- … Read Full Bio ↴There are or have been - at least - two bands named The Wailers:
- The legendary Jamaican reggae band (founded as a ska group 1963, and became a Rastafarian reggae band in 1968), renamed Bob Marley & The Wailers in 1974, which are still active led by bassist Aston Barrett after Marley's death in 1981.
- The Fabulous Wailers, a rock and roll and garage band from the USA, active 1958-1969, first led by John Greek, replaced in 1960 by Rockin' Robin Roberts.
1) Bob Marley & The Wailers have together sold in excess of 255 million albums worldwide. Since they are extraordinary popular also in poor countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America with big markets for pirate copies the total amounts of albums sold has been estimated to over 1 billion. In England alone, they've notched up over 20 chart hits, including seven Top 10 entries. In USA on the other hand, Bob Marley & The Wailers reached superstar status only after Marley's death, with the album Legend , focusing on the person Bob Marley but not on the band. Outside of their groundbreaking work with Marley, the Wailers have also played or performed with international acts like Sting, the Fugees, Stevie Wonder, Carlos Santana, and Alpha Blondy, as well as reggae legends such as Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, and Burning Spear. As the greatest living exponents of Jamaica's reggae tradition, the Wailers have completed innumerable other tours, playing to an estimated 24 million people across the globe. They have also been the first reggae band to tour new territories on many occasions, including Africa and the Far East.
Their nucleus formed in 1969, when the vocalist group "The Wailers" (formed 1963 by Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer, and Peter Tosh) requited the talented Barrett brothers: bassist Aston "Family Man" and drummer Carlton (writer of well-known Marley songs like "War" and "Talking Blues", 'sound-maker' of more Marley songs, developer of the one drop style in reggae music) played on hits such as Lively Up Yourself, Trenchtown Rock, Duppy Conqueror, and many more besides. Inspired by Rastafari and their ambitions of reaching an international audience, this is the line-up that pioneered roots rock reggae, and signed to Island Records in 1971. Bunny and Peter left two years later. It was at this point that the in-demand Barrett brothers - whose rhythms also underpinned innumerable seventies' reggae hits by other acts - assumed the title of Wailers, and backed Marley on the group's international breakthrough album, Natty Dread. Under Family Man's musical leadership, they then partnered Bob Marley on the succession of hit singles and albums that made him a global icon, winner of several Lifetime Achievement awards, and Jamaica's best-loved musical superstar.
Drummer Carlton "Carlie" Barrett was murdered 1987, leaving his brother as the main beneficiary of the Wailers' mantle. Subsequent line-ups have revolved around Family Man, who is widely regarded as one of the world's greatest bass players. Modest and unassuming, he was present on all of those unforgettable performances by Bob Marley & The Wailers from the seventies. Family Man continues to be the main axis of the current Wailers - a group that's one of the last, great reggae institutions, yet which refuses to live off past glories. That's because Family Man represents tried and trusted roots authenticity and, along with the Wailers, injects fresh excitement into a show that continues to attract enthusiastic audiences from around the world.
2) The Fabulous Wailers were an American rock band from Tacoma, Washington. Formed around 1958, they are often considered the first garage rock group. They performed a hybrid of saxophone-driven rhythm and blues and Chuck Berry rock and roll.
Five 45s (four released in 1959, including Tall Cool One, and one in 1960) and an LP release, The Fabulous Wailers (released December 1959 on Golden Crest Records), put the Wailers on the national scene. Their 1961 cover of Louie Louie, which they recorded as a backing band for singer Rockin' Roberts, was the first to use the trademark 1-2-3, 1-2, 1-2-3 riff. Their version inspired other groups from the Seattle area, most notably the The Kingsmen of Portland, Oregon, to record the same song. The Fabulous Wailers' influence established the Pacific Northwest area as a center for musical innovation and the home of a long string of regional favorites playing a kind of raunchy, amateur, yet passionate, form of rock and roll, such as The Sonics, with whom they exchanged various band members and who recorded on The Wailers own Etiquette Records label.
They became popular around the United States Pacific Northwest around the late 1950s and the start of the 1960s, performing saxophone-driven R&B and Chuck Berry rock and roll. Their biggest hit was "Tall Cool One", first released in 1959, and they have been credited as being "one of the very first, if not the first, of the American garage bands."
