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).
It Must Be True Love
Toots & The Maytals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I feel like loving too
When you feel like kissing
I feel like kissing too
When you feel like dancing
I feel like dancing with you
And this must be true
Tell me that you love me
'Cause I'm in love with you
Although it's the first time I met you
I feel like kissing with you
Just tell me that you love me
'Cause I'm in love with you
And this must be true
True love
Tell me that you love me
'Cause I'm in love with you
I've been kind you told me
You will love no one but me
Though it's the first time I met you
I feel like kissing with you
This must be true
True love
Tell me that you love me
'Cause I'm in love with you
I've been kind you told me
You will love no one but me
Just when you feel like kissing
I feel like kissing with you
And this must be true
True love
This must be true
True love
Toots & The Maytals's song "It Must Be True Love" is a classic love song that speaks to the connection between two people who are deeply in love with each other. The lyrics communicate the idea that the couple's feelings for one another are entirely mutual and they share a love that is true and pure. The song's opening lines reveal that whenever one partner feels like loving or kissing, the other feels the same way. This connection is further emphasized in the lines, "When you feel like dancing, I feel like dancing with you," which signifies how in sync the lovers are with each other.
The song also talks about the importance of communication, particularly when it comes to the expression of one's love for the other. The repeated refrain, "tell me that you love me 'cause I'm in love with you," highlights the fact that expressing love is crucial to the maintenance of the relationship. The lyrics also touch on the idea of exclusivity in relationships, as the singer mentions that his partner has told him she will only love him.
Overall, "It Must Be True Love" is a simple yet profound song that speaks directly to the hearts of lovers, reminding them of the beauty of being in a true, loving relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
When you feel like loving
I am ready to love you when you feel like loving
I feel like loving too
My love for you has always been there and I am ready to love you back
When you feel like kissing
Your desire to kiss me is reciprocated
I feel like kissing too
I too have the desire to kiss you
When you feel like dancing
I too am ready to dance with you when you want to
And this must be true
My love for you is pure and genuine
True love
This is what we have and it's real
Tell me that you love me
I want to hear that you love me
'Cause I'm in love with you
My love for you is strong
Although it's the first time I met you
Even though we just met, I have feelings for you
I feel like kissing with you
I have the desire to kiss you
I've been kind you told me
I have treated you well as you have informed me
You will love no one but me
You have declared your love for me and no one else
Just when you feel like kissing
Whenever you feel like kissing me
And this must be true
Our love cannot be anything but real
True love
Our love is true and genuine
This must be true
Our love is so strong that it must be true
True love
Our love is true and will endure
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FREDERICK HIBBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MikeRivals
First dance at my wedding...
RIP Toots... Legend for ever!
@PlushyPlay1
😢❤
@antoinedubernat9903
Probably the best wedding first dance ever
@indiekid19872
What a song. An absolute hero. R.I.P Toots
@brew6127
Such a wonderful song one of my all time favorites ..Toots just passed away today rest in peace Toots and thank you for the music .
@wzk6444
I love it so much I want to play it at my wedding.
@blessedreptiles
My wife and I got married to this!
@eternalcyclist1630
blessedreptiles me too.
@MorganeOb
I feel instantly happy and motivated when listening to this!
@philippejenvrin2741
Magnifique voix, belle instrumental!