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).
Pomp and Pride
Toots & The Maytals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cryin out (cry out)
Calm down (calm down)
Have your pomps and pride
Calm down (calm down)
Calm down (calm down)
Have your pomps and pride
Everybody just
Calm down (calm down)
Have your pomps and pride
Is it an opulin, Iceland, calm down
Have your pomps and pride
For today, today, today is a happy day
For tonight tonight, can be another night
Do re mi fah so la te do
Everybody's just crying crying
Sighing sighing
Dying to see the light
And when they see it, they see it's not bright
Can this be right?
Everybody just
Calm down (calm down)
Calm down (calm down)
Have your pomps and pride
Is it an opulin, Iceland, calm down (have no idea what he says here)??
Calm down
Have your pomps and pride
The song "Pomp and Pride" by Toots & The Maytals has a clear message of calming down and having pride in oneself despite external pressures. The repetition of the phrase "calm down" emphasizes the need for composure and not being overwhelmed by the chaos of the world. The lyrics suggest that people are constantly "crying out" and seeking validation from others, but they should instead have confidence in their own achievements and identity. The use of the word "pomps" possibly refers to material possessions or status, but it could also be interpreted as the ego or self-importance that hinders personal growth.
Toots & The Maytals' use of the musical scale (Do re mi fah so la te do) adds a playful tone to the serious subject matter of the lyrics. The repeated line "Is it an opulin, Iceland" is a nod to the nonsensical phrases often heard in Jamaican music. This phrase is believed to be a reference to "opulence" and a place that is unattainable, highlighting the futility of striving for unattainable goals. The song's refrain "today is a happy day, for tonight tonight can be another night" suggests that each day should be appreciated and not taken for granted as life is fleeting.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody just
Everyone is doing the same thing
Cryin out (cry out)
We are all desperately trying to find something
Calm down (calm down)
Take a break and don't be so anxious
Have your pomps and pride
Be confident and proud of who you are
Is it an opulin, Iceland, calm down
Unclear meaning or instruction
For today, today, today is a happy day
Today is always a reason to celebrate
For tonight tonight, can be another night
There will be more opportunities to celebrate in the future
Do re mi fah so la te do
Musical interlude
Everybody's just crying crying
We are all searching and crying out for something
Sighing sighing
We are all tired and exhausted from searching
Dying to see the light
We are all desperate to find clarity and a way forward
And when they see it, they see it's not bright
Sometimes the answers we find are not what we expected
Can this be right?
Questioning the validity of the situation
Calm down (calm down)
Take a break and don't be so anxious
Have your pomps and pride
Be confident and proud of who you are
Is it an opulin, Iceland, calm down (have no idea what he says here)??
Unclear meaning or instruction
Calm down
Take a break and don't be so anxious
Have your pomps and pride
Be confident and proud of who you are
Lyrics © PIGFACTORY USA LLC
Written by: FREDERICK HIBBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RJ-og3cu
I did not grow up on this music, I found it on my own, I could not be happier, yet also sad I did not find it sooner.
@donnamaria4882
Better late than never, right...reggae forever :-)
@tanguyfabeck8128
Rest easy Toots, thanks for what you have brought to the music world 🙏💖
@Gretsch52
RIP Toots Hibbert. A great loss indeed.
@tmooxo7957
This song never fails to sort my head out. Rest in rhythm king x
@whut-da
Concur. It's the greatest feel-good song ever written.
@shelonibryan2097
Who else listening this music in 2020...☝️
@clarabellmurray9577
Me
@jojimaya3516
Me bro , Me ✌️👍
@bojonerewel
me from indonesia ✌🏻