The group was formed – originally as The Nitecaps – in 1958, by five high school friends:
John Greek (27 October 1940 – 6 October 2006) – rhythm guitar, trumpet
Richard Dangel (1 December 1942 – 2 December 2002) – lead guitar
Kent Morrill (2 April 1941 – 15 April 2011) – keyboards, vocals
Mark Marush (15 August 1940 – 9 August 2007) – tenor sax
Mike Burk (b. 1942) – drums
In late 1958, the group recorded a demo of an instrumental written by Dangel, Morrill and Greek, which found its way to Clark Galehouse of New York based Golden Crest Records. He liked the track and had it re-recorded by the band in Lakewood in February 1959; its title "Tall Cool One" was apparently suggested by Morrill's mother. Released as a single, it reached # 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 and # 24 on the R&B chart. The band made the cross-country trip to New York to record an LP, The Fabulous Wailers, which was released in December 1959 and featured two vocals by Morrill as well as instrumentals. They also appeared on Dick Clark's nationally televised American Bandstand, and toured the east coast. A second instrumental from their first recording session, "Mau-Mau", made # 68 on the Billboard pop chart, but their third single, "Wailin'", failed to make the chart.
The band decided to return to the Northwest, rather than staying in New York as their record label wished, and they were dropped from their contract. Around the same time, they added lead vocalist "Rockin' Robin" Roberts (Lawrence Fewell Roberts II), a charismatic frontman who had previously been the singer with rival Tacoma band the Bluenotes. John Greek left the group in acrimonious circumstances, and was replaced by bassist John "Buck" Ormsby (Seattle, October 29, 1941 - October 29, 2016). Ormsby, Morrill and Roberts then formed Etiquette Records and, in 1961, the label released its first single, a cover version of Richard Berry's "Louie Louie". For contractual reasons the single was credited to Roberts, but was performed by the whole band. Their recording became a local hit and was distributed nationally by Imperial Records, but did not make the national chart. However, its style, with its trademark 1-2-3, 1-2, 1-2-3 riff, inspired other groups from the Seattle area, most notably the Kingsmen of Portland, Oregon, to record the same song.
The Wailers continued to perform locally and, according to Morrill, one of their biggest fans was the young Jimi Hendrix, then starting to perform guitar. The band performed both with and without Roberts, who studied at the University of Washington, the University of Puget Sound, and Oregon State University, eventually achieving a masters degree in biochemistry. They also occasionally featured teenage girl singer Gail Harris, notably on the live album The Fabulous Wailers at the Castle, recorded in 1961, which has been described as "undoubtedly one of the most influential albums in Seattle rock & roll history." In all, the band recorded and released four albums on their own Etiquette label between 1962 and 1966, as well as a succession of singles. They also helped instigate the recording career of The Sonics, whose first two albums were issued by the label, and helped begin Jini Dellaccio's career as a rock'n'roll photographer when they hired her to shoot cover photos for their album Wailers, Wailers, Everywhere.
Mark Marush left The Wailers in 1962 and was replaced by Ron Gardner, who also handled lead vocals; Dangel and Burk left in 1964 and were replaced by guitarist Neil Andersson and drummer Dave Roland respectively. Continuing to perform live as well as recording, the band added a trio of girl backing singers, known as the Marshans. Also in 1964, "Tall Cool One" was re-promoted by the Golden Crest label, and again made the Billboard pop chart, this time peaking at # 38. In 1965 Roberts made his final recordings with the group, and, in 1967, guitarist Neil Andersson was replaced by Denny Weaver. Roberts was killed, aged 27, in a car crash in late 1967.
The band split up in 1969, by which time Kent Morrill was the only remaining original member. Morrill, Dangel and Ormsby, with other musicians, reunited as The Wailers for occasional concerts from the 1970s onwards. In 1979, they joined with Burk, Gardner, and Gail Harris to play a reunion show.
Later activities
Ormsby re-established the Etiquette label in the mid-1980s, and issued a Wailers compilation, The Boys from Tacoma, in 1993. The Wailers' song, "Out of Our Tree", was featured in the 1998 CD version of the Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From the First Psychedelic Era collection. Several of the Wailers' tunes were also covered by The Ventures, and the two bands released an album together, Two Car Garage, in 2009 to celebrate their 50 years in existence.
Ron Gardner died in 1992. Richard Dangel died of an aneurysm in 2002. John Greek died in 2006, Mark Marush in 2007, and Kent Morrill died of cancer on 15 April 2011. Buck Ormsby died in 2016.
Rainbow country
The Wailers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ya sure sound good to me
I can't refuse it
What got to be, got to be
Feel like dancing
Dance 'cause we are free
In the promise land
But I feel at home
Can you understand
Said the road is rocky
Sure feels good to me
And if your lucky
Together we'd always be
I will ride it
The sun is a risin'
The sign is a rising
Are you really riding?
Are you really riding?
Are you really riding?
Are you really riding?
Rainbow country
Rainbow country
Rainbow country
Rainbow country
Hey Mr. Music
Ya sure sound good to me
I can't refuse it
We got to be, got to be
Feel like dancing
Dance 'cause we are free
I got my home
In the promise land
I feel at home
Can you understand
Said the road is rocky
Sure feels good to me
And if I'm lucky
Together we'd always be
I will ride it
The sun is a risin'
The sun is a risin'
Moon is a risin'
I will ride it
I will ride it
I will ride it
I will ride it
And though the road is rocky
Sure feels good to me
And if I'm lucky
Together we'd always be
I will ride it
Rainbow country
Rainbow yountry
Rainbow country
Sun is a risin'
Sun is a risin'
Moon is a risin'
Sun is a risin'
Sun is a risin'
Sun is a risin'
Rainbow country
Rainbow country
Rainbow country
Rainbow country
Rainbow country
Rainbow country
Sayin', hey Mr. Music
Sure sound good to me
I can't refuse it
'Cause, what have we got to be
Feel like dancing
Dance 'cause we are free
I got my own
In the promise land
Feel at home
Can you understand
And though the road is rocky
Sure feels good to me
And if I'm lucky
Together we'd always be
Rainbow country
Rainbow country
Rainbow country
The lyrics to The Wailers’ song “Rainbow Country” can be interpreted in several different ways, but at its core, it is a celebration of freedom and unity. The opening lines suggest that the singer is drawn to music and is unable to resist its pull. The reference to ‘what got to be, got to be’ could mean that the singer believes that things will work out as they are meant to, and that they are content to just let the music guide them.
The lyrics then transition into a more joyful tone, inviting the listener to dance and revel in their freedom. The reference to the ‘promise land’ could be a nod to the Biblical story of Moses and the exodus from Egypt, suggesting that the singer and their community have found their own promised land of freedom and are living in harmony. The road may be rocky, but it is understood that they are in this together and will always support one another.
The repeated refrain of ‘Rainbow Country’ adds to the celebratory mood of the song, suggesting that this community is a vibrant and diverse one. The repeated references to the sun and moon rising suggest the cyclical nature of life and the singer’s willingness to embrace it all. Overall, the song is a joyful celebration of community, freedom, and the power of music to unite people.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Mr. Music
Addressing the power of music and how it brings joy and satisfaction to the listener.
Ya sure sound good to me
Expressing how the music is pleasant and appealing.
I can't refuse it
The listener cannot help but enjoy and surrender to the music's melody and rhythm.
What got to be, got to be
Accepting that life unfolds as it should naturally and not trying to change its course.
Feel like dancing
The music makes the listener want to move their body and dance.
Dance 'cause we are free
The freedom to dance expresses the joy and pleasure of being alive and having the ability to move.
I got my home In the promise land
The reference to a promised land represents a place where everything is perfect or ideal.
But I feel at home
In spite of not having everything perfect, the listener feels a sense of belonging and comfort in their current situation.
Can you understand
Asking if someone else can relate to the same feeling of belonging or understanding the lyrics of the song.
Said the road is rocky
Acknowledging the difficulties of life's journey.
Sure feels good to me
Despite the hard journey, the sense of accomplishment and progress is satisfying.
And if your lucky
The feeling of gratitude for having good fortune and blessings in life.
Together we'd always be
The importance of having companionship and solidarity on the journey of life.
I will ride it The sun is a risin'
Facing life's journey head-on and acknowledging the new opportunities that each day brings.
The sign is a rising
References the hope and new beginnings that come with the rise of the sun.
Are you really riding?
A rhetorical question about whether the listener is truly embracing the moments and opportunities of life.
Rainbow country
Expresses the idea of a land where all races live together in harmony with different people working together peacefully.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Bob Marley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@surferjay11
I'm convinced that bob Marley is a prophet that was more positive to the human race than any religion ever was.
@genesisthirteen968
this is one of the most important and beautifully crafted songs ever produced in the history of music.
@SenseiZeke
I totally agree plus his words is speaking of generation to come. Bob had a complete message to the world.
@slazo3178
Well my freind yu love music go on loving it mr music hey
@FRENCHYB2B
100% agree 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
@jorgeborges7707
Agreed, best horn arrangement evah!
@nickmcghee4393
Couldn’t agree more
@76ajc
Bob helped me to get sober... every time I wanted to say screw it, I'm getting loaded, I'd hear one of his songs and my mind would quiet and fill with everything beautiful. Thank you Bob..... you never could have known the power and resilience of your soul.
@SC-lo4mp
Respect to you my brother. Getting sober is a very difficult thing ☺️
@susiehewitt8567
... and me!!