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).
Monkey Man
Toots & The Maytals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell you baby,
You huggin' up the big monkey man
You huggin' up the big monkey man
I've seen no sign of you, I've only heard that you huggin' up the big monkey man
I've seen no sign of you, I've only heard that you huggin' up the big monkey man
Is not lie, is not lie, them a tell me, you huggin' up the big monkey man
Now I know that, now I understand, you turnin' a monkey on me
Now I know that, now I understand, you turnin' a monkey on me
Toots & The Maytals’s "Monkey Man" is a song that tells a story of a man who has discovered that his lover is cheating on him with someone who is referred to as the "big monkey man." The song opens with the repetition of "Ay ay ay, ay ay ay," which is a sound of dismay or sad realization. The lyrics suggest that the singer has not physically seen any indication of his lover's infidelity but has only heard rumors of her "huggin' up" with the monkey man. The phrase "huggin' up" carries the connotation of intimacy, which implies that his lover is being unfaithful with the monkey man.
The lyrics of the chorus repeat the phrase "Is not lie, is not lie, them a tell me, you huggin' up the big monkey man." This repetition amplifies the singer's sense of betrayal and disbelief that the rumors may actually be true. Towards the end of the song, the singer seems to come to terms with the situation and recognizes that his lover is "turnin' a monkey on" him, which is a Jamaican slang expression for "playing him."
Line by Line Meaning
Ay ay ay, ay ay ay,
The singer expresses a sense of shock and disbelief at what he has heard.
Tell you baby,
The singer addresses his lover while expressing the urgency of what he's about to say.
You huggin' up the big monkey man
The singer accuses his lover of cheating on him with another man.
I've seen no sign of you, I've only heard that you huggin' up the big monkey man
The singer has not caught his lover in the act, but has heard rumors.
Is not lie, is not lie, them a tell me, you huggin' up the big monkey man
The singer confirms that the rumors he heard are true.
Now I know that, now I understand, you turnin' a monkey on me
The singer realizes that his lover has betrayed him and he feels disrespected.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: FREDERICK HIBBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lduranceau8046
I first heard this song in 1970, at a Jamaican party. I sent away to Jamaica for the album, which was not available in my area at the time. I treasured this record for many years. One of my all-time favorites. RIP Toots Hibbert, we'll always love you.
@dianal235
This cut is on a CD I bought at the airport as I was heading off to India to see Sri Karunamayi Divine Mother, and one of the first of such purchases I made after a lot of personal crises had been taken on by Her giving me the freedom to make my own choices, Jai Karunamayi! The album is WONDERFUL WORLD BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE 🙏🌏🌎🌍❤🕉️☮️🙏
BEAUTIFUL
@NYVoice
See ya Toots. Your musical footprint is firmly planted in history.
@90sbaby1
...its been a month??? God 😢
@elizabetheden2088
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@cristinarossi7367
Word!!!
@jackduncan4228
Toots was a genius. He wrote some of reggaes greatest songs.
@thomasbest8599
Pressure gonna drop on you
@mrcodhead67
Ah, man.
Bad news, today.
RIP Toots Hibbert and massive thanks for your music.
@elizabetheden2088
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