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.
dont blame it on i
The Congos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't you blame it on I and I
Don't you blame it on I, I tell ya
Don't you blame it on rastafari
For when a guy took a bank out there
They blame it on I and I, now
For when a wolf kill a guy out there
They blame it on rastafari
Anything the heathen do
I and I a get the blame
Anything the heathen do
I and I a get the blame
Don't you blame it on I, I tell ya
Don't you blame it on I and I, yeah
Don't you blame it on I, I tell ya
Don't you blame it on rastafari
Don't you blame it on I, I tell ya
Don't you blame it on I and I, no
Don't you blame it on I, I tell ya
Don't you blame it on rastafari
For if a guy took a bank out there
They blame it on I and I, now
And when a wolf kill a guy out there
They blame it on rastafari
Don't you blame it on I, I tell ya
Don't blame it on I and I, no
Don't blame it on I, I tell ya
Don't you blame it on rastafari
Don't blame it on I
Don't you blame it on I and I
Don't blame it on I
Don't you blame it on rastafari
Everything they do I got the blame
I got the blame
Over what they do
Over what they do
At its core, "Don't Blame It on I" by The Congos is a song that speaks to the experience of being unfairly blamed for something that you did not do. The lyrics emphasize the idea that certain groups of people (in this case, Rastafarians) are often wrongfully targeted as the source of society's problems. The first verse suggests that whenever a crime occurs, even if it has nothing to do with Rastafarian culture or beliefs, members of that community are still unfairly scapegoated. Similarly, the second verse highlights the idea that the blame placed on Rastafarians for the actions of others is often arbitrary and unjustified. The repeated refrain of "Don't Blame It on I" emphasizes the frustration and sense of injustice that the song conveys.
In many ways, this song is a commentary on the ways in which marginalized communities are often treated as scapegoats for the problems of mainstream society. By focusing on Rastafarian culture specifically, The Congos are highlighting an example of a group that has historically been subject to discrimination and prejudice. Through their music, they are calling attention to the ways in which this discrimination continues to be perpetuated in contemporary times.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't you blame it on I
The singer is telling someone not to blame them for something
Don't you blame it on I and I
The singer is emphasizing that they are not to be blamed and neither is anyone they are associated with
Don't you blame it on I, I tell ya
The singer is being very clear and firm in not wanting to take the blame for something
Don't you blame it on rastafari
The artist does not want to associate their beliefs or way of life with the blame for something
For when a guy took a bank out there
The artist is giving an example of a scenario where someone else was blamed for something they did not do
They blame it on I and I, now
The singer is explaining that in that scenario, they and those associated with them were unfairly blamed
For when a wolf kill a guy out there
The singer is giving another example of a scenario where someone else was blamed for something they did not do
They blame it on rastafari
The artist does not want their belief system to be blamed for something they did not do
Anything the heathen do
The artist is referring to people who do not share their beliefs as 'heathen'
I and I a get the blame
The artist is explaining that they and those associated with them, are often unfairly blamed for the actions of others who do not share their beliefs
Don't blame it on I and I, no
The singer is reiterating that they and those associated with them should not be blamed
Everything they do I got the blame
The artist is stating that they are often blamed for everything that happens around them, regardless of whether or not they were involved
Over what they do
The singer is pointing out that they are blamed for things that they did not do, but only because of their association with a certain belief system
Contributed by Eva A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@greglong1432
Don't you blame it on I
Don't you blame it on I and I
Don't you blame it on I, I tell ya
Don't you blame it on RASTAFARI
For when a guy TOOK a bank OUT THERE
They blame it on I and I, now
For when a wolf kill a guy OUT THERE
They blame it on RASTAFARI
Anything THE HEATHEN DO
I and I a get THE BLAME
Anything THE HEATHEN DO
I and I a get THE BLAME
Don't you blame it on I, I tell ya
Don't you blame it on I and I, yeah
Don't you blame it on I, I tell ya
Don't you blame it on RASTAFARI
Don't you blame it on I, I tell ya
Don't you blame it on I and I, no
Don't you blame it on I, I tell ya
Don't you blame it on RASTAFARI
For if a guy TOOK a bank OUT THERE
They blame it on I and I, now
And when a wolf kill a guy OUT THERE
They blame it on…
@BLINDHAVOK
I watched Kiss of the Dragon the other day with my fiance… this song is unforgettable 💯😎
@louloup4607
so well puted into the movie ;) we feel it so much when it kicks in that taxi ! Bless upon you and your fiancé :)
@provethioaltum3276
Lol same black guy in car😂😂😂
@patagard8253
I watch the movie to hear this song, talking about a well placed product....this is it!!!
@lifeoflittlepaws1211
dayyuumm,i just started watching this movie n find this song🤩
@captainsoap6003
kiss of the dragon brought me here. ❤🔥
@juliustetevano6113
Haha. That scene is the best lol. "Do you this music"
@captainsoap6003
@@juliustetevano6113 brother it's the best part of the movie
@luisvillasenor3311
Watched Kiss of the dragon back in 2001 and this song always stuck with me.
@veronicavaldez1896
Yes me too