- - -
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.
Tell Me You Love Me
The Maytals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell me, my loved one tell me...what's on your mind?
You leave my home more and more
I never knew that you'd be hurt
Tell me, tell me...I've done you wrong
A lover like you because you understand
Especially you're going like your hairy man
Cuz, just because I have you my love
The Maytals' song "Tell Me You Love Me" is a heartfelt plea from the singer to his lover to open up and communicate with him. The song begins with the repeated request for the loved one to tell him what's on their mind. It is clear that there is a disconnect between them as the loved one is spending more and more time away from home. The singer is concerned and unaware of the hurt that may have been caused. He acknowledges the possibility that he may have done something wrong and begs for the communication that he needs to make things right. It is a reminder of the importance of open and honest communication in any relationship.
The second verse of the song speaks of the unique understanding and connection that the singer has with his lover. He appreciates and recognizes the love that they share and how special it is. He speaks of how no one else in the world will do because he has found his true love.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me, tell me, tell me...what's on your mind?
I want to know what's bothering you so that I can make things better.
Tell me, my loved one tell me...what's on your mind?
My love for you is true and I want to help you in any way I can. Please share your heart with me.
You leave my home more and more
I have noticed that you are spending less time with me and it worries me.
I never knew that you'd be hurt
I didn't intend to cause you any pain and I am truly sorry if I did.
Tell me, tell me...I've done you wrong
I am willing to take responsibility for my mistakes and want to make things right between us.
A lover like you because you understand
You are the perfect partner for me because you can empathize with me and see things from my perspective.
Especially you're going like your hairy man
I find your unique qualities and quirks endearing and love you for who you are.
I know no one in this world will do
You are one of a kind and irreplaceable. No one in the world can compare to you.
Cuz, just because I have you my love
I am grateful to have you in my life and will cherish you always.
Contributed by Sarah C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.