Steel Pulse originally formed at Handsworth Wood Boys School, Birmingham, and comprised David Hinds (lead vocals, guitar), Basil Gabbidon (lead guitar, vocals) and Ronnie McQueen (bass).
However, it is Hinds who, as songwriter, has always been the engine behind Steel Pulse, from their early days establishing themselves in the Birmingham club scene onwards. Formed in 1975, their debut release, 'Kibudu, Mansetta And Abuku" arrived on the small independent label Dip, and linked the plight of urban black youth with the image of a greater African homeland. They followed it with 'Nyah Love' for Anchor.
Surprisingly, they were initially refused live dates in Caribbean venues in the Midlands because of their Rastafarian beliefs. Aligning themselves closely with the Rock Against Racism 1 organisation, they chose to tour instead with sympathetic elements of the punk movement, including the Stranglers, XTC etc.: "Punks had a way of enjoying themselves - throw hordes at you, beer, spit at you, that kind of thing".
Eventually they found a more natural home in support slots for Burning Spear, which brought them to the attention of Island Records. Their first release for Island was the 'Ku Klux Klan' 45 rpm, a considered tilt at the evils of racism, and one often accompanied by a visual parody of the sect on stage.
By this time their ranks had swelled to include Selwyn 'Bumbo' Brown (keyboards), Steve 'Grizzly' Nesbitt (drums), Fonso Martin (vocals, percussion) and Michael Riley (vocals). Handsworth Revolution was an accomplished long playing debut and one of the major landmarks in the evolution of British reggae.
However, despite critical and moderate commercial success over three albums, the relationship with Island had soured by the advent of Caught You (released in the US as Reggae Fever). They switched to Elektra, and unveiled their most consistent collection of songs since their debut with True Democracy, distinguished by the Garveyeulogising 'Rally Around' cut.
A further definitive set arrived in Earth Crisis. Unfortunately, Elektra chose to take a leaf out of Island's book in trying to coerce Steel Pulse into a more mainstream vein, asking them to emulate the pop-reggae stance of Eddy Grant. Babylon Bandit was consequently weakened, but did contain the anthemic 'Not King james Version', which was a powerful indictment on the omission of black people and history from certain versions of the Bible.
Their next move was id Hinds of Steel Pulse to MCA for State Of Emergency, which retained some of the synthesized dance elements of its predecessor. Though it was a significantly happier compromise, it still paled before any of their earlier albums.
Rastafari Centennial was recorded live at the Elysee Montmarte in Paris, and dedicated to the hundred year anniversary of the birth of Haile Selassie. It was the first recording since the defection of Fonso Martin, leaving the trio of David Hinds, Steve Nisbett and Selwyn Brown.
While they still faced inverted snobbery at the hands of British reggae fans, in America their reputation was growing, becoming the first ever reggae band to appear on the Tonight television show. Their profile was raised further when, in 1992, Hinds challenged the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission in the Supreme High Court, asserting that their cab drivers discriminated against black people in general and Rastas in particular.
Drummer Steve "Grizzly" Nisbett (15 March 1948 – 18 January 2018) died in 2018.
The band are still recording and touring.
In My Life
Steel Pulse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Restless dreams and sleepless nights
You were there to hold me tight
Cause I'm so glad you're in my life
Never felt this way before
This addiction need no cure
Your kisses leave me wanting more
In my life, in my life, in my life
Life life life Wow
I need you, you need me
Hmm! Intense and pure
Makes me scream and shout for more
Cause you're the one that I adore
Cause I'm so glad you're in my life
Ecstasy I must confess
Wrapped up in your tenderness
There's no doubt your heaven sent
Cause I'm so glad you're in my life
You, don't you know I've got to have you?
In my heart today
DJ RAP
In my life in my life
Life life life life
Hear the words I say make me feel this way
Yes I need your uplifting for my soul
You you you
I'm so glad you're in my life
No more long and lonely nights
Oh I'm so glad you're here to stay
You can put your fears away
Cause I'm losing all control
Lifting up my soul
Make my spirit move
Got me in this groove
In a my in a my in my
In a my
An ease one two three
Simple A B C
Call it doe ray me
Make my spirit free
In a my an a my life
I'm so glad you're in my life
No more long and lonely nights
I'm so glad you're here to stay
You can put your fears away
Yeah
I'm so glad you're here to stay
The song "In My Life" by Steel Pulse is a tribute to a significant other. The lyrics are a loving description of the intense passion and deep connection the singer shares with their partner. The first verse talks about how the person has been there for the singer through restless dreams and sleepless nights. The chorus highlights how much they mean to each other, with the repetition of "In my life" emphasizing their importance. The second verse expresses the physical attraction the singer has to their partner and how they are addicted to their kisses. The bridge speaks to how the singer's soul has been lifted by their love, and the final verse talks about how glad the singer is to have their partner in their life and how they no longer have to face loneliness.
