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)
Legalize It
Peter Tosh Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't criticize it
Legalize it, yeah yeah
And I will advertise it
Some call it tamjee (tamjee)
Some call it the weed (tamjee)
Some call it marijuana (marijuana), ayy-yeah
Never mind, got to legalize it
And don't criticize it
Legalize it, yeah, yeah
And I will advertise it
Singers smoke it
And players of instrument too
Legalize it, yeah, yeah
That's the best thing you can do
Doctors smoke it
Nurses smoke it
Judges smoke it
Even lawyer too
So you've got to legalize it
And, uh, don't criticize it
Legalize it, yeah, yeah
And I will advertise it
It's good for the flu
Good for asthma
Good for tuberculosis
Even umara composis
Go to legalize it
Don't criticize it
Legalize it, yeah, yeah
I will advertise it
Birds eat it
Ants love it
Fowls eat it
Goats love to play with it
So you've got to legalize it
And don't criticize it
Legalize it, yeah, yeah
And I will advertise it
Keep on telling you legalize it
In Peter Tosh's song "Legalize It," he advocates for the legalization of marijuana and the end of the social stigma surrounding it. The lyrics urge people to stop demonizing and criticizing marijuana and instead embrace it as a natural substance that has medicinal and recreational benefits. Tosh begins by listing different names for marijuana, including tamjee, weed, marijuana, and ganja. He then emphasizes that regardless of the name, it should be legalized and not criticized.
Throughout the verses, Tosh mentions various people who use marijuana, including singers, players of instruments, doctors, nurses, judges, and lawyers. He points out that many people, including those in respected professions, consume marijuana, and therefore it should not be labeled as a negative and illegal substance. Tosh argues that legalizing marijuana would have multiple benefits, including treating flu, asthma, tuberculosis, and even umara composis. He concludes the song by reminding people to keep advocating for its legalization and not criticize it.
Overall, "Legalize It" is an unapologetic and passionate call for the legalization of marijuana and a message of tolerance and acceptance for its users. The song highlights the many benefits that marijuana has and argues that it should be treated like any other natural substance rather than being punished and stigmatized.
Line by Line Meaning
Legalize it
Marijuana should be legalized
Don't criticize it
Marijuana should not be subject to negative judgement
Legalize it, yeah yeah
Reiterating the call for legalization of marijuana
And I will advertise it
Peter Tosh will publicly advocate for the legalization of marijuana
Some call it tamjee (tamjee)
Different cultures and languages have different names for marijuana
Some call it the weed (tamjee)
Marijuana is also called 'the weed'
Some call it marijuana (marijuana), ayy-yeah
Marijuana is also called 'marijuana'
Some a dem call it ganja (ganja)
Marijuana is also called 'ganja'
Never mind, got to legalize it
Despite different names and perceptions, marijuana should be legalized
Singers smoke it
Musicians smoke marijuana
And players of instrument too
Musicians who play instruments also smoke it
That's the best thing you can do
Legalizing marijuana is the right thing to do
Doctors smoke it
Even doctors smoke marijuana
Nurses smoke it
Even nurses smoke marijuana
Judges smoke it
Even judges smoke marijuana
Even lawyer too
Even lawyers smoke marijuana
It's good for the flu
Marijuana has medicinal properties that make it good for treating the flu
Good for asthma
Marijuana has medicinal properties that make it good for treating asthma
Good for tuberculosis
Marijuana has medicinal properties that make it good for treating tuberculosis
Even umara composis
Marijuana has medicinal properties that make it beneficial for treating various illnesses
Birds eat it
Birds feed on marijuana
Ants love it
Ants are attracted to marijuana
Fowls eat it
Fowls consume marijuana
Goats love to play with it
Goats are attracted to marijuana and enjoy interacting with it
Keep on telling you legalize it
The message of legalizing marijuana should continue to be spread widely
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Peter Tosh
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Soli_Deo_Gloria_.
Many places have legalized ganja in the United States, but the promised healing of the nation never came, nor will it.
Why ?
Weed will never heal sin.
Question : Why something rather than nothing ?
Answer : Because of an uncaused, non contingent, first cause of all contingency...
God
What is the chief end of man ?
Man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
Seek Christ Jesus the Redeemer
For secondary and tertiary understanding...
Research...
1.The cosmological argument
2.The contingency argument
3.The teleological argument
4.The ontological argument
5.The moral argument
Life is but a vapor, for you know not the day nor hour that you shall draw your last breath before you jump into eternity.
Choose you this day who you shall serve.
@willieluncheonette
Ninth song by Peter Tosh on the anniversary of his passing in 1987.
Bunny, always the spiritual one, left the Wailers in 1973 after Chris Blackwell, the owner of their label Island Records, stated the Wailers would play " freak clubs" on the upcoming American portion of their tour. Peter left a few months later in November
Peter's first solo album, Legalize It, with its iconic cover of the man becoming one with a field of ganja, made him a world wide sensation. I'm sure the album surprised many with its very laid back vibe---usually Peter was militant and filled with righteous indignation towards oppressors everywhere.
Here is what Wiki has to say-- " Legalize It is an album and song by Peter Tosh. Legalize It was Tosh's debut album as a solo artist after leaving The Wailers. It was recorded at Treasure Isle and Randy's, Kingston, Jamaica in 1975 and released in Jamaica in the same year. ]
Legalize It is one of the three solo albums released in 1976 by Wailers members, along with Bunny Wailer's album Blackheart Man and Bob Marley's Rastaman Vibration.
The song was written in response to his ongoing victimization by the Jamaican police and as a political piece pushing for the legalization of cannabis, particularly for medical use. In 1977, Tosh backed this up by saying 'We are the victims of Rasclot circumstances. Victimization, colonialism, gonna lead to bloodbath'. Tosh also said 'Herb will become like cigarettes', in an NME interview in 1977."
Let's hear three songs from Legalize It. First up is the famous title song.
. Peter Tosh – guitar, keyboards, vocals
Al Anderson – guitar
Aston Barrett, Robbie Shakespeare – bass
Carlton "Santa" Davis, Carlton Barrett – drums
Tyrone "Organ D" Downie – keyboards
Donald Kinsey – guitar
Robbie "Ras" Lee – harmonica
Rita Marley – background vocals
Judy Mowatt - background vocals
Bunny Wailer – background vocals
@lnsitor
Germany Here. WE DID IT!
@Knochensplitter
ABER SOWAS VON :D !
@ricl11
traurige Vermittlungsausschussgeräusche
@MrOuest
Canada welcomes you :)
@Scaiii_
nicht zu frueh freuen es kann noch alles passieren aber hoffen wir mal das wir am 1.4 legal paffen können :D
@theokoles94
I'm coming ! 🇨🇵
@fahrradhupe3911
Germany did it today
@DaveBirk-ie3xr
Same thing here in cape town
@gixxagixxa5525
Tomorow we can Start
@timbomaterno4205
Ich warte grade auf 0uhr als wäre es silvester😂