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)
No Sympathy
Peter Tosh Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No sympathy
What kind of love
They've got for me
I'm on my way
To happiness
Where I can find
When I'm in troubles, yeah
Only me only, only me me feel the pain
No one good word of advice
From any of my so-called friends
I can't find no love
No sympathy
What kind, what kind of love
They've got for me
I'm on my way, yes
To happiness
Where I can find, where I can find
Some peace and rest
Might as well, might as well
I get out, I get out of hell
Hell could never be made for me
So I'm gonna search, search 'til I'm free
No love, no love
No sympathy
What kind, what kind of love
They've got for me
I'm on, I'm on, I'm on my way
To happiness
Where I can find, where I can find
Some peace and rest
I can't find no love
No, no sympathy
What kind, what kind, what kind of love
They got, they got, they got for me
On my way
To happiness
Where I can find, can find
Some peace and rest
I can't find no love
No sympathy
What kind, what kind
They've got for me
They don't love themselves
So they can't love no one else
They don't love themselves
So they can't love no one else
I just can't find, find, find no love
I can't find, fand, find no sympathy
I can't find, can't find, can't find no love at all
What kind of love, love, love
People got for me
I'm searchin'
The song No Sympathy by Peter Tosh is a lamentation about the lack of love and empathy in the world. Tosh expresses the feeling of being alone in his struggles and not receiving any support from his friends or loved ones. The first stanza of the song is a repetition of the chorus which sets the tone for the rest of the song. He is not getting the love and sympathy he desires from the people around him.
In the second stanza, Tosh talks about his pursuit of happiness and the need for peace and rest. He yearns for a life where he can find happiness without the constant troubles and pain he feels. However, he feels like he is on his own in his search for happiness, as no one is there to offer him the advice he needs.
In the final stanza, Tosh sheds light on the reason why people are unable to offer love and sympathy to others. He believes that people cannot love others because they don't love themselves. Tosh is not disheartened by this realization and continues his journey towards happiness and freedom.
Overall, No Sympathy is a powerful song that addresses the need for love and empathy in society. Tosh highlights the struggles of being alone in one's struggles and the significance of self-love in loving others.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't find no love
I am unable to find any affection or tenderness
No sympathy
I am not receiving any emotional support or consolation from anyone
What kind of love
What type of amorous feeling or attachment
They've got for me
Do they have any affection or caring attitude towards me?
I'm on my way
I'm heading towards a destination or goal
To happiness
Towards the state of contentment or joy
Where I can find
At a place or situation where I can discover
Some peace and rest
Tranquility and free time from disturbance
When I'm in troubles, yeah
When I am facing hardships
Only me only, only me me feel the pain
I am the only one who experiences the agony
No one good word of advice
I'm not getting any sound recommendation or guidance
From any of my so-called friends
None of my supposed companions are providing me support or help
Might as well, might as well
Might as reasonably do something
I get out, I get out of hell
Remove myself from an unpleasant or difficult situation
Hell could never be made for me
I am not suited or deserving to live in a hellish state
So I'm gonna search, search 'til I'm free
Thus, I'll make an effort to find and explore until I am released
No love, no love
There is no amorous sentiment or attachment
They don't love themselves
They lack any affection or fondness towards themselves
So they can't love no one else
Because they cannot love themselves, they will not be capable of loving anyone else
I just can't find, find, find no love
I am completely powerless to find any affection
I can't find, fand, find no sympathy
I am entirely unable to detect any empathy or care
I can't find, can't find, can't find no love at all
I have utterly failed in finding any love whatsoever
What kind of love, love, love
What type of affection or attachment is it?
People got for me
Do people have any fondness or caring attitude towards me?
I'm searchin'
I am actively looking for
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PETER TOSH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@wp7581
I can't find no love
No sympathy
What kind of love
They've got for me
I'm on my way
To happiness
Where I can find
Some peace and rest
When I'm in my trouble here
Only me feels the pain
Not one good word of advice
From any of my so called friends
I can't find no love
No sympathy
What kind of love
They've got for me
I'm on my way
To happiness
Where I can find
Some peace and rest
Might as well, might as well
I get out, I get out of hell
Hell would never be made for me
So I'm gonna search, search 'till I'm free
I can't find no love
No sympathy
What kind of love
They've got for me
I'm on my way
To happiness
Where I can find
@TheSchuyler75
you cant listen to this without listening a few or more times in a row
@jonathanogburn896
One of the classics..
@georgethecoconut3854
After years and years listening to reaggae albums i have come to a conclusion that this album and Bob marley uprising are the best reggae albums ever of course there are so many contenders but this 2 albums are really spiritual
@fredvan6043
Well, everyone has his own favourites. I like both, but my personal top-4 would be: Upsetters-Superape / Singers&Players-War of Words / Singers&Players-Revenge of the Underdog / Bob Marley&Wailers-Live. As for Peter Tosh, if I had to pick one album it would be his second LP Equal Rights. But many contenders indeed! 🙂
@paolonovaro187
According to the players of instruments this Is reggae Heaven...Santa,Robbie,Aston,Charlie,Tyrone,Tommy MaCook,Al Anderson,Donald Kinsey...Rita Marley. Judy and Bunny..
@AlexandreAuCambodge
Uprising and this.
I feel you.
A bit more manly than the rest?
@rotschimmel
Absolute Prophet!!!!
I can relate to the lyrics of this song every day!
Blessed Earthstrong to him - 19-10-2023 and still THE TOUGHEST! Thanks for visiting Planet Earth, Prophet Peter!
@davidsnakedoe7322
"when I'm in troubles
only me feel the pain"
we are alone when we suffer, but when we have opportunity to have joy, everyone wants to be our friend.
Mankind is just...
Uncle Peter was a Prophet.
@maxxandrews5200
great song
they dont love themselves so they cant love no one else cant find no love at all
no sympathy
@brianmitchell8479
This is a very good for song for this very cold world that we are living in!! RIP Peter Tosh.