Winston Hubert McIntosh, OM (19 October 1944 – 11 September 1987), profess… Read Full Bio ↴Winston Hubert McIntosh, OM (19 October 1944 – 11 September 1987), professionally known as Peter Tosh, was a Jamaican reggae musician. Along with Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer, he was one of the core members of the band the Wailers (1963–1976), after which he established himself as a successful solo artist and a promoter of Rastafari. He was murdered in 1987 during a home invasion.
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)
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)
Stop That Train
Peter Tosh Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stop that Train
I'm a leaving...
And it won't be too long
Whether I'm right or wrong
(CHORUS)
All my life
I've been the lonely man
Teachin people that don't overstand
And even though I try my best
I still don't find no happiness
CHORUS
Some goin' east
And a some goin' west
I see some stand aside
Just to try their best
And I say some livin' big
But the most them livin' small
And they can't even find
No No No food at all
CHORUS
Stop that train
Can't take dem ya pressure...
I'm a leaving...
And it won't be too long
Whether I'm right or wrong
(CHORUS)
All my life
I've been the lonely man
Teachin people that don't overstand
I still don't find no happiness
CHORUS
Some goin' east
And a some goin' west
I see some stand aside
Just to try their best
And I say some livin' big
But the most them livin' small
And they can't even find
No No No food at all
CHORUS
Stop that train
Can't take dem ya pressure...
Peter Tosh's "Stop That Train" is a song about leaving behind a life of misery and unhappiness. The lyrics express the singer's desire to break free from the chains that have been holding him down and move onto a brighter future, even if it means leaving everything he knows behind. The opening lines "Stop that train, I'm leaving" depict the urgency of the singer's longing for escape. The following lines "And it won't be too long, whether I'm right or wrong" suggest that he is ready to take the risks that come with such a big decision, even if he isn't entirely sure it is the right one.
Through the chorus, Tosh reflects on his past life and the knowledge he has accumulated as a result of it. He describes himself as a "lonely man, teaching people that don't overstand." This line is an excellent play on words where he uses "overstand" instead of "understand," indicating that society might not be considering all angles while trying to understand his situation. Despite his best efforts, however, Tosh has failed to find true happiness, which he ponders in the line "And even though I try my best, I still don't find no happiness."
The rest of the verses talk about the different paths people take in their lives, with some journeying in one direction while others go in another. Although some may seem successful, under the surface, many are living with a sense of deprivation, unable even to afford food. The final line, "Stop that train, can't take dem ya pressure," is a call to action, urging us all to examine our lives and make necessary changes, even if it means stopping what's causing us stress or harm.
Line by Line Meaning
Stop that Train
I want the train to stop because I'm leaving
I'm a leaving...
I am leaving this place behind
And it won't be too long
I won't be here much longer
Whether I'm right or wrong
Regardless of whether my decision is correct or not
All my life
Throughout my entire existence
I've been the lonely man
I have always been alone
Teachin people that don't overstand
Teaching people who do not comprehend
And even though I try my best
Despite my efforts
I still don't find no happiness
I still cannot find happiness
Some goin' east
Some are heading towards the east
And a some goin' west
Others are journeying west
I see some stand aside
I notice some people watching from the sidelines
Just to try their best
Attempting to do their best
And I say some livin' big
I observe some individuals living lavishly
But the most them livin' small
However, the majority of people are living modestly
And they can't even find
They cannot even obtain
No No No food at all
Any food whatsoever
Stop that train
I want the train to stop
Can't take dem ya pressure...
I cannot withstand this stress anymore
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PETER TOSH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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@jamesyoung2656
@@fredvan6043
Yes Arise Blackman is a truly inspiring and empowering tune.
Check out some of the Peter Tosh and the Wailers singles from the 60s. The Wailers formed in the early 60s.
Jahman inna jamdung!
I read I & I , The natural mystics by Colin Grant. Awsome imo
Very educational.
I became familiar with Bunny Livingstones story and the music he made as a solo artist several years before he died.
He made some truly awsome music . ROCKERS is onecif my all time favourites and also black heart man. I'm sure you're probably familiar with.
Peace brother
@CaptainBourbon
Stop that train I'm leaving...
It won't be too long whether I'm right or wrong
I said it won't be too long whether I'm right or wrong
All my life I've been a lonely man
Teaching the people who don't overstand
And even though I've tried my best
I still don't find no happiness, no happiness :(
Some going east
Some going west
Some step aside to try their best
Some living big
But the most living small
They just can't even find
No food at all
Stop that train I'm leaving
@10017akv
Why would anyone put a 👎🏽? Those are people in need of a hug.
@DominarioFerreira
não essa pessoa não precisa de um abraço isso é incapaz não é capaz de nada não cresce no emprego muito pior na vida aí quando ver coisa boa fica com inveja
@jeanclarke9106
Today I read an interview conducted by High Times magazine with Peter, and when he was asked about the rationale behind writing 'Stop that train', this was Peter''s answer:
...Well, this was after singing with the Wailers over twelve years. And it was like singing with the Wailers it was like driving a train. When you are still driving on a train for twelve years, and I realize that now comes the time for me to manifest myself. So I just wrote the song “Stop that Train”: “I am leaving, it won’t be too long.” It was about a couple of months after I just started on my own. That was about 1973'.
@OfficialELTB
I always remember this song on a Bob Marley album and wondered why Tosh didn't sing more.
@fredvan6043
@@OfficialELTB Just because he wasn't as prolific as a songwriter, and simply didn't write more songs: that's why it took him until 1976 to come up with an entire solo album (and even at that point, almost half of the songs on the "Legalize it" LP weren't original new compositions but reworkings of older material). Although in the early 70's he also recorded some songs (for various producers, mostly Joe Gibbs) by himself, without Bunny and Bob, so not issued under the Wailers imprint - and therefore not included on the Wailers' albums. Although their quality varies, some are really good, actually - one of the very best being "Arise Black Man": an absolutely great tune!
@jamesyoung2656
@@fredvan6043
Yes Arise Blackman is a truly inspiring and empowering tune.
Check out some of the Peter Tosh and the Wailers singles from the 60s. The Wailers formed in the early 60s.
Jahman inna jamdung!
I read I & I , The natural mystics by Colin Grant. Awsome imo
Very educational.
I became familiar with Bunny Livingstones story and the music he made as a solo artist several years before he died.
He made some truly awsome music . ROCKERS is onecif my all time favourites and also black heart man. I'm sure you're probably familiar with.
Peace brother
@fredvan6043
@@jamesyoung2656 Of course I am familiar with the Wailers' 60's material (and indeed, there's a lot of Tosh classics there - many of which he recycled on his later solo albums). And as far Tosh is concerned, that ska era was probably his most fruitful period... (because his later re-workings rarely matched the original - nor did this very Stop the train tune, that in this version is just a slick sellout imo)
@jamesyoung2656
@@fredvan6043 ok. Fair play.
My favourite stuff is when it was The Wailing Wailers , b4 Chris 'Whiteworse " Blackwell meddled with them. I especially like the version of Put it on from the 1965 Wailing Wailers album. Gotta love Carlton Barrett aka Field Marshall drumming. Also the earlier versions of sinner man and when the well runs dry. Tunes!
@josephgurure5656
Mastermind at work, rest peacefully prophet Tosh amen.
@abrahampalmer1153
phenomenal message this song is really about you can lead a horse to drink but you can't make it drink is so true some people just don't want change in their life and love being stagnant for some odd reason.