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.
Don't Trouble
Toots and The Maytals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ah
I want you to know that I am the man
Who fight for the right, not for the wrong
Going there, I'm growing there
Helping the weak against the strong
I'm supposed to be
Help this man, don't trouble no man
But if you trouble that man it will bring a bam bam
What a bam bam, bam bam
See that? Bam bam
It will bring a bam bam
Can you see that?
Ah
(It will bring a bam bam)
What a bam bam
(What a bam bam)
Can you see that?
(What a bam bam)
Hear what I say
(What a bam bam)
Yeah, hey
(What a bam bam)
(What a bam bam)
This man, don't trouble no man
He know you go to nourish man
This man, don't trouble no man
This man is friend and is trying to trouble no man
That's if you trouble this man
It going to bring a bam bam
What a bam bam
Get a bam bam
The Toots and The Maytals song "Don't Trouble Trouble" is about a man who fights for justice and helps those in need. He doesn't want to cause trouble, but warns that if you trouble him, it will result in a "bam bam". This is a reference to violence or a physical altercation. The lyrics illustrate the importance of being kind and peaceful, and not resorting to violence unless absolutely necessary.
The song suggests that there is a certain type of strength in kindness and helping others, rather than resorting to violence. The line "Helping the weak against the strong" emphasizes the importance of standing up for what is right and fighting against injustice. This is a message that continues to be important today, as we face many social and political issues.
Toots Hibbert, the lead singer of Toots and The Maytals, was known for his soulful voice and his ability to blend various genres of music including reggae, ska, and rocksteady. The band was a major influence on the development of reggae music, and their music continues to be popular today.
Line by Line Meaning
Bam, Bam
Expressing a sense of urgency or emphasis.
I want you to know that I am the man
Asserting oneself as a capable and responsible individual.
Who fight for the right, not for the wrong
Emphasizing a commitment to justice and morality.
Going there, I'm growing there
Adapting and improving oneself in various situations and experiences.
Helping the weak against the strong
Advocating for the vulnerable and oppressed.
Soon you will find out the man
Implying that the singer's actions will speak for themselves.
I'm supposed to be
Highlighting the singer's potential and identity.
Help this man, don't trouble no man
Encouraging cooperation and positive social behavior.
But if you trouble that man it will bring a bam bam
Warning against negative consequences for mistreating others.
What a bam bam, bam bam
Reinforcing the notion of strong, forceful impact.
See that? Bam bam
Further emphasizing the impact and warning against it.
Can you see that?
Challenging the listener to fully grasp the message.
This man, don't trouble no man
Reiterating the importance of treating others well.
He know you go to nourish man
Suggesting that the singer understands the needs of others and aims to provide for them.
This man is friend and is trying to trouble no man
Affirming that the singer is a friendly and cooperative individual.
That's if you trouble this man
Clarifying the specific situation in which one should not provoke the artist.
It going to bring a bam bam
Repeating the warning against consequences for negative actions.
Get a bam bam
Conveying the potential for violent retaliation.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FREDERICK HIBBERT, RALPHUS HENRY GORDON, NATHANIEL MCCARTHY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind