The Dualers… Read Full Bio ↴The Dualers are street performing brothers Si and Tyber.
The Dualers perform a unique blend of ska, soul and reggae that appeals to all ages with members of their database ranging from 1 to 91. They have a fan base of approaching 10,000 members but have probably been seen by in excess of 4 million whilst busking around the south east and performing at private functions, for the last 8 years. They have sold over 35,000 copies of their first two cd's on the streets alone.
As children they were brought up on ska and soul, the music their father Bill Cranstoun was instrumental in introducing to London, with his Savoy Sound System at several locations in the 60’s including regular nights at the Swan & Sugar Loaf in Croydon, The King Alfred in Sydenham and The Bedford Arms in Balham. Their mother Jacqueline, born in Sierra Leone, who met Bill at the Locarno Ballroom in Streatham, was pulled into work the cloakrooms and to keep an eye on him!
Si and Tyber remember “Growing up in our house we were listening to The Blues Busters, Lord Creator, Stranger Cole, Bob Marley, The Skatalites, Sam Cooke and Otis Redding to name a few”
The family lived all across the south east whilst the boys were growing up including Bromley, Canterbury, Croydon, London and Penge as such all these places feel like their home town. Tyber currently lives in Greenwich, London and Si in Caterham, Surrey.
Music has always been Si and Tyber’s first love and upon leaving school Simon pursued music as a career and he enjoyed some success. Tyber attended the elite Guildhall School of Music and Drama also attended by Orlando Bloom and Ewan McGregor and after some television success Tyber decided to join his brother singing on the streets.
Whenever they have performed they have had a phenomenal response whether on the streets or in clubs their lively and charismatic performance has blown audiences away.
Their debut single “Kiss On The Lips” entered the charts on Sunday 24th October 2004 at number 21 ahead of established artists such as Bjork and Slipknot and this has sent a shockwave throughout the music industry. Despite no national coverage or airplay, the single stayed in the charts for a second week at number 33.
Amazingly, they did this with only the help of a small group of friends. They had no record contract, no distributor, no agent, no manager and no promoter!
Israelites
The Dualers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So that every mouth can be fed
Poor me Israelites, ah
Get up in the morning, slaving for bread, sir
So that every mouth can be fed
Poor me Israelite
Darling, she said, I was yours to be seen
Poor me Israelites
Shirt them a-tear up, trousers is gone
I don't want to end up like Bonnie and Clyde
Poor me Israelites
After a storm there must be a calm
They catch me in the farm
You sound your alarm
Poor me Israelites
I said I get up in the morning, slaving for bread, sir
So that every mouth can be fed
Poor me Israelites
I said my wife and my kids, they are packed up and leave me
Darling, she said, I was yours to be seen
Poor me Israelites
Look me shirts them a-tear up, trousers are gone
I don't want to end up like Bonnie and Clyde
Poor me Israelites
After a storm there must be a calm
They catch me in the farm
You sound your alarm
Poor me Israelites
Poor me Israelites, poor me Israelites, poor me Israelites
The Dualers's song "Israelites" is a reggae classic that tells the story of a poor man struggling to make ends meet while living in poverty in Jamaica. He wakes up early every morning to work hard and earn enough money to feed his family, but despite his effort, he still feels like life is a constant struggle. The man is an "Israelite", which is a biblical reference that is often used in reggae music to refer to someone who is oppressed or living in poverty.
The man's wife and children have left him, and he feels abandoned and alone. He remembers his wife telling him that she was "yours to be seen", which could mean that she was always there for him and supported him, but has now given up and left. The man's clothes are torn and he feels hopeless, as he does not want to end up like Bonnie and Clyde, which is a reference to the infamous criminals who were killed by police after a string of robberies.
The song is a powerful commentary on poverty and the struggles faced by those who are forced to live in difficult conditions. It highlights the importance of sticking together and supporting each other during tough times, and encourages listeners to remain hopeful and look for the calm after the storm.
Line by Line Meaning
Get up in the morning, slaving for bread, sir
I wake up every morning to work hard and earn bread to feed others
So that every mouth can be fed
The reason for my hard work is to ensure that everyone has enough to eat
Poor me Israelites, ah
Despite my hard work, I am a poor and struggling Israelite
My wife and my kids, they packed up and leave me
My family has abandoned me
Darling, she said, I was yours to be seen
My wife left me, saying that she was never really mine
Shirt them a-tear up, trousers is gone
My clothes are torn and I have nothing left
I don't want to end up like Bonnie and Clyde
I don't want to resort to a life of crime like Bonnie and Clyde
After a storm there must be a calm
Things will eventually get better after a period of hardship
They catch me in the farm
I was caught by authorities while trying to make a living on a farm
You sound your alarm
The authorities called for backup to handle my situation
Poor me Israelites
I am a poor and struggling Israelite
Poor me Israelites, poor me Israelites, poor me Israelites
Repeating the previous line to emphasize my struggling situation
Contributed by Christopher E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kenneth
Get up in the morning, slaving for bread, sir
So that every mouth can be fed
Poor me Israelites, ah
Get up in the morning, slaving for bread, sir
So that every mouth can be fed
Poor me Israelite
My wife and my kids, they packed up and leave me
Darling, she said, I was yours to be seen
Poor me Israelites
Shirt them a-tear up, trousers is gone
I don't want to end up like Bonnie and Clyde
Poor me Israelites
After a storm there must be a calm
They catch me in the farm
You sound your alarm
Poor me Israelites
I said I get up in the morning, slaving for bread, sir
So that every mouth can be fed
Poor me Israelites
I said my wife and my kids, they are packed up and leave me
Darling, she said, I was yours to be seen
Poor me Israelites
Look me shirts them a-tear up, trousers are gone
I don't want to end up like Bonnie and Clyde
Poor me Israelites
After a storm there must be a calm
They catch me in the farm
You sound your alarm
Poor me Israelites
Poor me Israelites, poor me Israelites, poor me Israelites
DouglasUrantia
high emotion..........I get up in the morning slaving for bread sir
So that every mouth can be fed – poor me Israelites
I get up in the morning slaving for bread sir
So that every mouth can be fed – poor me Israelites
My wife and my kids they pack up and a-leave me
Darling she said I was yours to receive – poor me Israelites
Shocked then I tear up chose as I go
I don't want to end up like Bonny and Clyde – poor me Israelites
After a storm there must be a calming
You catch me in your palm you sound your alarm – poor me Israelites
I get up in the morning slaving for bread sir
So that every mouth can be fed – poor me Israelites
My wife and my kids they pack up and a-leave me
Darling she said I was yours to receive – poor me Israelites
Shocked then I tear up chose as I go
I don't want to end up like Bonny and Clyde – poor me Israelites
After a storm there must be a calming
You catch me in your palm you sound your alarm – poor me Israelites
Poor me Israelites poor me Israelites poor me Israelites
Aine McGowan
It's so good to see someone carefree and uninhibited.... Just enjoying the music... It amazes me when I see people dancing because music effects us in lots of different ways individually.
Billie Hutton
I was in Darwin Nt many years ago with two of my daughters and one of their friends. I started dancing to the music across the road and my family were embarrassed. Of course I ignored them
*Uncle Joe*
@Billie Hutton That's too bloody Australian! 🤣
Roger Fournier
Man! This guy can sing! Beautiful voice!
John Jepson
Nailed it
Gary Cormack
I got their cd from them in Croydon about 15 years ago. They still going strong. Love em
Peggy
It clearly is his jam.😊
Maria Daugbjerg
yes indeed , he sure can .
Maria Williams
This is excellent, in every way, wish people of different cultures could always blend together like this .
David Allum
I saw Desmond Dekker sing this live but this guy's version I can understand the lyrics, pure class.👍