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.
Sodom & Gomorrow
The Congos Lyrics
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Sodom and Gomorrow was destroyed by fire
It keep on burning
It keep on burning
Seven golden candlesticks yeah
In the King's palace, he smoke his chalice
So he keeps on burning
They're at the turning point
They're at the turning point to reality
They keep on burning
They keep on burning
Down in the mudhole
That's where I used to break my bread
Down in the dungeon
That's where I used to lay my head
No more lick from the licking stick
It keep on burning
No more trick
It keep on burning
Sodom and Gomorrow was destroyed by fire
Sodom and Gomorrow was destroyed by fire
It keep on burning
It keep on burning
Seven golden candlesticks yeah
In the King's palace, he smoke his chalice
While he keeps on burning
The table keeps turning
They're at the turning point,
They're at the turning point to reality
They keep on burning
They keep on burning
Down in the mudhole
That's where I used to break my bread
Down in the dungeon
That's where I used to lay my head
No more straw making bricks
No more lick from the licking stick
Whole lotta burning
Keep on burning, yeah
They keep on burning
They keep on burning
Burning
Whole lotta burning
The lyrics of The Congos' song Sodom & Gomorrow is a poignant account of the burning destruction of the biblical cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. The song attests to the continuous burning that ensued after the cities were consumed by fire, with the fire representing the evil that had taken root in the hearts of the inhabitants of these cities. The opening lines "Sodom and Gomorrow was destroyed by fire, It keep on burning" emphasizes the continuous nature of the flames, which suggest that the people never truly changed their ways.
The song also draws allusions to the King of Babylon's reckless lifestyle described in the Book of Revelations. The lyrics "Seven golden candlesticks yeah, In the King's palace, he smoke his chalice, So he keeps on burning, While the table keeps turning" portrays the King's self-indulgence which led to his doom. The line, "They're at the turning point to reality," implies that they have reached a point where the consequences of their actions are beyond their control, and their wickedness would ultimately lead to their destruction.
In conclusion, the lyrics of Sodom & Gomorrow convey a message of caution against indulging in evil desires and ways. It serves as a warning that the consequences of one's actions will eventually catch up, and the fire of destruction would keep burning until it consumes all evil.
Line by Line Meaning
Sodom and Gomorrow was destroyed by fire
Sodom and Gomorrah were cities that were destroyed by fire as a punishment for their sinful ways.
It keep on burning
The memory of their destruction continues to resonate and impact people.
Seven golden candlesticks yeah
The candlesticks represent the seven churches, and embody the idea of enlightenment and hope in the darkness.
In the King's palace, he smoke his chalice
The King engages in activities that further obscure the truth and cloud people's thinking.
So he keeps on burning
The passion for power and intoxicants continues to drive him.
While the table keeps turning
While the situation changes, the underlying issues continue to exist and fester.
They're at the turning point
They are at a critical moment of change and realization.
They're at the turning point to reality
They are approaching a moment of enlightenment and truth.
Down in the mudhole
This is a metaphor for being in a difficult and unpleasant situation.
That's where I used to break my bread
This is where the artist used to survive and get by, however difficult it was.
Down in the dungeon
This is another metaphor for being in a bleak and hopeless state.
That's where I used to lay my head
This is where the artist used to rest, if they could even find a moment's peace in their troubled circumstances.
No more lick from the licking stick
There are no more treats or rewards for obedience; it's all punishment and pain.
No more trick
The situation has become so dire that there's no more chance to fool anyone or make things seem better than they are.
Whole lotta burning
This repeated refrain emphasizes how pervasive and enduring the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah has been.
Keep on burning, yeah
The idea of burning, both literal and metaphorical, continues to be a powerful force in the world.
Contributed by Emily A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.