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 β 18 January 2018) died in 2018.
The band are still recording and touring.
Soldiers
Steel Pulse Lyrics
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Dutallee!
Dutallee!
Dutallee!
And when soldiers came
Them say them come to make us tame
And from that day until now on
Things used to be ire (before the soldiers came)
Things used to be nice, so nice now
Things used to be ire
Things used to be nice, so nice
Our country them did enter, yeah
Troops trodding left right and center
Everywhere
One moment at peace with Nature
Now victims of a massacre
We got our spears
We got our shields
But their guns were greater
Prepare for a slaughter
Give I back I witch doctor
Give I back I Black Ruler
Me no want no dictator
Me no want no tyrant on yah
Dutallee!
Dutallee!
Dutallee!
Dutallee!
Way down in Africa
Where the backra still rules day after day
The Black Man is suffering now far more
Than when he was a slave
Is there a need for war?
No.
Peace my bredren, here them bawl
Bodies in mutilated condition
Faces scarred beyond recognition
Is this what civilization means to me?
Then without it I prefer to be
So
Give I back I witch doctor
Give I back I Black Ruler
Me no want no dictator
Me no want no tyrant on yah
Dutallee!
Dutallee!
Dutallee!
Dutailee!
The song 'Soldiers' by Steel Pulse addresses the invasion of Jamaica by foreign soldiers who claim to be there to bring order to the island, but in reality are brutalizing the locals. The repetition of "Dutallee" throughout the song is a Jamaican expression of protest against something that is perceived to be unjust. The lyrics describe how the soldiers came to Jamaica and proceeded to treat the locals with disdain, making them the butt of their jokes, and constantly jeering them.
The song speaks to the fact that before the soldiers came, Jamaica was a peaceful place where everyone coexisted amicably. However, with the arrival of the soldiers, things took a turn for the worse. The locals were made to feel like they didn't matter, and even their culture was disregarded. The line "Give I back I witch doctor, Give I back I Black Ruler" speaks to the way in which colonization attempts to suppress traditional cultures and replace them with Western norms.
The lyrics then move to other parts of Africa and uses the experiences of other Black people on the continent to make a statement about the universal nature of Black suffering under colonialism. The song argues that there is no need for war, and that peace should be pursued, but not at the expense of one's dignity or culture. The song concludes by restating the demand for the return of Jamaica's traditional cultural leaders and rejecting the imposition of dictators or tyrants.
Line by Line Meaning
And when soldiers came
When the soldiers arrived
Them say them come to make us tame
They said they came to make us submissive
And from that day until now on
Since then, until now
We were jeered and laughed to scorn
We were mocked and laughed at
Things used to be ire (before the soldiers came)
Things used to be good (before the soldiers arrived)
Things used to be nice, so nice now
Things used to be wonderful, but now they aren't
Our country them did enter, yeah
They entered our country
Troops trodding left right and center
Soldiers marching everywhere
One moment at peace with Nature
We were living in harmony with nature
Now victims of a massacre
Now we are being killed in large numbers
We got our spears
We have our traditional weapons
We got our shields
We have our traditional shields
But their guns were greater
But their guns were more powerful
Prepare for a slaughter
Get ready to be killed
Give I back I witch doctor
Return our traditional healer
Give I back I Black Ruler
Give us back our leader
Me no want no dictator
We don't want a dictator
Me no want no tyrant on yah
We don't want any tyrant here
Way down in Africa
In Africa
Where the backra still rules day after day
Where the white man still dominates day after day
The Black Man is suffering now far more
Black people are suffering more now
Than when he was a slave
Than when they were slaves
Is there a need for war?
Is there a reason for war?
No.
No, there is no reason for war
Peace my bredren, here them bawl
People are calling for peace
Bodies in mutilated condition
Dead bodies in terrible condition
Faces scarred beyond recognition
Faces are so damaged that they can't be recognized
Is this what civilization means to me?
Is this what we consider civilization?
Then without it I prefer to be
Then I'd rather live without it
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID TAYLOR, ROB DOWNES, ALEX MUNGO, JASPER JOHN NIELSON STAINTHORPE, STEPHEN WREN, MARK ROBERT TIPLADY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind