Toots and The Maytals are from Kingston, Jamaica. It was the producer Byron Lee who 1971 renamed them Toots & the Maytals. Frederick "Toots" Hibbert, the leader of the group and the lead singer, was born in May Pen in the Parish of Clarendon, Jamaica. He was the youngest of seven children. He grew up singing gospel music in a church choir, but moved to Kingston in 1961 at the age of sixteen.
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 drug possession charges.
Following Hibbert's release from jail towards the end of 1967, the band 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" 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.
Toots and the Maytals' compositions 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.
In 2005, the band won a Grammy award for best reggae album for True Love, consisting of re-recorded versions of their classics alongside legendary musicians such as Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, and Keith Richards, as well as popular artists such as No Doubt, Ben Harper, The Roots, and Shaggy.
They also contributed to the Easy Star All-Stars album 'Radiodread' (a dub tribute to Radiohead's OK Computer).
In 2016 Toots and the Maytals announced a return to the stage with their first tour in 3 years,[35] and on June 15 at The Observatory North Park in San Diego the group returned to the stage for the first time since 2013.
In 2017 Toots and the Maytals played Coachella Fest April 16 and 23 at 4:20 pm. They became the second reggae-based group to perform at the Coachella festival, after Chronixx in 2016.
In 2018, Toots and the Maytals launched a 50th anniversary tour with concert appearances in North America from April to August, moving to dates in the UK starting in October.
On July 25, 2018 Toots and the Maytals debuted an original song entitled "Marley" live on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and also played the classic "Funky Kingston".
On August 24, 2018 Toots and the Maytals performed at Lockn’ Festival in Arrington, Virginia, where guest Taj Mahal accompanied them on the song “Monkey Man”.
Frontman "Toots" Hibbert died on 12 September 2020.
Dilly Dally
Toots and The Maytals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
dilly dally (x3)
...then you're gonna be late
You hear me say
Love all the way
All I will do
Love all the way
dumb dilly dally (x2)
Wait A Little (x3)
...then you're gonna be late
The lyrics of Toots and The Maytals's song Dilly Dally carries a clear message about the importance of acting promptly or else one might lose the opportunity forever. The repeating phrase "If you dilly dally" serves as a warning, suggesting that one should not waste time or procrastinate, as it can cause problems in one's personal or professional life. The lyrics also offer a message of love, encouraging listeners to embrace it fully and pursue it without hesitation. The phrase "Love all the way" implies the idea of wholehearted commitment to love and relationships, urging people to take action and avoid indecisiveness or vacillation.
The repetition in the lyrics is notable, with both phrases "dilly dally" and "wait a little" being repeated multiple times throughout the song. This repetition emphasizes the importance of the message and ensures that it sticks in the listener's mind. The use of the phrase "dumb dilly dally" also adds a sense of urgency and frustration, implying that failure to take action is not only lazy or hesitant but also foolish.
Overall, Toots and The Maytals's Dilly Dally is a simple and straightforward song with a direct message. It encourages listeners to take action, pursue love, and avoid procrastination in all areas of life.
Line by Line Meaning
If you dilly dally (x3)
If you hesitate and procrastinate (x3)
...then you're gonna be late
...then you will not arrive on time
You hear me say
I am telling you
Love all the way
Express love with full devotion
All I will do
Love is all I will do
Love all the way
Express love with full devotion
dumb dilly dally (x2)
senseless hesitation and delay (x2)
If you Wait A Little (x3)
If you delay even a little (x3)
...then you're gonna be late
...then you will not arrive on time
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FREDERICK HIBBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
littlebigbrain
Off one of Toots greatest albums that gets a party swinging. Still got the record. Thanks for posting
Davou Gyang
How I wish can meet with tooth's one on one,my best reggae star
Zack Adye
Listening to Toots always brings back my childhood memories.
Liz Munt
So sad he passed. R. I. P. I love toots. Condolences to his family and friends xxxxxxxxxx
zilst mennekeb
great song! love it
Sam Keefe
Wow what can I say, legend, music, voice, pioneer of reggae, another masterpiece of time kia kaha from aetearoa (NZ) CHEERS
FIGOTA75
I love this song thank you for the upload!!!
Chico Romão
Linda musica Dilly Dally com o Toots and the maytalys.
Naia Toby
When I'm sad I always sing this song to my papa he passed away never forget u papa R.I.P
blue velvet
♥️🎶🎵☀️♥️