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).
Night And Day
Toots & The Maytals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wonder if the time can come
Night and day and night
I wonder if the time can come, money
So I sit alone in life's memory
Just outside of the world I know
So I stand at peace
Wonder why they want to stop
Want to stop my life
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Night and day
Night and day and night
I wonder if the time can come
Yeah, you some love my friend
Yeah, you'll get good lovin' my friend
You may want some lovin', my friend, yeah
You'll get good lovin' my friend
The lyrics of Toots & The Maytals's song "Night And Day" appear to discuss the cyclical passage of time - night and day - and the hope that with the passing of time, positive change will come upon the world. The singer wonders if the time for change will arrive, possibly referring to a deeper, spiritual change that will transform the world. The repetition of "night and day" throughout the song emphasizes the theme of time and the uncertainty of when change may occur. The use of the word "money" may signify the influence of money and power on the world, and the impact it has on people's ability to make a positive difference.
The singer is alone, contemplating the world that they know, and standing at peace while watching the wickedness and corruption of others. The line "Wonder why they want to stop, want to stop my life" suggests that the singer feels some sort of opposition or confrontation directed towards them due to their desire for positive change in the world. Despite this, the singer encourages their friend to seek "good lovin'," which possibly highlights the importance of love and unity in the pursuit of positive change.
Overall, "Night And Day" is a song that reflects on the cyclical nature of time and the possibility of change, with an emphasis on the impact of money and power on the world. It encourages listeners to seek love and unity in the face of opposition.
Line by Line Meaning
Night and day and night
The singer ponders about the time and its fleeting nature, which seems to pass quickly regardless of the time of day.
I wonder if the time can come
The singer is questioning whether their desired outcome will ever materialize.
Night and day and night
The cycle of time repeats itself and the singer continues to ponder the inevitable passing of time.
I wonder if the time can come, money
The artist wonders if money will play a role in bringing about the desired outcome.
So I sit alone in life's memory
The artist is alone with their thoughts and memories of life.
Just outside of the world I know
The singer feels disconnected from the world they know and everything outside of their own thoughts and memories.
So I stand at peace
The singer finds peace within themselves despite their inner turmoil.
Watching those wicked creep, yeah
The artist is observing those who are doing wrong and causing harm.
Wonder why they want to stop
The artist is curious about the motivations of those who wish to bring them down or hinder their progress.
Want to stop my life
The artist feels that those who wish to stop them are trying to take away their livelihood or prevent them from achieving success.
Night and day
The cycle of time continues relentlessly, regardless of the singer's struggles.
Yeah, you some love my friend
The artist reassures their friend that they have their love and support.
Yeah, you'll get good lovin' my friend
The singer promises their friend that they will receive the love and affection they deserve.
You may want some lovin', my friend, yeah
The singer acknowledges that their friend may be in need of love and affection.
You'll get good lovin' my friend
The singer reassures their friend that they will receive love and comfort from them.
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FREDERICK HIBBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind