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.
Garden Of Life
The Congos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Great Tenor Fly
With me brudda for life
Great Tenor Fly
Tenor Fly
Now this man
Bredren Tenor Fly
Tenor Fly
Flying high
Higher than the sky
You dun know a fly
The greater tenor
Tenor fly
Flying high
Higher
Great Tenor Fly
South London
I remember
The word tenor
Being a base note
Between bass and alto
Love is the message
We don't want no war
So come den
Love is the message
We don't want no war
Brixton and Tottenham
So come den
Link up then show them creation
He's from Streatham
King
He's from Tottenham
Unification
Like King Solomon
Tenor Fly
So come den
Love is the message
Tenor Fly
Mixed up with the new style
Like the moon and the sun
Like the water and the ocean
So come den
Like the trees and the earth
Love is the message
Bass man
In the garden
Through life
Love is the message
The great, the Tenor Fly
The lyrics to The Congos' song "Garden Of Life" pay tribute to the late reggae artist, Tenor Fly. The song begins with the repeated line "With me brudda for life, Great Tenor Fly," emphasizing the deep bond and camaraderie between the singer and the late artist. The phrase "Flying high, higher than the sky" suggests Tenor Fly's soaring talent and extraordinary presence within the music industry.
The lyrics then delve into the significance of Tenor Fly's name and how it relates to music. The line "The word tenor being a base note between bass and alto" metaphorically conveys Tenor Fly's ability to bridge different musical ranges and harmonize with various styles. It implies that through his music, he connected people from different backgrounds and united them through a shared love of reggae.
The song also highlights the importance of love as a message, emphasizing that peace and unity are preferable to war. The references to Brixton, Tottenham, and Streatham allude to different areas of London and their diverse communities. The line "Link up then show them creation, like King Solomon" portrays the idea of coming together and demonstrating the power of creation and unity, similar to the legendary biblical King Solomon.
In summary, "Garden Of Life" is a tribute to the late Tenor Fly, celebrating his unique musical talent, his ability to bring people together, and the importance of love and unity.
Line by Line Meaning
With me brudda for life
I am always with my brother, supporting and sticking by him throughout life
Great Tenor Fly
The amazing artist known as Tenor Fly
Yes I
Indeed, it is me
Now this man
Referring to Tenor Fly, an exceptional individual
Bredren Tenor Fly
Tenor Fly, my brother and comrade
Tenor Fly
Flying high
Higher than the sky
Tenor Fly is soaring above, reaching heights beyond imagination
You dun know a fly
You should recognize the greatness of Tenor Fly
The greater tenor
Tenor fly
Flying high
Higher
An emphasis on the exceptional talent of Tenor Fly, who rises above others
South London
Referring to the location, representing the roots of Tenor Fly
I remember
The word tenor
Being a base note
Between bass and alto
Recalling the musical term 'tenor' and its placement as a foundational note between low bass and high alto
Love is the message
We don't want no war
So come den
Promoting love and unity, rejecting conflicts and asking everyone to come together
Brixton and Tottenham
So come den
Link up then show them creation
He's from Streatham
King
He's from Tottenham
Unification
Like King Solomon
Encouraging collaboration and unity between different areas, mentioning Tenor Fly's origins and highlighting the importance of unification, drawing a parallel to the wise King Solomon
Tenor Fly
So come den
Calling for Tenor Fly's presence and participation
Tenor Fly
Mixed up with the new style
Like the moon and the sun
Like the water and the ocean
So come den
Like the trees and the earth
Describing Tenor Fly's ability to blend his unique style with new elements, comparing it to the harmonious relationship between the moon and sun, the water and ocean, the trees and earth
Bass man
In the garden
Through life
Referring to the bass musician who plays in the metaphorical garden of life
The great, the Tenor Fly
Emphasizing the greatness of Tenor Fly
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: M Tafari, SIMON LAW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind