This particular version emerged when three talented young musicians, Eric Iverson, David Lyons and Brian Jarvis connected in the fertile ground nestled between California’s coast and Santa Barbara’s majestic mountain range. From seaside drum circles to the eventual formation of a popular local psychedelic-folk-rock-reggae band called Lighting Bug Johnson, the three bonded and the roots of Soul Majestic took hold. In 1999, what would become Soul Majestic began to take shape.
With Eric-I on vocals (and initially drums) and David on lead guitar, they began to assemble the ingredients for a team of players that included full horn section and female harmony vocals. Enter Oriana Sanders, a soulful songstress from Los Angeles. With a background in Soul and R&B, a stint with another Cali based reggae project, and a resume that included recording on two movie soundtracks, Oriana was the perfect compliment to Eric’s colorful and complex music writing style and David’s technical and intricate rock infused guitar licks. The only element missing was the percussive spicing that eventually brought Brian back into the mix. Over the course of time Soul Majestic took on several incarnations, shifting personnel and evolving their sound with each successive album they recorded independently.
Their self-titled debut album, released in 2002, was followed up in 2004 with a full band exodus to the birthplace of reggae and origin of the musical flavor, the island of Jamaica. While there, they recorded their second album, entitled Until That Day, at Bob Marley’s Tuff Gong Studio in Kingston, enlisting the involvement of some of their heroes like Sly and Robbie and Anthony B. Immersing themselves in the culture living in a humble house in Portmore, they gained a greater understanding of the origins and current direction of reggae music. They also learned some difficult lessons, and did some wising up after getting hustled by their would-be producer.
If hard lessons and tough experiences were a theme in the band’s career, the next course would be served when life dished up another plate of bitters: Oriana was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. While Soul Majestic was in the midst of recording their third album, she underwent chemotherapy and radiation, emerging triumphant over the disease to stay with her now husband Eric and continue the dream they stirred together.
Through trials and tribulations, the character and confidence of each individual in the band has solidified, and the result is a maturity that is reflected in the current repertoire. Supported by a collection of quality and influential roots musicians including the explosive and skillful Jayme Arredondo on drums, steady rolling bass from Thomas "Toads" Marcelino, texture and vibes from Seth Theodore on keys, and at times a third vocalist and live horns, Soul Majestic is poised to take on the world. Sizzling musicianship, crowd-hyping dub breaks, occasional acoustic ballads, and fresh, inspiring lyrics delivered via alternating male/female lead vocals from Eric-I and Oriana continue to whet the appetite of a wide array of music enthusiasts.
Another tasty treat from Soul Majestic, their third and highly anticipated album entitled Better World will be released in spring 2009, featuring 13 incredible and diverse tracks including collaborations with Sly and Robbie, Tony Moses and Trinidad’s Queen Omega, as well as production and a handful of rhythms by Million 7 Sound. Already in the studio with more follow up material simmering on the back burner, Soul Majestic is gearing up for the next chapter in their rich biography. This momentum has attracted enthusiastic and talented new management and an innovative internet-savvy marketing team with an understanding of the strategy necessary to navigate the changing music industry. The team is focused on helping Soul Majestic to promote their message.
Planning to tour extensively in support of the album, the band’s mission to raise awareness of global interconnectedness, and how people’s actions impact one another and the earth, has moved to the forefront. The band has played several benefit shows in support of organizations promoting peace, environmental education, and the compassionate use of medical marijuana, and plans future work with organizations that are aligned with their mission and world-views. Watch for them on the road in their 15-passenger Bio-diesel tour van gathering their tribe for the great feast. For appetizers check the band’s web site, Myspace, or Facebook.
First Light
Soul Majestic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I feel the sun beating on my head.
I fix a cup of the collie man;
I sip it up till my eyes get red.
Glorious day is upon us,
Let us meditate on the challis.
The sweet hurt, the good life,
The first light of the morning,
The sun shining on my face.
I give thanks for the good bread.
(Brand new day ahead.)
The first light of the morning,
The sun shining on my face.
I give thanks for the good bread.
Can't take this view from here for granted,
The hills filled with trees I've enchanted.
We till the soil we planted,
At first light we watered and mended.
Now the season has come,
The fruit is right in the garden.
People of community must unite,
We share this love morning, noon, and night.
The first light of the morning,
The sun shining on my face.
I give thanks for the good bread.
(Brand new day ahead.)
The first light of the morning,
The sun shining on my face.
I give thanks for the good bread.
(Brand new day ahead)
Solo
(Ohh, igh, hee)
The first light of the morning,
The sun shining on my face.
I give thanks for the good bread.
(Brand new day ahead.)
