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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.
It’s You
The Maytals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, yeah, it's you, it's you
I got to say
(Yeah) Aya, aya
(Yeah) Aya, aya
(Yeah) Aya, aya
Hey little girl, do you love me?
Oh baby, don't you know that I love you? (Yeah, yeah)
Come on, come on, now hear what I say (It's you, it's you)
I got to say
(Yeah) Aya, aya
(Yeah) Aya, aya
(Yeah) Aya, aya
(Yeah) Aya, aya
Hey little girl, do you love me?
I'm a lonely boy
Looking for the love of my heart
Don't you know
It's you that I'm talking to?
(It's you)
I got to say
(Yeah) Aya, aya
(Yeah) Aya, aya
(Yeah) Aya, aya
(Yeah) Aya, aya
Hey little girl, do you love me?
I'm a lonely boy
Looking for the love of my heart
Don't you know baby
It's you I'm talking to?
(It's you)
I got to say
(Yeah) Aya, aya
(Yeah) Aya, aya
(Yeah) Aya, aya
(Yeah) Aya, aya
Hey little girl, do you love me?
I got to say
(Yeah) Aya, aya
(Yeah) Aya, aya
(Yeah) Aya, aya
(Yeah) Aya, aya
Hey little girl, do you love me?
The Maytals' song "It's You" is a classic love song that showcases the lead singer's desperation for his lover's affection. The repetition of the phrase "it's you" emphasizes the importance of the lover to the singer, which is further cemented by the lines "Hey little girl, do you love me?" and "I'm a lonely boy looking for the love of my heart." The singer's vulnerability is on full display as he admits his loneliness and the fact that his lover is the only one who can fulfill him.
The use of the phrase "aya, aya" throughout the song is a common technique in reggae music and adds to the song's catchy and upbeat feel. The chorus, with its simplistic yet effective melody, is guaranteed to get stuck in your head. The song's short runtime also contributes to its charm, as it does not overstay its welcome and instead focuses on delivering a straightforward message of love and longing.
Overall, "It's You" is a testament to the power of simplicity in songwriting. The repetitive chorus and catchy melody make it an easy song for listeners to sing along to and remember, while the sincere and heartfelt lyrics make it a classic addition to any love song playlist.
Line by Line Meaning
It's you, it's you, it's you, it's you
I am repeatedly emphasizing that I am talking to you and only you.
Yeah, yeah, it's you, it's you
I am acknowledging that it is indeed you that I am addressing.
I got to say
I feel compelled to express my feelings to you.
(Yeah) Aya, aya
This is an exclamation of presence and excitement.
Hey little girl, do you love me?
I am asking you a direct question about your feelings towards me.
Oh baby, don't you know that I love you? (Yeah, yeah)
I am responding to your question by expressing my love for you.
Come on, come on, now hear what I say (It's you, it's you)
I am urging you to listen carefully to what I am about to say, which is that you are the one I desire.
I'm a lonely boy
I am communicating to you that I feel alone without your love.
Looking for the love of my heart
I am searching for that special someone who will fill the void in my heart.
Don't you know
I am expressing surprise that you are not aware of how I feel about you.
It's you that I'm talking to?
I am affirming that you are the person I have been addressing this whole time.
(It's you)
To reiterate, it is definitely you that has captured my heart.
I got to say
Once again, I feel compelled to express my feelings to you.
Hey little girl, do you love me?
I am restating my question to you, hoping for a positive answer from the one I desire.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FREDERICK HIBBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lucio Rozendo
It's You
É você, é você, é você, é você
yeah, yeah, é você, é você
Eu tenho a dizer hey
hey hey hey hey
hey menina, tu amas-me?
Oh baby você não sabe que eu te amo
vamos lá, vamos lá, você ouve o que eu digo
Eu tenho a dizer hey
hey hey hey hey
hey menina, tu amas-me?
Eu sou um garoto solitário procurando amor da minha própria
yeah yeah, você não sabe é você que eu estou falando com
Eu tenho a dizer hey
hey hey hey hey
hey menina, tu amas-me?
It's You
It's you, it's you, it's you, it's you
yeah, yeah, it's you, it's you
I've got to say hey
hey hey hey hey
hey little girl, do you love me?
Oh baby don't you know that I love you
come on, come on, you hear what I say
I've got to say hey
hey hey hey hey
hey little girl, do you love me?
I'm a lonely boy looking for love of my own
yeah yeah, don't you know it's you I'm talking to
I've got to say hey
hey hey hey hey
hey little girl, do you love me?
Robert Comeau
Rest in Peace, Toots. A true great, who brought joy to millions. His music will keep doing so forever.
Louis Green
Mr great
Eli Haynes
Do you know he was referred to as Jamaica Otis Redding but to me Redding was America Toots Hibbert
Robert Comeau
@Eli Haynes Well said!
Colin Clarke
Had the privilege to see toots in concert at the Marlowe in Canterbury September 2016.. front row . Shook his hand...rip toots
Pierrig
@Eli HaynesActually Ken Boothe was referred to as the Jamaican Otis Redding
ShadSoUnderrated
Cant stop listening to this masterpiece. Rest in Peace Toots.
Cynthia Archibald
Me too.
Chuffpup
R.I.P. Toots, farewell from your many fans in New Zealand. His music lives on...
Vee Sonnets
Rest in peace Toots.
Wonderful song.