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.
You Don't Care
The Melodians Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You don't need me, not anymore
I heard them saying, you don't love me
You don't care for me, not anymore
Look at all those things I have beared for you
Look at all those trouble, you make me feel
Now you have gone and have left me
I heard them saying, you left me stranded
You left me all alone in misery
I heard them saying, you don't love me
You don't care for me, not anymore
The road of life is so rocky
And someday you might fall back on me
I will forgive you, I know that I will
But you'll never get away, yeah, someone will make you pay
The road of life is so rocky
And someday you might fall back on me
I will forgive you, I know that I will
But you'll never get away, yeah, you'll never get away
I heard them saying, you don't want me
You don't need me, not anymore
I heard them saying, you don't love me
You don't care for me, not anymore
I heard them saying, you left me stranded
You left me all alone, in misery
The Melodians' song "You Don't Need Me" is a soulful tune that speaks of heartbreak and the bitterness that arises after a relationship ends. The song's opening lines, "I heard them saying, you don't want me, you don't need me, not anymore," immediately set a melancholy tone. The singer is hurt and confused by his former lover's apparent indifference. He reflects on all the sacrifices he made for her and the troubles she caused him, only to be coldly abandoned.
The song's chorus repeats the accusatory "you don't love me, you don't care for me, not anymore," emphasizing the singer's sense of betrayal. However, as the song progresses, his tone becomes more resigned. He admits that he will forgive her, but warns that "someone will make you pay." Despite his pain, the singer recognizes that life is uncertain and that he may need her someday. Thus, the song ends on a bittersweet note, with the singer acknowledging the rocky road of life and the possibility of forgiveness but also warning that she won't be able to escape the consequences of her actions.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard them saying, you don't want me
I overheard people saying that you do not desire me anymore
You don't need me, not anymore
You no longer require my presence or support
I heard them saying, you don't love me
I eavesdropped on others who claimed that you no longer harbor romantic feelings towards me
You don't care for me, not anymore
You have stopped showing concern or interest in my well-being
Look at all those things I have beared for you
Reflect on all the hardships I went through for your sake
Look at all those trouble, you make me feel
Think about all the difficulties and pain that you caused me
Now you have gone and have left me
You have departed and abandoned me
But you'll never get away, yeah, you'll never get away
Despite your departure, the consequences of your actions will catch up to you
You left me all alone in misery
You deserted me, leaving me in a state of extreme unhappiness
The road of life is so rocky
Life is unpredictable and challenging
And someday you might fall back on me
There may come a time when you need my assistance in the future
I will forgive you, I know that I will
Despite your wrongdoing, I will let go of my anger and bitterness towards you
But you'll never get away, yeah, someone will make you pay
You may escape punishment temporarily, but eventually, karma will catch up to you
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GEORGE BREVETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Roy Bauer
Love it.