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)
Leave My Business
Peter Tosh Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Me no want no one come sorry for me
That's nobody's business but my own
The other day comes and it happens the same
Don't think that I'm going to feel ashamed
That's nobody's business but my own
So you better leave my business, leave my business
If I get high and fly like bird
You should never say a word
That's nobody's business but my own
And if you drink rum and tumble down
You alone go and have your fun
That's nobody's business but your own
When landlord come collecting rent
Me not come beg you fifty cent
That's nobody's business but my own
And if he says that I'm to move
That won't stop me from improve
That's nobody's business but my own
Leave my business, leave my business
Leave my business and mind your own
In Peter Tosh's song "Leave My Business," the lyrics talk about minding one's own business and not meddling in others' affairs. The song starts by describing a morning where the singer wakes up without tea, and they don't want anyone to sympathize with them. The lyrics state that their personal affairs are nobody's business except their own. In the following verse, the singer talks about getting high and that people should not judge them for it as it's their business alone. The third verse talks about the landlord collecting rent and how it's not anyone else's concern if the singer has to deal with it. The song finishes with a chorus, insisting that others must leave the singer's business alone and focus on their own.
Throughout the song, Tosh emphasizes the importance of respecting others' privacy and not interfering with their lives. In a world that can be intrusive, Tosh insists that everyone deserves a certain level of privacy and self-determination. The song carries a tone of empowerment and independence, urging the listener to take charge of their own lives and not allow others to dictate their actions.
Overall, Peter Tosh's "Leave My Business" is a poignant message that promotes privacy and personal sovereignty. It teaches the audience to respect others' confidentiality while emphasizing the importance of taking charge of one's life and not being afraid of what others may say or think.
Line by Line Meaning
Wake up one morning and don't have no tea
If I wake up one morning and don't have my tea, it's my problem and I don't want anyone to feel sorry for me.
Me no want no one come sorry for me
I don't want anyone to pity me.
That's nobody's business but my own
My problems are my own and no one else's concern.
The other day comes and it happens the same
The same things happen to me over and over again.
Don't think that I'm going to feel ashamed
I am not ashamed of what's happening to me and I won't let anyone make me feel otherwise.
That's nobody's business but my own
What's happening to me is my own business and not anyone else's.
So you better leave my business, leave my business
You should leave me alone and not interfere in my affairs.
Leave my business and mind your own
I want you to concentrate on your own problems and not interfere with mine.
If I get high and fly like bird
If I get high on drugs and feel free like a bird, it's my own thing and not anyone else's.
You should never say a word
You should mind your own business and not judge me for what I do.
And if you drink rum and tumble down
If you drink too much rum and fall down, it's your own fault and not mine.
You alone go and have your fun
You should enjoy your life and not interfere with mine.
When landlord come collecting rent
When the landlord comes to collect the rent, it's my problem and not anyone else's.
Me not come beg you fifty cent
I won't beg you for fifty cents to pay my rent.
That's nobody's business but my own
My rent is my own responsibility and not anyone else's.
And if he says that I'm to move
If the landlord tells me to move out, it's my problem and not yours.
That won't stop me from improve
Moving out won't stop me from making progress in my life.
That's nobody's business but my own
My life and my decisions are my own business and not anyone else's.
Leave my business, leave my business
I want you to leave me alone and not interfere with my life and decisions.
Leave my business and mind your own
I want you to focus on your own life and problems and not bother me.
Contributed by Daniel Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@masumbukolongino2851
Leave my business, the golden voice from the king of reggae
@jeanclarke9106
My sentiments exactly..Too many people just can't leave other people's business alone.
@brendalee7184
🇸🇽🇯🇲 who is listening in 2019?
@jeanclarke9106
I am in 2020. Bless
@bulletsmother1094
So nice en positive vibe...RIP papa
@lissathompson9723
Real Real message from Peter man RIP
@teshawn5675
Yes ' I'
@tebogomoepeng6091
My favorite track
@johnrailati216
Rasta rebel music..ganjah &white rum🇳🇨👌
@miguelgarzon8318
If I get high and fly like a bird you shouldn't never say a word!