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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.
Reborn
The Maytals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I look
When I look
Oh yes indeed
When I look
I could see the earth before me
I could see them wave their hands to me
All I got to do is shake my head and cry
When I start forgetting about the world and my life
Somebody said it's the wrong thing to do
So I stop forgetting about the world and my life
Then I heard a voice from heaven saying "Toots, don't fret no more"
So I stopped, looked, and listened
Oh then I hear the good kind say
Son you can go your way
Yes you just buck up and free again
Yes I'm free again
I'm glad to see you free again
Good lord I'm free again
I'm glad to see you free again
It's so free, it's so nice
I'm glad to see you free again
It's so wonderful and so marvelous just to see me free again
I'm glad to see myself free again
The lyrics of The Maytals' song "Reborn" convey a sense of personal liberation and finding one's self again. The repetition of the phrase "When I look" suggests introspection and self-reflection. The singer is acknowledging their own ability to see the world and the people around them. However, there is a feeling of loneliness and lack of support when they mention that no one has been cheering for them.
The mention of forgetting about the world and their own life suggests a feeling of being overwhelmed or disconnected. Someone advises them that it is the wrong thing to do, possibly implying that they should not neglect their own well-being or responsibilities. As they heed this advice, they hear a reassuring voice from heaven, which provides comfort and guidance.
The affirmation "So I stopped, looked, and listened" indicates a willingness to pause and take in the positive message they are receiving. The voice encourages the singer, addressed as "Toots," to not worry anymore. It is in this moment that the singer experiences a new sense of freedom and joy. The repetition of "I'm glad to see you free again" further emphasizes their elation at reclaiming their own independence and sense of self.
The repetition of phrases like "It's so free, it's so nice" and "It's so wonderful and so marvelous just to see me free again" reveals the immense happiness the singer feels at rediscovering their true self. The lyrics express gratitude and a celebration of personal freedom. The final line, "I'm glad to see myself free again," suggests a newfound appreciation for their own autonomy and the ability to live life on their own terms.
Line by Line Meaning
When I look
As I gaze upon my surroundings
Oh yes indeed
Certainly, without a doubt
I could see the earth before me
I am able to perceive the beauty of the world before my eyes
I could see them wave their hands to me
I witness people extending their greetings and acknowledgement towards me
All I got to do is shake my head and cry
My only response is to express my emotions through shaking my head and shedding tears
'Cause when I look and see no one's been cheering me
Because upon observation, I realize that there has been a lack of support and encouragement for me
When I start forgetting about the world and my life
In moments when I begin to neglect my connection to the world and lose sight of my own existence
Somebody said it's the wrong thing to do
An individual expressed that this course of action is not appropriate
So I stop forgetting about the world and my life
Consequently, I cease to disregard the world around me and my own existence
Then I heard a voice from heaven saying 'Toots, don't fret no more'
At that moment, I perceived a divine voice reassuringly speaking to me, advising me not to worry any longer
So I stopped, looked, and listened
Therefore, I paused, focused my attention, and attentively listened
Oh then I hear the good kind say
Subsequently, I perceive a benevolent presence conveying a message
Son you can go your way
My dear, you have the freedom to pursue your chosen path
Yes you just buck up and free again
Indeed, you simply need to gather your strength and liberate yourself once more
Yes I'm free again
I am now unrestricted and liberated once more
I'm glad to see you free again
I am filled with joy to witness your newfound freedom
Good lord I'm free again
My goodness, I am emancipated once more
It's so free, it's so nice
It feels incredibly liberating, it is truly delightful
I'm glad to see you free again
I am overjoyed to witness your liberation
It's so wonderful and so marvelous just to see me free again
It is incredibly marvelous and astounding to witness my own state of freedom once more
I'm glad to see myself free again
I am filled with joy to observe my own revival of liberation
Writer(s): Frederick Hibbert, Ralphus Henry Gordon, Nathaniel Mccarthy
Contributed by Charlotte D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@trippynkush8363
this is a masterpiece... a song like this deserved way more views and listeners then this im gratefull we have music like this
@MrSEIF85
You right100%
@italrel
Just timeless.
@Sealice1663
these guys pioneered this sound...off the hook