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).
Célia
Toots & The Maytals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh Celia, you Celia
I left my home for four long years
And now I come back home
The woman I left in charge of my house
Has gone with everything
She took my knife and fork
And everything that's necessary
She's gone with everything
She took my bed, she took my spread
She took my pillows too
And everything that's necessary
She's gone with everything
Yeah Celi-Celi-Celia
Celia, Celia
Celia, oh Celia
Celia, oh Celia
I left my home for four long years
And now I come back home
The woman I left in charge of my home
She's gone with everything
She took my shoes, took my socks
Took my pants and shirt
And everything that's necessary
She's gone with everything
Oh Celia, oh Celia
Celia, Celia
Oh Celia, Celia
Celia, Celia
Oh Celia, oh Celia
I left my home for four long years
And now I come back home
The woman I left in charge of my house
She's gone with everything
She took my bed, she took my spread
She took my pillows, too
Ah everything that's necessary
She's gone with everything
Celia, oh Celia
Oh Celia, Celia
Oh Celia, oh Celia
Oh Celia, Celia
The song “Celia” by Toots & The Maytals is a classic reggae song about a man named Celia who has taken everything from the singer while he was away from home. The singer left his home for four long years and left a woman in charge of his house. Upon his return, he found that Celia had taken everything that was necessary for him to live, including his pop, plates, knife and fork, bed, spread, pillows, shoes, socks, pants and shirt.
However, the meaning behind the song goes beyond just the theft of the singer’s physical possessions. It is a commentary on how people can take advantage of those who are absent, and how trust can be broken when someone takes advantage of that absence. The repetition of the name “Celia” throughout the song gives a sense of disappointment and betrayal, as the singer trusted Celia to take care of his belongings and home while he was gone, yet she took advantage of his absence and took everything from him.
Overall, “Celia” is a timeless piece of reggae music that speaks to the universal themes of trust, betrayal, and the longing for home.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, Celia, Celia
The singer addresses someone named Celia, twice for emphasis.
Oh Celia, you Celia
The singer repeats Celia's name, showing familiarity and affection.
I left my home for four long years
The singer was away from home for a lengthy period of time.
And now I come back home
The singer returned to his home after being away.
The woman I left in charge of my house
The singer entrusted someone to take care of his home while he was gone.
Has gone with everything
The person the singer left in charge has taken everything and disappeared.
She took my pop, she took my plates
The person took the singer's food and eating utensils.
She took my knife and fork
The person took the singer's silverware.
And everything that's necessary
The person took all the essentials.
She took my bed, she took my spread
The person took the singer's bedding.
She took my pillows too
The person took the singer's pillows.
Yeah Celi-Celi-Celia
The singer repeats Celia's name, expressing shock or disbelief.
I left my home for four long years
The singer reiterates that he was away for a significant amount of time.
She took my shoes, took my socks
The person took the singer's footwear.
Took my pants and shirt
The person took the singer's clothing.
Oh Celia, oh Celia
The singer expresses sorrow and despair toward Celia.
Celia, Celia
The singer repeats Celia's name, still in disbelief.
Oh Celia, Celia
The singer continues to express distress toward Celia.
Celia, Celia
The singer repeats Celia's name, this time with frustration.
Oh Celia, oh Celia
The singer repeats Celia's name, conveying sadness towards her actions.
Lyrics © PIGFACTORY USA LLC
Written by: FREDERICK HIBBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@WyattC100
Hey
Celia, Celia
Oh Celia, you Celia
I left my home for four long years
And now I come back home.
The woman I left in charge of my house
Has gone with everything.
She took my pots.
She took my plates.
She took my knife and fork.
And everything that's necessary
She's gone with everything.
She took my bed.
She took my spread.
She took my pillows too.
And everything that's necessary
She's gone with everything.
Yeah Celi-Celi-Celia, Celia, Celia
Celia, oh Celia
Celia, oh Celia
I left my home for four long years
And now I come back home.
The woman I left in charge of my home
She's gone with everything.
She took my shoes,
Took my socks,
Took my pants and shirt.
And everything that's necessary
She's gone with everything.
Oh Celia
Oh Celia
Celia, Celia
Oh Celia
Celia
Celia, Celia
Oh Celia, oh Celia
I left my home for four long years
And now I come back home.
The woman I left in charge of my house
She's gone with everything.
She took my bed.
She took my spread.
She took my pillows, too.
Ah everything that's necessary
She's gone with everything.
Celia, oh Celia
Oh Celia, Celia
Oh Celia, oh Celia
Oh Celia, Celia
@ericcantona1699
RIP Toots. You've given me so much joy over the years. That won't change
@uncannyk8532
this track is so melodious.. peppy ... foot tapping .... so simple yet so hypnotic!
@jazzmasterjesus
i just started watching weeds recently... when they catch celia, and this comes on, I nearly jumped thru my roof... big ups for toots!
@Dunstire
The man who invented the term 'reggae' still going strong!
@adamruiz5789
Ahhh college. Heard this in a head shop and have been a devoted toots fan ever since! Great times with some great friends!
@enricomuratore9892
love always Toots. Jah live children
@christopherjohnquilla6144
I really love this song. . I miss Philippine bread. .:)
@zayed7210
weeds brought you guys here too?
@pamelagibson1272
Ye
@szollathpal
Zayed yep