They recorded for the major Jamaican producers at the time, including Coxsone Dodd of Studio One fame. The Heptones had a number of Jamaican hits for Studio One, including "Pretty Looks Isn't All", "Fattie Fattie" and "I Hold the Handle." They went on to record with Joe Gibbs, Harry J (Harry Johnson), and Rupie Edwards. In 1977, they recorded "Party Time" for Lee Perry, one of Perry's finest productions, which included a version of Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released."
Sibbles left the group in 1977 to start a successful solo career. He was replaced by Naggo Morris. After Sibbles left, the group's popularity waned. The original trio reunited in 1995 and released Pressure! produced by Tappa Zukie
I Shall Be Released
The Heptones Lyrics
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They say every distance is not near.yea!
But I remember, every face,
Of every man who put me here.
I see the light come shining,
Any day now, any day now,
I shall be released.
They say every man must call.
But I swear I see my reflection,
Somewhere so high above this wall. Yea!
I see the light come shining
From the west onto the east.
Any day now, any day now,
I shall be released.
They say every man needs protection,
They say every man must call.yea!
But I swear I see my reflection,
Somewhere so high above this wall.yea!
I see the light come shining,
From the west onto the east.
Any day now, any day now,
I shall be released.
The Heptones' rendition of Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released" evokes the pain and the hope of a prisoner waiting for his release. The opening lines, "They say everything can be replaced / They say every distance is not near," suggest the prisoner's sense of despair and isolation. He feels trapped and forgotten, separated from his loved ones by a distance that cannot be bridged. However, he still remembers "every face" of the men who put him in jail, suggesting a mix of anger and regret.
The chorus "I see the light come shining, any day now, any day now, I shall be released" serves as a mantra of hope for the prisoner. Despite feeling helpless, he still believes that he will be set free one day. The line "But I swear I see my reflection, somewhere so high above this wall" suggests that the prisoner is not only physically trapped but also psychologically confined. He sees himself as a better person than what he was labeled as, and believes that there is more to him than what his current situation shows.
The song is not just a plea for freedom but also a celebration of the human spirit's resilience. The prisoner recognizes that "every man needs protection" and that "every man must call," but he still refuses to give up hope. Instead, he looks to the light that shines from the west onto the east, a symbol of the dawn of a new day and a brighter future. The Heptones' soulful harmonies and the mournful horns elevate the song to a new level, making it a powerful tribute to the human spirit's enduring resilience.
Line by Line Meaning
They say everything can be replaced
It is believed that anything can be substituted or interchanged with something else.
They say every distance is not near.yea!
It is said that physical distance can be deceiving and is not always accurate.
But I remember, every face, Of every man who put me here.
I have not forgotten the identities of each individual responsible for my current imprisonment.
I see the light come shining, Any day now, any day now, I shall be released.
There is hope that my freedom will come soon, and I am optimistic that it will arrive at any moment.
They say every man needs protection, They say every man must call.
It is a common belief that every person requires safeguarding and assistance in times of need.
But I swear I see my reflection, Somewhere so high above this wall. Yea!
I have glimpsed what I believe to be a representation of myself, located somewhere beyond the physical constraints of my current surroundings.
I see the light come shining From the west onto the east.
There is a symbol of hope or a bright future approaching, arriving from the west and continuing towards the east.
Any day now, any day now, I shall be released.
I firmly believe that my liberation is imminent and could occur at any given moment.
Contributed by Arianna N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Dignan Rollo
Hauntingly beautiful.
Thank you for uploading it!
DON DIEGO
thank you my friend!
rasta3 himan
The Greatest Cover of this Song
DON DIEGO
one love
Daniel Forte
greatest cover of this BD classic .
DON DIEGO
@Daniel Forte in Jamaica it was also a of the music industry, that not many artists had the privileg to write and sing their own songs :)
Daniel Forte
@DON DIEGO as a student of the music i have to disagree , by this time the biggest hits in ja. was being written by jamaicans like BOB ANDY etc. covers are a feature of the music industry , even the BEATLES were doing covers .
DON DIEGO
@Daniel Forte by this time it was normal that produced in jamaica searched in the US what songs have the potential be ahit in jamaica :) sometimes they produced more cover songs than own stuff :D
Daniel Forte
@DON DIEGO this one was a no brainer , truly inspired lyrics from BOB DYLON . lol.
DON DIEGO
really nice cover version! coxsone had a good feeling for cover versions :)