In a the shitty
In a the shitty
In the city
It is a shitty
Lookin' at you crystal ball culture man
I say lookin' at you crystal ball culture man
What do you see culture man
Tell me what what do you see culture man
I see truth revealing
People cleansing
Downpresser chasing
People seeing
In a the shitty...
I say lookin' at you crystal ball culture man
Keep on lookin' at you crystal ball culture man
Let us have a view on the inside
We see too much of the outside
Give me a glimpse in a you crystal ball culture man
Make me see what a gwan culture man
Long time we blind
So so blind
Peter Tosh's song Crystal Ball makes an observation on different issues affecting society through the metaphor of a crystal ball. The song brings to light the social and economic problems plaguing the society. Tosh implores the culture man, who has the crystal ball, to reveal what he sees. The culture man is a symbol of spiritual leaders in society, who should be able to foresee and warn the people against the impending danger. However, he focuses on the outside, perhaps preoccupied with seeking power and wealth, while society suffers.
Tosh highlights economic issues, such as the rise in prices, gas shortage, and the devaluation of the dollar, which affect the people's welfare. Schools and churches are shutting down, while politicians make empty promises, and teachers go on strikes. The youth take to the streets in protest, and there is bloodshed, fire, and tears. Tosh concludes the song with hope for change, as the truth gets revealed, and people cleanse themselves. The down oppressors get chased, and the people rediscover their vision.
Line by Line Meaning
Lookin' at your crystal ball culture man
Asking someone to provide their insight into the future through their cultural lens
I say Lookin' in your crystal ball culture man
Re-iterating the question of what the individual can see in their crystal ball
What do you see culture man
Questioning what the individual can perceive in their crystal ball
Tell me what do you see culture man
Asking for an answer to the question of what the individual can see in their crystal ball
I see people victim
Observing individual suffering in the future
Prices rising
Predicting an increase in costs in the future
Gas shortage
Predicting a shortage in gasoline in the future
And the dollar devalue
Predicting a decrease in the value of the dollar in the future
In the city
Referring to the urban center
In a you shitty
Referring to the dilapidated state of the urban center
Come on lookin' at your crystal ball culture man
Encouraging the individual to provide more insight from their cultural viewpoint
Tell What do you see culture man
Re-iterating the question of what the individual can perceive in their crystal ball
I see them churches locked down
Predicting church closures in the future
Schools closed down
Predicting school closures in the future
Politicians promising
Observing politicians making empty promises in the future
Teacher striking
Predicting a teacher's strike in the future
I see youths rising
Predicting the youth becoming more powerful in the future
Blood running
Predicting violence and warfare in the future
Fire burning
Predicting flames in the future, possibly referring to revolution or riots
Got crying
Observing the emotional distress in the future
In a the shitty
Referring to the dilapidated and struggling urban center
I see truth revealing
Predicting the revelation of the truth in the future
People cleansing
Predicting people purifying themselves morally or physically in the future
Downpresser chasing
Predicting the chase and punishment of oppressors in the future
People seeing
Predicting people becoming aware of their surroundings in the future
Let us have a view on the inside
Asking to see a deeper part of another's cultural perspective
We see too much of the outside
Acknowledgement of the limitations of one's own cultural perspective
Give me a glimpse in a you crystal ball culture man
Asking to see more of the individual's cultural perspective
Make me see what a gwan culture man
Asking the individual to provide a more detailed insight into their cultural perspective
Long time we blind
Acknowledging past ignorance about one's own cultural perspective
So so blind
Emphasizing the extent of past ignorance about one's own cultural perspective
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: PETER TOSH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Ribqah-ql4jf
I love all of Peter Tosh's songs snd and music. Most people do not know this but Peter Tosh is the one that placed Bob Marley's hands on the gitire and taught him how to play. They were young men growing up together in Jamaica.
RIP Peter Tosh. Your spirit lives on in your music. All Praises be unto The Most High God for you coming to Earth and leavin such great music. PEACE OUT!!..........
@dubwiseselecta1
How the hell could you give this a thumbs down in the times we're living now. So revelant to what we are dealing with today. Peter Tosh was so far ahead of his time it's crazy.
@thedesire2512
crazy ballhead job
@boondockbwoy14
ikr I don't get it at all 🤦🏾♂️
@tembelanidyantyi4325
You are right, and you just hit the nail. This song tells it all of the future(now closure of all sectors because of Covid 19), feuds (taxis and power struggle wrestlings). Tosh could predict the future challenges.
@segouledeblihi1300
0
@christianmusterman1879
How could anyone EVER give thumbs down to this masterpiece!
Peter Tosh knew how the world IS!
@brendacarmichael1012
Great Prophet thank you Fe Dem conscious vibes. Gone to return.
@Jevezy
It is 2020 here in America, COVID is kicking our azzes and killing thousands, this song is so relevant today, Peter Tosh was a prophet. He will be greatly missed.
@virgilioblanco
So you know, Jamaica is part of INSULAR "AMERICA"!!!