The group recorded some material with Prince Buster before Ken Boothe introduced them to Coxsone Dodd's Studio One label where in 1966 they recorded "Lay It On" (one of the first records to reflect the shift from ska to rocksteady), "Meet Me", "I Should Have Made It Up" and "Let's Join Hands (Together)". Lead vocal duties were now shared between Brevett and Dowe. From 1967 to 1968 they had a number of hits on Duke Reid's Treasure Isle label, including "You Have Caught Me", "Expo 67", "I'll Get Along Without You", and "You Don't Need Me". After recording "Swing and Dine" for record producer Sonia Pottinger, they had further hits with "Little Nut Tree" before recording their biggest hit, "Rivers of Babylon" for Leslie Kong. This song became an anthem of the Rastafarian movement, and was featured on the soundtrack of the movie The Harder They Come. In the early 1970s Brevett also recorded as a solo artist, having his greatest success with "Don't Get Weary". After Kong's death in 1971, they recorded for Lee Perry and Byron Lee's Dynamic Studios. In 1973, Brent Dowe left the group for a solo career. The group reformed briefly a few years later, and again in the early 1980s.
The Melodians regrouped again in the 1990s as part of the roots revival. In 1992 they recorded "Song of Love", which was issued on the Tappa Zukie label. Throughout the later 1990s they continued touring internationally, including appearing at the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival in California in 2002. In 2005 The Melodians embarked on a West Coast tour.
The death of Tony Brevett in 2013 left McNaughton as the only surviving original member. McNaughton toured as a solo artist in 2014 and subsequently recruited Taurus Alphonso (formerly of the Mellow Tones) and Winston Dias (formerly of The Movers) to form a new Melodians line-up. As of February 2015, the group were recording a new album in Florida with producer Willie Lindo. The Return of the Melodians was released in May 2017 and went on to reach no. 19 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart.
In February 2017, the Melodians received an 'Iconic Award' from the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA).
Brent Gayford Dowe (29 June 1946 - 29 January 2006) after a rehearsal in preparation for a performance to take place the following weekend at the Jamaican Prime Minister’s residence, Brent Dowe suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 59. The remaining original members Tony Brevett and Trevor McNaughton continued touring in Europe and the U.S. backed by the Yellow Wall Dub Squad.
Tony Brevett (1949 - 25 October 2013) died from cancer after being admitted to hospital in Miami in August.
Trevor McNaughton (James Augustus McNaughton, December 16, 1940 - November 20, 2018) was the last surviving original member of the group.
It's All In The Family
The Melodians Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the children follow too
Bobby is coming with water on his head
Mama, she′s trying to spread the bed
It's all in the family
Children dying from poverty
And society, don′t see this family
Soon I know, a day will come
Grief and sorrow will turn to fun
Fortune and fame will come your way
When it comes, it will be there to stay
It's all in the family
Children dying from poverty
And society, don't see this family
It′s all in the family
Children dying from poverty
And society don′t see this family
The black cat runs the house
And the children follow too
Bobby is coming with water on his head
Mama, she's trying to spread the bed
It′s all in the family
Children dying from poverty
And society don't see this family
And society don′t see this family
And society, (society) don't see this family (they don′t see this family yeah)
And society, (society yeah) don't see this family (they don't see this family)
And society, (society) don′t see this family (they don′t see, don't see, they don′t see, they don't see-)
The Melodians' hit song "It's All In The Family" is a reflection on the challenges faced by a family caught in the cycle of poverty. The opening lines talk about the influence of the black cat, symbolizing the lack of control and the impossibility to change the fate of the family. The children are depicted as passive followers, clueless of the struggles and setbacks that their parents face. Bobby carrying water on his head and Mama spreading the bed seem like trivial chores, but they are heavy reminders of the family's economic status.
Line by Line Meaning
The black cat runs the house
The leader of the household is a mysterious and independent force
And the children follow too
The younger members of the family look up to the black cat and learn from them
Bobby is coming with water on his head
One member of the family is working hard to provide for the others
Mama, she's trying to spread the bed
Another member of the family is doing their best to create a comfortable home
It's all in the family
All of these experiences are part of the family's story
Children dying from poverty
The family is struggling with poverty and it's affecting the kids
And society, don't see this family
The larger community is unaware of the struggles this family is facing
Soon I know, a day will come
The artist is hopeful that things will improve
Grief and sorrow will turn to fun
The family will be able to find happiness and joy despite their hardships
Fortune and fame will come your way
The future looks promising and the family will experience success
When it comes, it will be there to stay
These positive changes will be long-lasting
Writer(s): Brent Gayford Dowe, Brevett Tony, Mcnaughton, Cogle
Contributed by Ella H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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