Originally called simply The Maytals, are considered legends of ska and reg… Read Full Bio ↴Originally called simply The Maytals, are considered legends of ska and reggae music. They are from Kingston, Jamaica. Their sound is a unique, original combination of gospel, ska, soul, reggae and rock. Frederick "Toots" Hibbert, the leader of the group, was born in May Pen in the Parish of Clarendon, Jamaica. He was the youngest of seven children. He grew up singing gospel music in a church choir, but moved to Kingston in 1961 at the age of sixteen.

In Kingston, he met Henry "Raleigh" Gordon and Nathaniel "Jerry" McCarthy, forming a group whose early recordings were attributed to "The Flames" and, possibly, "The Vikings". Having renamed the group the Maytals, the vocal trio recorded their first album, "Never Grow Old - presenting the Maytals", for producer Clement "Coxsone" Dodd at Studio One in 1962-63. With musical backing from Dodd's house band, the legendary Skatalites, the Maytals' close-harmony gospel singing ensured instant success for the 1964 release, overshadowing Dodd's other up-and-coming gospel trio, The Wailers. The original album augmented by studio out-takes from the Studio One sessions was re-released by Heartbeat/Rounder Records in 1997, and is essential listening for Maytals and Skatalites fans.

After staying at Studio One for about two years, the group moved on to do sessions for Prince Buster (released in 1974) before recording their second album produced by Byron Lee in 1965. However, the band's musical career was rudely interrupted in late 1966 when Hibbert was arrested and imprisoned on drugs possession charges.

Following Hibbert's release from jail towards the end of 1967, the band officially changed their name to Toots and the Maytals and began working with Chinese-Jamaican producer Leslie Kong, a collaboration which produced three classic albums and a string of hits throughout the late sixties and early seventies - "Do the Reggay", a 1968 single widely credited with coining the word reggae, "Pressure Drop", "54-46 was my number" and "Monkey Man", the group's first international hit in 1970. The group was featured in one of reggae's greatest breakthrough events - The Harder They Come, the 1972 film and soundtrack starring Jimmy Cliff.

Following Kong's death in 1971, the group continued to record with Kong's former sound engineer, Warwick Lyn; produced by Lyn and Chris Blackwell of Island Records, the group released three best-selling albums, and enjoyed international hits with "Funky Kingston" in 1973 and "Reggae Got Soul" in 1976.

The compositions of Toots & the Maytals (also known as Toots and the Maytals) would be given a second airing in 1978-80 during the reggae-punk and ska revival period in the UK, when the Specials included "Monkey Man" on their 1979 debut album and the Clash produced their version of "Pressure Drop", with other Maytals' covers being recorded by Sublime. Having toured throughout the world for many years, Toots and the Maytals disbanded in the early 1980s, but reformed in the early 90s to continue touring and recording successfully.

The band recently won the 2005 Grammy award for reggae for the album True Love, an album consisting of re-recorded versions of their classics alongside popular and legendary musicians such as Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, and Keith Richards, as well as popular artists today such as No Doubt, Ben Harper, The Roots, and Shaggy.

They also contributed to the album 'Radiodread' (a tribute to Radiohead's OK Computer).

African Doctor
Toots & The Maytals Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You can stay in the dark, brother
You can stay in the dark
You can stay in the dark, sister
You can stay in the dark

I called for the African doctor
Just to play a part for me
He told me that's an easy thing to do

He told me, we don't need no relation

We don't want no relation
We don't need no relation
We don't want no relation

Doctor Lester
(Doctor)
He's a real good doctor
(Doctor)

Doctor Lester
(Doctor)
He's a medical doctor
(Doctor)

Doctor Lester
(Doctor)

He's the African doctor
(Doctor)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Toots & The Maytals' African Doctor call for listeners to embrace change and seek out help from those who may offer a new perspective or alternative solutions. The song also advocates for seeking medical assistance from professionals with diverse backgrounds, highlighting the value of medical expertise that is more culturally responsive and attuned to the needs of different communities.

The chorus repeats the phrase, "You can stay in the dark," which symbolizes ignorance and a lack of willingness to learn or change. The subsequent call for an African doctor emphasizes the importance of diverse voices, backgrounds, and perspectives in shaping solutions and helping people progress. The repetition of the phrase, "We don't need no relation," could refer to a refusal to rely only on established or familial relationships, but instead be open to new connections and partnerships.

The lyrics specifically mention "Doctor Lester," who is a "real good" medical doctor and the "African doctor." This representation of an African medical professional who can provide effective care highlights the importance of including diverse cultural perspectives in the medical field. The song recognizes the potential that lies in alternative solutions and the need for more diverse representation in all fields.

Overall, the song poignantly encourages listeners to be open to change and embrace diverse perspectives, not only for personal growth but also for the benefit of the communities they serve.

Line by Line Meaning

You can stay in the dark, brother
It's okay if you want to remain in ignorance, my brother.

You can stay in the dark
You have the freedom to ignore what's going on around you.

You can stay in the dark, sister
It's your right to not understand, my sister.

I called for the African doctor
I reached out for help from an African healer.

Just to play a part for me
To be a support or acting role in my life journey.

He told me that's an easy thing to do
He reassured me that helping me was simple.

He told me, we don't need no relation
He stated that we don't have to be related to have a connection.

We don't want no relation
We don't desire a connection based on blood or family ties.

We don't need no relation
There's no requirement for a familial bond to exist between us.

We don't want no relation
We don't have a wish for genetic ties to each other.

Doctor Lester
A reference to the African doctor named Lester.