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.
Step Aside
The Congos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've got to stay
Step aside
You won't let me run away and hide
I've got to stay
Step aside
I have done no one no wrong
I am just another man
Trying to survive on this land
But you are in my life
You making war and strife
You can't let me run away and hide
I've got to stay
Step aside
You can't let me run away and hide
I've got to stay
Step aside
I won't run away from you
No matter what, what you say or do
I'll fight you each and every day
Until I get you out of my way
I've got to get you out of my life
I won't let you hurt my pride
You can't let me run away and hide
I've got to stay
Step aside
You won't let me run away and hide
I've got to stay
Step aside
I won't run away from you
No matter what you say or do
I'll fight you each and every day
Until I get you out of my way
I've got to get you out of my life
I won't let you hurt my pride
You can't let me run away and hide
I've got to stay
Step aside
You can't let me run away and hide
I've got to stay
Step aside
You won't let me run away and hide
I've got to stay
Step aside
The Congos' song "Step Aside" is a powerful track that speaks to standing up to oppression and taking control of one's life. The lyrics highlight the idea of not running away or hiding, but instead facing one's problems head-on. The repetition of the line "You can't let me run away and hide, I've got to stay, step aside" emphasizes the message that running away from one's troubles is not a solution, and that it is essential to take a stand and fight against injustice.
The verses suggest that the singer has done nothing wrong, and only wishes to survive on this land - a powerful message that speaks to the idea that everyone deserves to live and thrive where they are. However, there are those in their life making "war and strife", hindering them from achieving their goals.
Despite this, the singer is determined not to back down or let fear rule them, vowing to fight against those who stand in their way until they are out of their life. This overall message encourages listeners to take control of their life and not let outside forces dictate their happiness or well-being.
Line by Line Meaning
You can't let me run away and hide
I cannot escape from the situation, I must stay and deal with it
I've got to stay
I need to remain committed to my place in this situation
Step aside
You need to move out of my way and let me handle the situation
You won't let me run away and hide
You are preventing me from avoiding the situation
I have done no one no wrong
I have not caused harm to anyone
In this place I know I do belong
I feel like I have a rightful place here
I am just another man
I am an ordinary person
Trying to survive on this land
I am attempting to make a living in this area
But you are in my life
You are a present factor in my existence
You making war and strife
You are causing conflict and turmoil
I won't run away from you
I will confront and deal with you
No matter what, what you say or do
Regardless of your actions or words
I'll fight you each and every day
I will contend with you daily
Until I get you out of my way
I will continue to oppose you until I have succeeded in removing you from my path
I won't let you hurt my pride
I will not allow you to cause me to feel ashamed or belittled
Writer(s): Yvonne Elaine Myton, Cedric Constantine Myton
Contributed by Lucas F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@danielraiz
Meus amigos que som extremamente pesado, lembro muito tempos passados, Cedric max respect !!!!!! King of reggae
@1oftheonez
Power by the hour ....
Mounting by and by ...we soon meet face
@1oftheonez
1oftheonez
Stay the path
@santin1392
You can't let me run away and hide
I've got to stay
Step aside
You won't let me run away and hide
I've got to stay
Step aside
I have done no one no wrong
In this place I know I do belong
I am just another man
Trying to survive on this land
But you are in my life
You making war and strife
You can't let me run away and hide
I've got to stay
Step aside
You can't let me run away and hide
I've got to stay
Step aside
I won't run away from you
No matter what, what you say or do
I'll fight you each and every day
Until I get you out of my way
I've got to get you out of my life
I won't let you hurt my pride
You can't let me run away and hide
I've got to stay
Step aside
You won't let me run away and hide
I've got to stay
Step aside
I won't run away from you
No matter what you say or do
I'll fight you each and every day
Until I get you out of my way
I've got to get you out of my life
I won't let you hurt my pride
You can't let me run away and hide
I've got to stay
Step aside
You can't let me run away and hide
I've got to stay
Step aside
You won't let me run away and hide
I've got to stay
Step aside
@slademorelis9393
only 3 comments :( such a great song!