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.
Little Nut Tree
The Melodians Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nothing would it bear for me
But a silver nutmeg
And a golden pear alone, alone
One lonely night in June
When my tree began to bloom
I saw in front of me
To my surprise, she was to be
What God wanted her to be
She was to be my lover, you see
So that's how it will be
I've got to thank heaven
For the gift He sent for me
He sent for me someone to love
And oh, my little nut tree
To my surprise, she was to be
What God wanted her to be
She was to be my lover, you see
So that's how it will be
I have a little nut tree
Nothing would it bear for me
But a silver nutmeg
And a golden pear alone, alone, alone
The Melodians' song "Little Nut Tree" is a love song that uses the imagery of a nut tree to tell the story of finding true love. The singer starts with a lament that their nut tree bore no fruit for them except a silver nutmeg and a golden pear. However, one June night when the tree was in bloom, they saw a girl who looked like the queen of May. To their surprise, the girl was meant to be their lover, according to God's will. The singer expresses their gratitude to heaven for sending them this gift of love, and the song ends with a repetition of the opening verse.
The nut tree serves as a metaphor for the singer's heart and their search for love. They had resigned themselves to only finding small rewards from their efforts, but then love appeared unexpectedly. The queen of May, a traditional symbol of youth and vitality, represents the possibility of new beginnings and blossoming romance. The line "What God wanted her to be" suggests that the singer sees this relationship as predestined or fated, making it all the more special.
Overall, "Little Nut Tree" is a charming and poetic ode to the power of love to transform our lives, even when we thought we had nothing to offer. It shows that sometimes the most beautiful things can come from unexpected places, and that true love is a gift to be cherished and celebrated.
Line by Line Meaning
I have a little nut tree
I possess a small tree that bears no fruit.
Nothing would it bear for me
Despite my efforts, the tree did not yield any fruit.
But a silver nutmeg
The only thing the tree produced was a silver nutmeg, a rare and valuable spice.
And a golden pear alone, alone
In addition to the nutmeg, it produced a single golden pear, which was lonely or lacking in quantity.
One lonely night in June
On a solitary night during the month of June.
When my tree began to bloom
When the tree began to flower and display its beauty.
I saw in front of me
I noticed, specifically within my field of vision.
A girl just like the queen of May
I encountered a woman who resembled the popular image of the Queen of May, a figure associated with springtime and fertility.
To my surprise, she was to be
I was astonished to discover that she had a particular destiny.
What God wanted her to be
Her fate was divinely ordained.
She was to be my lover, you see
She was predestined to be my romantic partner.
So that's how it will be
This is how our future relationship is predetermined to unfold.
I've got to thank heaven
I must express gratitude to God or a higher power.
For the gift He sent for me
For the blessing or present that was bestowed upon me.
He sent for me someone to love
He arranged for me to have a companion for romantic affection.
And oh, my little nut tree
Oh, how my unfruitful tree has transformed my life for the better.
Writer(s): Tony Brevette
Contributed by Asher C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@stylishgambino1781
Tune!!!!!! my mom music growing up still listening 2022.
@ivyfernandes4791
Great music 👌 bring home right to you
@oscarmiller6303
Memories , I love it !
@jorgepurizaca4315
Top group. One of my all time favorites.
@Barzini548
Reggae music incomparable to none
@bluehibiscus502
Everyone of these guys' song is a hit.
@walterjohnson2910
@ Lovely Song, By my Favorite group❤❤❤
@walterjohnson2910
Welcomed
@lolli9788
Me just love this song💝💖💝💖💝💖💝💖
@sylvesterbernard6284
Great music