Myton had previously been a member of The Tartans in the late 1960s (along with Prince Lincoln Thompson, Devon Russell and Lindburgh Lewis), and Ras Michael's group, and had recorded with Thompson's Royal Rasses in the mid-1970s. He formed the Congos, initially as a duo with Johnson, recording the single "At the Feast" for Lee "Scratch" Perry. Perry expanded the group to a trio with the addition of Burnett, this line-up recording the classic roots reggae album Heart of the Congos in 1977 at Perry's Black Ark studio. The album featured illustrious backing singers such as Gregory Isaacs, The Meditations, and Barry LLewellyn and Earl Morgan of The Heptones. The album has been described as "the most consistently brilliant album of Scratch's entire career".
Perry's previous productions by Max Romeo and Junior Murvin had been huge commercial successes thanks to a deal with Island Records, but Perry was in dispute with Island at the time the Congos' album was finished, so it was released on his own Black Ark label, limiting its success overseas, and causing a rift with the group. The Congos went their own way, organising a limited pressing of the album themselves. United Kingdom label Go Feet eventually reissued the album in 1980, and although the group had recorded new material since leaving Perry, Heart of the Congos proved a hard act to follow and their other releases suffered as a consequence. Albums such as Congo Ashanti were sparser and sounded ordinary compared to Perry's kitchen-sink-and-all massive productions.
Burnett quit the group, soon followed by Johnson, who embarked on a solo career. Myton continued to record as The Congos with various other musicians until the mid-1980s.
In the mid-1990s, The Congos reformed, with Myton and Burnett joined by Lindburgh Lewis, several albums following in subsequent years. In 2005 Myton recorded Give Them the Rights with a host of backup singers and star session players such as Sly and Robbie and Earl "Chinna" Smith, very much in the spiritual 70s roots vein. In 2006, the UK reggae revival label Blood and Fire released the album Fisherman Style featuring a remixed version of the classic cut "Fisherman" from Heart of the Congos plus such legends as Horace Andy, Big Youth, Dillinger, Prince Jazzbo, Luciano, Freddie McGregor, Gregory Isaacs, Max Romeo, Mykal Rose, Dean Fraser, Sugar Minott, and U-Roy doing their own new versions over the original rhythm.
In 2002, they appeared on the album The Slackers and Friends by the ska/reggae band The Slackers.
In 2008, The Congos appeared in the independent feature film, Wah Do Dem which captures them performing "Fisherman," and "Congoman Chant," under a full moon at Helshire Beach outside Kingston.
In 2009, Myton, Burnett, and Johnson reunited with Perry to record the album Back in the Black Ark, which, despite its title, was recorded at Myton's studio in Portmore and at Mixing Lab, Kingston.
Fisherman (Dub colossus and te
The Congos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
keep on rowing your boat
lots of hungry belly pickney they a shore, millions of them
living in a bumbo hut
in a little hole sea-port town
three kids on the floor
and another one to come make four
day by day i man step it
along the sea shore
hail brother John, have you got any wenchman
yes brother Peter, wenchman, sprat and mackaba
row fisherman row keep on rowing your boat
brotherman brotherman
row fisherman row
we've got to reach on higher grounds
Simon, Peter, James and John come a shore
to feed the hungry belly ones
so, row fisherman row
keep on rowing your boat
lots of hungry belly pickney they a-shore, millions of them
Quaju Peg the collie-man
sell the best collie in sea port town
Quaju Peg the collie man
ha the best collie weed in town
row fisherman row
keep on rowing your boat
we've got to reach on higher grounds
rain is falling
we've got to reach on higher grounds
The Congos's song Fisherman is an evocative and moving portrayal of the struggles of a fisherman living in poverty in a small sea-port town. The lyrics describe the daily routine of the fisherman, who rows his boat along the shore hoping to catch enough fish to feed his family and the hungry children on the shore. The opening lines of the song, "Row fisherman row, keep on rowing your boat, lots of hungry belly pickney they a shore, millions of them" set the tone for the rest of the song, emphasizing the dire circumstances that the fisherman and his community face.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of community and solidarity, as the fisherman interacts with his fellow villagers, sharing news and trading goods. When he encounters Brother John, he asks for wenchman, sprat, and mackaba, suggesting that there is a network of trade and support among the villagers. The reference to Simon, Peter, James, and John coming to feed the hungry belly ones further emphasizes the importance of community and sharing in the face of poverty.
The song is also notable for its use of Jamaican patois, which adds to its authenticity and emotional resonance. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of life in a small sea-port town, where people struggle to make ends meet and rely on each other for support. The refrain of "row fisherman row" underscores the importance of hard work and persistence, even in the face of adversity. Ultimately, the song is a powerful testament to the strength and resilience of the human spirit in the face of hardship.
Line by Line Meaning
Row fisherman row
Keep pushing forward, fisherman
Keep on rowing your boat
Don't stop moving forward
Lots of hungry belly pickney they a shore, millions of them
There are countless children who are starving and need help
Living in a bumbo hut
They live in a traditional style hut
In a little hole sea-port town
This town is small and isolated
Three kids on the floor
There are three children on the ground with no beds or proper housing
And another one to come make four
Another child is on the way, adding to the family's challenges
Day by day I man step it along the seashore
I walk along the beach every day
Hail brother John, have you got any wenchman
Greetings, brother John. Do you have any fish for sale?
Yes brother Peter, wenchman, sprat and mackaba
Yes, brother Peter. I have fish for sale, including wenchman, sprat, and mackaba.
Brotherman brotherman
Greetings, my brother
We've got to reach on higher grounds
We must strive for a better future
Simon, Peter, James and John come a shore
These people come to the shore
To feed the hungry belly ones
They come to help those who are hungry
So, row fisherman row
Keep pushing forward, fisherman
Quaju Peg the collie-man
This man is known as Quaju Peg the collie dealer
Sell the best collie in sea port town
He is known for selling the highest quality cannabis in the area
Ha the best collie weed in town
He really does have the best weed in town
Rain is falling
It is starting to rain
Contributed by Sydney K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.