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Frederick "Toots" Hibbert, the leader of the group, was born in May Pen, Clarendon, Jamaica. He was the youngest of seven children. He grew up singing gospel music in a church choir, but moved to Kingston in 1958 at the age of thirteen. In Kingston, Hibbert met Henry "Raleigh" Gordon and Nathaniel "Jerry" McCarthy, forming in 1962 a group whose early recordings were incorrectly attributed to "The Flames" and "The Vikings" by Island records in the UK.
The Maytals first had chart success recording for producer Clement "Coxsone" Dodd at Studio One. With musical backing from Dodd's house band, the legendary Skatalites, the Maytals' close-harmony gospel singing ensured success, overshadowing Dodd's other up-and-coming vocal group, The Wailers. After staying at Studio One for about two years, the group moved on to do sessions for Prince Buster before recording with Byron Lee in 1965. With Lee, the Maytals won their first Festival Popular Song Competition with "Bam Bam". However, the group's musical career was interrupted in late 1966 when Hibbert was arrested and imprisoned. Toots states that he was not arrested for ganja but while bailing a friend. He also states that he made up the number 54-46 when writing 54-46 That's My Number about his time in jail.
Following Hibbert's release from jail towards the end of 1967, the Maytals began working with Chinese-Jamaican producer Leslie Kong, a collaboration a string of hits throughout the late sixties and early seventies - "Do the Reggay", a 1968 single widely credited with coining the word reggae, "Pressure Drop", "54-46" the 1969 Jamaica festival's popular song winner, "Sweet & Dandy" and "Monkey Man", the group's first international hit in 1970 . In 1972 they won their third Jamaica festival popular song with "Pomps & Pride". The group was also featured in one of reggae's greatest breakthrough events - The Harder They Come, the 1972 film and soundtrack starring Jimmy Cliff, named as one of Vanity Fair's Top 10 Best Soundtracks of all time.
Following Kong's death in 1971, the group continued to record with Kong's former sound engineer, Warwick Lyn; the group released three best-selling albums produced by Lyn and Chris Blackwell of Island Records, and enjoyed international hits with Funky Kingston in 1973 and Reggae Got Soul in 1975. Following the release of "Reggae Got Soul", Toots & The Maytals were invited to tour as the warm-up act for The Who during their North American Tour. The tour went poorly and Toots & The Maytals never went on the success of Bob Marley or Peter Tosh in the US.
Toots and the Maytals' compositions would be given a second airing in 1978-80 during the reggae-punk and ska revival period in the UK, when The Specials included "Monkey Man" on their 1979 debut album and The Clash produced their version of "Pressure Drop". They were also included in the Bob Marley and the Wailers song, *Punky Reggae Party". "The Wailers will be there, The Damned, The Jam, The Clash, The Maytals will be there, Dr. Feelgood too".
Having toured throughout the world for many years, Toots and the Maytals disbanded in the early 1980s, but reformed in the early 90s to continue touring and recording successfully. Sublime recorded cover versions of some Maytals songs in the 1990s as well.
The group recently won the 2005 Grammy award for best reggae album True Love, an album consisting of re-recorded versions of their classics alongside popular and legendary musicians such as Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, and Keith Richards, as well as popular artists today such as No Doubt, Ben Harper, The Roots, and Shaggy.
In 2006, they recorded a reggae/ska version of Radiohead's Let Down for the tribute album, Radiodread, by the Easy Star All-Stars. The album is a complete song for song makeover of the English rock band's album OK Computer into reggae, dub and ska. Let Down has been frequently cited by reviewers as one of the successes of the album.
A follow up to 2004's Love was being recorded in 2005 and released in 2007, and featured re-workings of classics such as "Johnny Cool Man" as well as new material. Light Your Light was nominated for the Grammy in the category Best Reggae Album.
Frederick Nathaniel 'Toots' Hibbert passed away September 11, 2020 at age 77.
Bim Today
The Maytals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want you tell me the truth girl
Do you feel alright now?
I want you tell me the truth girl
Do you understand me?
Remember I told you that there will be another festival again
What a bim and bam sir
Remember I told you that there will be another happy time again
I want you tell me, tell me the truth girl
Do you feel alright now?
I want you tell me the truth girl
Do you understand me?
Remember I told you that there will be a nother happy time again
What a bim and bam sir
I want yo tell Ms. Louise Bennett that I say
To tell Mr. Ronnie Williams that I say
That it is coming on a holiday festival again
What a bim and bam sir
I want you tell me the truth girl
This is a bim and bam sir
What a bam and bim sir
What a bim and bam sir
The Maytals’ song “Bim Today, Bam Tomorrow” is a classic example of the traditional Jamaican music called ska. The lyrics of the song are a message to a girl, asking her if she’s doing alright and if she understands what the singer is trying to tell her. The singer reminds her that there will be another festival soon, and he emphasizes the excitement and enthusiasm that comes with it. The repetitive “bim and bam” chorus is a representation of the Jamaican celebration culture.
The song is not only about festivals, but it also touches on the power of community and sharing. The singer mentions a message he wants to pass on to Ms. Louise Bennett and Mr. Ronnie Williams, two prominent Jamaican poets, emphasizing that the message relates to a holiday festival. The song’s mood is one of positivity, joy, and excitement, which aligns with the overall theme of ska music.
Line by Line Meaning
Bim Today, Bam Tomorrow
Things may change quickly and unexpectedly
I want you tell me the truth girl, Do you feel alright now?
Asking if the girl is doing okay and if she is being honest
I want you tell me the truth girl, Do you understand me?
Asking if the girl understands what is being said
Remember I told you that there will be another festival again, What a bim and bam sir
Reminiscing about a past celebration and how fun it was
Remember I told you that there will be another happy time again, What a bim and bam sir
Looking forward to another fun and festive event
I want you tell me, tell me the truth girl, Do you feel alright now?
Following up and making sure the girl is doing well
Remember I told you that there will be another happy time again, What a bim and bam sir
Reiterating the excitement for an upcoming celebration
I want yo tell Ms. Louise Bennett that I say, To tell Mr. Ronnie Williams that I say, That it is coming on a holiday festival again, What a bim and bam sir
Sending greetings to Ms. Louise Bennett and Mr. Ronnie Williams, announcing the upcoming festival
I want you tell me the truth girl, This is a bim and bam sir
Asking the girl to be honest and transparent about what's going on
What a bam and bim sir, What a bim and bam sir
Expressing excitement for the upcoming festival
Writer(s): FREDERICK HIBBERT
Contributed by London L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@dmc5301
One of the best Toots songs, one of the best Jamaican songs, ever. Combines gospel fervor with southern soul punch, and mixes in some funky Kingston rhythms with Stax-like sparseness. Amazing.
@Mr100258
One of the greatest Festival Song entries of all time. I was a small boy at the time and had hoped it won over Desmond Dekker's Intensified entry. I still believe to this day.....great great song. The composers/entrants of today need to take lessons from songs such as this one. Thanks for posting.
@yaniska100
I play this tune Over and over.. Those Poor neighbours!
@jawaratoyloy7780
yaniska100 me too
@astanfartin1647
if they don't appreciate it then they were poor before you ever hit play.
..and you make them a little richer every time you do
@ramblerunner
I often wonder how someone could make a tune this big, but then I remember it is Toots. The big boss man.
@gehegedrei
Ah, what great track. R.I.P., Maestro!!
@whocareswho
The vocals here, I swear, knock me out. Massive song.
@WAZOOMA
love this tune so much, those constant backing vocals with toots weaving in and out of them
@coyotesmile8972
One of the best voices ever.