The song's repetitive chorus and simple structure emphasize the strength of the love the singer has for their partner. The lyrics are simple yet powerful, expressing the intensity of the emotions experienced by the singer. The bridge is particularly impactful, as it suggests that the love shared between the singer and their partner has a transcendent quality that has lifted the singer's soul. Overall, "In My Life" is a touching tribute to a significant other, a celebration of the power of love, and a reminder of the joy and fulfillment that comes from being in a loving relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Reasons why it's you and I.......hey!
Hey! Let me tell you why you and I were meant to be together.
Restless dreams and sleepless nights
Even in my most troubled moments where I can't sleep, you're always there holding me close.
You were there to hold me tight
You're the one who keeps me steady, always there to support me.
Cause I'm so glad you're in my life
I'm really grateful that you're in my life, you make everything feel brighter.
Never felt this way before
My love for you is unlike anything I've ever felt before.
This addiction need no cure
Being in love with you is something I want to hold onto forever, I never want it to end.
Your kisses leave me wanting more
Every time I'm with you and I feel your touch, I can't get enough.
Cause I'm so glad you are in my life
Having you in my life is a gift I don't take for granted. You make everything better.
In my life, in my life, in my life
In my life, everything revolves around you.
Life life life Wow
My life has become so much more colorful and exciting since you've been a part of it.
I need you, you need me
We were meant to be together, we both need each other for love and support.
Hmm! Intense and pure
Our love is powerful and pure, it consumes me in the best way possible.
Makes me scream and shout for more
Being with you fills me up with so much passion and joy, I always want more.
Cause you're the one that I adore
You are the one I love and will always love, there's no one else like you.
Ecstasy I must confess
Being with you is like nothing else I've ever experienced, it's a euphoric state of joy.
Wrapped up in your tenderness
When you hold me close, I feel like I'm wrapped up in a world of warmth and love.
There's no doubt your heaven sent
I believe that you were sent by a higher power to be with me, it just feels like destiny.
You, don't you know I've got to have you?
I can't be without you, I need you in my life always.
In my heart today
You are always on my mind and in my heart, every day.
Hear the words I say make me feel this way
Hearing myself talk about how much I love you only makes me love you more, it's an overwhelming feeling.
Yes I need your uplifting for my soul
You lift me up and make me feel like a better person, you're good for my soul.
You you you
You are the one person who brings me the most joy and happiness in my life.
No more long and lonely nights
My life is so much better now that I have you, I never feel alone anymore.
Oh I'm so glad you're here to stay
I'm so grateful that you're not going anywhere, that you're going to be with me for the long haul.
You can put your fears away
Don't worry about anything, I'm here to support you and love you through anything and everything.
Cause I'm losing all control
Being with you makes me feel like I'm losing all control, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Lifting up my soul
Your love and presence in my life make me feel like I'm being lifted up, like I'm becoming a better person because of you.
Make my spirit move
Your love makes me want to dance, to sing, to celebrate life.
Got me in this groove
Being with you feels so natural and effortless, it's like we were meant to be together always.
In a my in a my in my
In my world, in my life, you're the most important thing to me.
An ease one two three
Being with you feels so easy and natural, like we're meant to be together.
Simple A B C
This love is simple and straightforward, there's no complications or unnecessary drama.
Call it doe ray me
Our love is like music, it's beautiful and harmonious, always in tune with each other.
Make my spirit free
Your love liberates me, makes me feel like I can be who I truly am with you by my side.
I'm so glad you're in my life
Once again, I'm so grateful that you're in my life, making everything brighter and better.
Yeah
Yeah, that's all there is to it - I'm so glad you're here.
I'm so glad you're here to stay
I'm over the moon that you're not going anywhere, that we're going to be together always.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DALE HENRY ALLISON, KELSEY HOLMES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind