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).
Premature
Toots & The Maytals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let her go right home
She's underage
She's not fit for the preacher
Let the girl go go home
Let her go right home
She's underage
She's not fit for the Preacher
To see the sweet carnal show
Lord she's the one little girl
Her mother ever had
And I'm the one little son
My father ever had
Mmm,hmm
Mmm,hmm
Let the girl go home
Let her go right home
She's underage
She's not fit for the preacher
She's only 14 going to 15
Lord she's the one little girl
Her mama ever had
I'm the one little son
My father ever had
Mmm,hmm
Mmm,hmm
As telling through the prophecy
Brother Moses tell it to me
As telling through the prophecy
Revelation rock it to me
Let the girl go home
Let her go right home
She's underage
She's not fit for the Preacher
Only adults can go
To see the sweet carnal show
Lord she's the one little girl
Her mama ever had
And I'm the one little son
My father ever had
Mmm,hmm
Mmm,hmm
If everybody premature
They're walking and singing
And begging for more
If everybody premature
They're walking and singing
And laughing for more
As telling through the prophecy
Moses tell it to me
As telling through the prophecy
Revelation rock it to me
You see the children shall be having children
You see the children shall be having children
You see the children shall be having children
Children children children
Children children children
Children children children
Children children children
A whole lot of children
Children
As telling through the prophecy
Mother tell it to me
As telling through the prophecy
Rastaman sock it to me
The song "Premature" by Toots & the Maytals tackles the issue of underage girls being seduced into sexual relationships with much older men, specifically those who are in positions of power like preachers. The lyrics suggest that these girls' innocence and youth should be protected, as they are not yet fit for such experiences. The repeated refrain of "let the girl go home" emphasizes the importance of letting these young girls return to their families and not be taken advantage of by older men.
Toots & the Maytals also speak to the larger societal issue of children having children, as suggested by the lines "you see the children shall be having children". This suggests a cyclical and ongoing problem, where young girls are not only exploited by older men but also have their futures limited by unwanted pregnancies.
Overall, "Premature" is a warning to those who would prey on young girls and a call for society to do better in protecting their safety and well-being.
Line by Line Meaning
Let the girl go home
Allow the girl to go back to her residence
Let her go right home
Let her go straight to her house
She's underage
The girl is below the legal age limit
She's not fit for the preacher
The girl is not suitable for the clergyman
Only adults can go
Only mature individuals are allowed
To see the sweet carnal show
To witness an erotic exhibition
Lord she's the one little girl
She is the only daughter of her mother
Her mother ever had
Her mother only gave birth to her
And I'm the one little son
I am the sole male offspring of my father
My father ever had
My father only had me as his son
Mmm,hmm
Expressing agreement or approval
She's only 14 going to 15
The girl's age is between 14 and 15
As telling through the prophecy
As revealed through divine prediction
Brother Moses tell it to me
Moses, the prophet, inform me
Revelation rock it to me
The book of Revelation enlighten me
If everybody premature
If everyone is immature or premature
They're walking and singing
They are roaming and chanting
And begging for more
And pleading for additional things
They're walking and singing
They are wandering and singing
And laughing for more
And laughing wanting more
You see the children shall be having children
The young ones will be producing offspring
Children children children
Many children
A whole lot of children
Numerous children
Mother tell it to me
The mother narrate it to me
Rastaman sock it to me
A Rastafarian man inform me
Contributed by Callie K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@07311986
Clara's Heart brought me here. And I am so glad it did.
@Katzi_
Me too!
@giusymastrogiacomo4879
Great! I 've got the title
@tanakasikwila5613
Reggae got soul.....my first vinyl collection!!!
@waydzgenesisvevo
I almost missed my final exam paper in 1983 because of this song. A great masterpiece
@tafimutekwe2855
Hahahaha why? What were you doing?Listening to the radio? Indeed Toots was the master of song.
@LouisNamukamba-oi2bk
Wonderful,will shine ever
@mami204many8
Lord you are merciful.'lve been looking for this song for ages.
@selloledwaba4796
RIP Frederick Toots Hibbert
@kingofhiphop1000
I thought he was still alive. Pls when did he pass ??? Oh my GOD I,m crying right now..I always felt I would meet him one day !! Damn !!!