- … 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.
Reincarnated Soul
The Wailers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Living on earth, heat, air and water (in this time)
We are reincarnated souls (from that time)
Living on earth, heat, air and water (in this time)
In the beginning was the word
And the word manifested itself in the flesh
Which even become man
Man being lower than the angels
Over all Earth was as he given dominion
He devised his own destruction
But the word lives on and on
Who is weary
Let him come hither
He who has eyes to see
Let him look yonder
All who is thirsty
Let them drink clear water
(Drink water)
(Drink water)
We are reincarnated souls (from that time)
And we are living on earth, heat, air and water (in this time)
We are reincarnated souls (from that time)
And we are living on earth, heat, air and water (in this time)
Nothing is new
Under the sun
All has been here
Since time begun
And with all the years we?ve spent
(Only changing names)
(Protect the innocent)
Like a seed that is planted by the water
Appear to die before new birth
Changing its form to another
Taking on a structure just as the first
(He who is weary)
Let him come hither
Oh-oh
(He who has eyes to see)
(Let him look yonder)
(All who are thirsty)
Let them drink clear water
(Drink water)
(Drink water)
The Wailers' song "Reincarnated Soul" is an ode to the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth. It speaks to the idea that our souls have lived through many reincarnations, and in this time, we are living on earth, sustained by the elements of air, water, and heat. The lyrics acknowledge the divine plan that led to the manifestation of the word in human form, and how humanity was given dominion over the earth, but in that power, we also created our own destruction. Despite this, the word, and the cycle of life and death, continue.
The song also references the idea that nothing is truly new under the sun, and that all things have been present since time began. The idea of protecting the innocent is also present in the lyrics, implying that in each reincarnation, we must strive to make the world a better place and prevent harm from coming to those who are vulnerable. The song ends by inviting those who are weary, have eyes to see, and are thirsty to come and drink clear water, a metaphor for finding spiritual nourishment and enlightenment in the cyclical nature of existence.
Line by Line Meaning
We are reincarnated souls (from that time)
The essence of who we are today has been carried over from a past life or time.
Living on earth, heat, air and water (in this time)
We currently exist on this planet, surviving on the natural elements that are necessary for life.
In the beginning was the word
At the start of everything that is, there was a divine will or intention.
And the word manifested itself in the flesh
Divine will began to take shape and form itself into what we currently experience as the physical world.
Which even become man
This divine energy took form in the creation of humankind.
(All because of the divine plan)
Everything that exists is part of a larger, overarching plan that is beyond human understanding.
Man being lower than the angels
Humans are not the highest or most powerful beings in existence.
Over all Earth was as he given dominion
Humans were given authority over the Earth and its creatures.
He devised his own destruction
Humans have caused harm and destruction to themselves and the planet due to their own actions.
But the word lives on and on
Despite human actions and failings, the divine plan and energy continues to exist eternally.
Who is weary
If anyone is feeling tired or drained.
Let him come hither
They are encouraged to approach and come forward.
He who has eyes to see
Those who possess the ability to perceive greater truths through insight or a spiritual perspective.
Let him look yonder
They are advised to look beyond their current situation or surroundings.
All who is thirsty
Anyone who feels a need or desire for something more meaningful in their life.
Let them drink clear water
They are being offered the opportunity to quench their thirst for something deeper or more fulfilling.
Nothing is new
There is no groundbreaking discovery or idea that has never existed before in some form.
Under the sun
In the physical reality of our world.
All has been here
Everything that has ever happened or existed is part of a continuous and unending cycle of existence.
Since time begun
From the very beginning of existence itself.
And with all the years we've spent
Throughout all of human history and existence in general.
(Only changing names)
Though events and concepts might be reimagined in different ways or given different labels, they essentially remain the same.
(Protect the innocent)
It is important to safeguard those who are vulnerable or innocent.
Like a seed that is planted by the water
Just as a seed requires water to grow, humans need spiritual nourishment to develop and evolve.
Appear to die before new birth
Something must often come to an end before a fresh start or new phase of existence can begin.
Changing its form to another
Transformation and evolution are essential parts of existence and growth.
Taking on a structure just as the first
Though something might change in appearance or context, its fundamental essence remains the same.
(He who is weary)
Referring back to the previous stanza about individuals who might be exhausted or struggling.
Oh-oh
No specific meaning is conveyed by this lyric.
(He who has eyes to see)
The concept of insight or foresight is revisited once again.
(Let him look yonder)
Individuals are being directed to consider perspectives outside of their current purview.
(All who are thirsty)
Once again referencing those who desire greater meaning or fulfillment.
Let them drink clear water
Revisiting the concept of spiritual nourishment and sustenance.
(Drink water)
Reiterating the lyric for further emphasis.
(Drink water)
Reiterating the lyric for further emphasis.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: NEVILLE LIVINGSTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@narmeenyudingdong5975
This song is the only hymn I would ever pray on. Blessings upon Neville Livingstone, you carry the souls of your ancestors with you, and your words live on and on. Thanks and praises.
@smuleplayz
The wailers with Tosh, Marley, and Wailer was the peak. They made such beautiful songs but the internal conflict was too much
@basaltdave
One of Bunnys best...
@ryanenglish964
Rest In heaven Bunny 2021 is a bad year
@johnkanai4106
Drink Water, Drink Water...
PURE DELIGHT
@hesgotamotor8288
One of Bunny's great performances, wailers Mon, seen, greatest band of alllllllll time
@shieldoffaith3574
The word manifest itself in the flesh 🔥👏
@selimyucel8573
This Song is crazy.Cant stop dancing.
@markLyonesse
Beautiful truth set in the church of music
@ReggaeMusicisForYou
We are reincarnated souls 🔥🔥