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).
Careless Ethiopians
Toots & The Maytals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Have gone astray
So much carless Ethiopians
Have gone away
Hey Hey
They calling up an anti Christ each night and day
Pray for a god to come from outer space
So much carless Ethiopians
Have gone astray
So much carless Ethiopians
Have lost their way
Are you coming my way? (x2)
I said I wonder what you do
You gotta come my way
Come my way
Is they know not where they're going?
They've gone astray
The lyrics to Toots & The Maytals's song "Careless Ethiopians" seem to refer to the struggles and hardships of the Ethiopian people. The repetition of "so much careless Ethiopians have gone astray" speaks to the chaos that many Ethiopians may have felt during a time of war or political upheaval. The line "they're calling up an anti-Christ each night and day, pray for a god to come from outer space" seems to suggest a loss of faith in traditional religion and a yearning for a savior to come and fix their problems from an external source. The use of the word "anti-Christ" adds a sense of danger and desperation, as if the Ethiopians are willing to turn to anything for salvation.
The repetition of "have gone astray" and "have lost their way" emphasizes the theme of confusion and hopelessness. The question "are you coming my way?" can be interpreted as a plea for help or guidance for someone, possibly a leader or a figurehead, to come and lead them out of their struggles. The final line "they know not where they're going, they've gone astray" reinforces the idea that the Ethiopian people have lost their direction and are in need of guidance to find their way again.
Overall, the song seems to be a commentary on the struggles of the Ethiopian people in times of turmoil and uncertainty. The repetition of certain lines adds to the sense of chaos and desperation that the lyrics evoke.
Line by Line Meaning
So much carless Ethiopians
There are numerous careless Ethiopians
Have gone astray
They have gone off the path
So much carless Ethiopians
There are numerous careless Ethiopians
Have gone away
They have disappeared
Hey Hey
Indicates enthusiasm and attention
They calling up an anti Christ each night and day
They are invoking the anti-Christ every day and night
Pray for a god to come from outer space
They are praying for a God to come from space
So much carless Ethiopians
There are numerous careless Ethiopians
Have gone astray
They have gone off the path
So much carless Ethiopians
There are numerous careless Ethiopians
Have lost their way
They are lost and uncertain of their direction
Are you coming my way? (x2)
Asking the listener if they will come along
I said I wonder what you do
Wondering about the listener's actions
You gotta come my way
You have to come with me
Come my way
Inviting the listener to follow
Is they know not where they're going?
They don't know where they are going
They've gone astray
They are lost and have strayed from the path
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FREDERICK HIBBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@leonardantonio6111
Still listening this song since 1996 when I was at secondary school. RIP pioneer of reggae music.
@elisaabolafia9542
My favorite song by Toots โฃ๏ธ๐ต
@dreemeagle
powerful from one of the pioneers of reggae;
@jhaenga2330
I is coming your way , astray , but now on my way , Bless n praise's to the Most High from NZ Native ๐ฅ
@welingtonairessantos4412
Puts. Que pedrada รฉ essa ๐๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ง๐ท Bar do Nelson 2021 toca muito.
@rastamindmusic
Bar do Nelson โค๏ธ
@Mr100258
Classic reggae music from one our eminent musical masters. This song and the relevance thereof will always be valid. Respect for the posting.
@laviniapahulu
when I was 12years old this album was released
our sounds of the 80s
wanna be street kid even
thanks .. these are memorabilia for me
@onatural7475
BAR DO NELSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! O MELHOR DO MARANHรO!!!!
@lawrencenjawe1935
Unforgettable track from an eminent master and unshakeable genius of reggae.