The first light of the morning,
The sun shining on my face.
I give thanks for the good bread.
(Brand new day ahead)
(The first light of the morning, )
The sun shining on my face.
(I give thanks for the good bread.)
The sun shining on my face.
(Repeat X2)
In "First Light," Soul Majestic describes a beautiful morning full of gratitude, community, and hard work. The lyrics begin with the singer waking up and performing their morning routine, brewing a cup of coffee and taking in the warmth of the sun on their head. They acknowledge the challenges of life, but focus on the sweetness of it all and appreciate the good bread in their life. The chorus repeats the importance of the first light of the morning, giving thanks for the blessings they have, and the promise of a brand new day ahead.
The second verse focuses on community and the importance of working together to cultivate a fruitful garden. The realization that the hills full of trees around them are enchanting and beautiful, and that the soil must be tended, watered, and mended. When the season arrives and the fruit is ripe in the garden, the people of the community must unite and share their love every morning, noon, and night.
Overall, "First Light" is a song about appreciating the simple things in life, hard work, and community. By focusing on the good bread, the sweet hurt of life, and the beauty around us, the song encourages listeners to take a moment to be grateful for what they have and focus on the present moment.
Line by Line Meaning
The morning I get up, wash my dread.
At the start of the day, I rise to clean my hair which is braided in dreadlocks.
I feel the sun beating on my head.
I sense the warmth of the sun shining on my head.
I fix a cup of the collie man;
I prepare a cup of coffee, commonly referred to as 'collie,' which is enjoyed by many, especially Rastafarians.
I sip it up till my eyes get red.
I slowly drink it until my eyes become heavy and slightly bloodshot.
Glorious day is upon us,
A wonderful day has arrived,
Let us meditate on the challis.
Let us focus our thoughts on the chalice, typically used to consume sacramental wine or other holy liquids during religious ceremonies.
The sweet hurt, the good life,
The bittersweet and challenging experiences, interspersed with moments of joy and fulfillment.
I try the song in the morning light.
I experiment with a tune, singing it during the early hours of the day.
The first light of the morning,
The initial rays of sunlight during the early hours of dawn when the sky is just beginning to light up.
The sun shining on my face.
The light radiating from the sun directly hits my face.
I give thanks for the good bread.
I express my gratitude for the nourishing food that sustains me.
(Brand new day ahead.)
A freshly started day filled with opportunities and possibilities.
Can't take this view from here for granted,
The breathtaking surroundings that I am witnessing are not to be overlooked or taken for granted.
The hills filled with trees I've enchanted.
The hills are full of trees that have cast a spell or have captivated me with their beauty.
We till the soil we planted,
We work on the land that we have sowed, cultivated and managed.
At first light we watered and mended.
We irrigated and fixed our crops right before dawn.
Now the season has come,
The time has arrived for harvesting the crops that were planted earlier.
The fruit is right in the garden.
The crops have reached the peak of their ripening process, and they are ready to be harvested from the garden.
People of community must unite,
The members of the society should come together and work cooperatively.
We share this love morning, noon, and night.
We display affection and kindness towards each other throughout the entire day, from the early hours of dawn to the late hours of the night.
(Solo
(Ohh, igh, hee))
(Instrumental section without lyrics)
(The first light of the morning, )
(The initial rays of sunlight during the early hours of dawn when the sky is just beginning to light up.)
The sun shining on my face.
The light radiating from the sun directly hits my face.
(I give thanks for the good bread.)
(I express my gratitude for the nourishing food that sustains me.)
The sun shining on my face.
The light radiating from the sun directly hits my face.
(Repeat X2)
(Repeat previous verse two more times.)
Contributed by Harper V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@mezcalescuela6253
This song never gets old. Good vibes!
@basicchris55
I'm up at 5:30 am in the morning. Saying thanks sun and everybody. I appreciate u. Life is nothing without u and me and ur family . Love u ...sir Jameson lol I'm faded
@ReggaeeLove
Oh Man! Meditating Soul Music! Jah Bless!
@davidtronsgard2884
wow. A wake and bake anthem for sure.
@lprotzer
Seriously OBSESSED! Thank you Rebelution radio for the discovery of this band
@monkey0550ify
Got up rolled a king size and jumped on this sight epic morning much love to all respect to all from hawaii cheeeeeeeeeehooooooooooo ALOJAH
@zakkjigsaw
weed or no weed best song to wake up to a fresh start to everyday :)
@blazingmeatball6979
Bless up. One of the best songs ever created. Give us more 🤙
@zakkjigsaw
Helped me get through this day thank you
@inibrasiumthefirst2680
I'm still loving this one. Thanks for making it add free and spreading the love