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.
Get up Stand up
Toots and The Maytals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Get up, stand up now
Get up now, get up now
Get up, stand up now
Get up now, get up, stand up now
Get up, stand up
I say get up, stand up
I was going to see my love
I was going
Get ready brother
Get ready sister
I was going to see my love
I was flowing
Get on the morning train,
For the evening train will be too late
Get on the morning train
For the evening train will be too late
That won't help
Where is the evening train?
That won't help
Where is the evening train?
Sitting in the broiling sun
Waiting for the day to come
Wishing for the night to come
That won't help
Sitting int he broiling sun
That won't help
Wishing for the night to come
That won't help
Get up now, get up now
Get up now
Get up, stand up now
Sitting inside a soul
Crying every day for more
Sitting inside a soul
Crying every day for more
But that won't help
Crying every day for more
That won't help
Fire burning in the soul
Burning out of control
Fire burning in the soul
Burning out of control
That won't help
Toots and The Maytals' song "Get Up Stand Up" is a call to action, urging listeners to stand up for themselves and their beliefs. The lyrics begin with a repetitive call to "get up now" and "stand up now," emphasizing the importance of taking action and not waiting for others to make changes. The song encourages people to prepare themselves for change, even if it means leaving behind familiar places or routines. The first verse describes a man who is preparing to see his love, but also urging his brothers and sisters to get ready for what is to come.
The lyrics then shift to a more general message, urging listeners to take action before it's too late. The chorus emphasizes the importance of standing up for oneself: "Get up, stand up; I say get up, stand up." The second verse describes someone sitting in the sun, waiting for change to come, but the lyrics suggest that waiting passively will not help. Instead, the song encourages action, even if it means crying every day for more. The final lines of the song describe a fire burning out of control, suggesting that the passion of those who stand up for themselves and their beliefs can become a powerful force for change.
Overall, "Get Up Stand Up" is a powerful call to action, urging listeners to stand up for themselves and their beliefs, and to take action to create change in the world. Its message of empowerment and resistance has made it a popular protest song, and it continues to resonate with listeners today.
Line by Line Meaning
Get up now,
Don't waste time, it's time to act
Get up, stand up now
Don't be afraid to stand up for what's right
Get up now, get up now
Come on, let's get moving
Get up, stand up now
We have to stand up for ourselves
Get up now, get up, stand up now
We can't wait any longer, we have to act now
Get up, stand up
Let's take a stand against oppression
I say get up, stand up
I'm urging you to take action
I was going to see my love
I had a destination in mind
I was going
I had a mission to accomplish
Get ready brother
Prepare yourself, we're about to do something
Get ready sister
Get ready, we're going to take a stand
Get on the morning train,
Take action now, don't wait
For the evening train will be too late
Procrastination won't lead to change
That won't help
Sitting and waiting won't make a difference
Where is the evening train?
Don't rely on a later opportunity that may not come
Sitting in the broiling sun
We can't just wait for change to happen on its own
Waiting for the day to come
We have to take action to bring about change
Wishing for the night to come
Hoping for change without action won't work
Sitting inside a soul
Feeling stuck and powerless
Crying every day for more
Wanting change but not doing anything to make it happen
Fire burning in the soul
A passion for change and justice
Burning out of control
Driven and unstoppable in the fight for change
That won't help
Feeling passionate without action won't lead to change
Get up now
Don't wait, act now
Get up, stand up now
Stand up for your rights and for change
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Frederick Hibbert
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bickliffe Oba
Rest in peace and mercy, Toots Frederick Hibbert. You made your time on earth worthwhile!
Stacey Rata
He will be jammin with the Mighty Angels of JAH Gone but never forgotten
Darlene Calixte
Toots is an amazing man spiritual man you can hear it and feel it in his music
Cass Tutsch
Favorite Toots track right here! What a vibe!
Marc Lavigne
Après toutes ces années, tu reste toujours une inspiration pour moi, toi qui sait si bien habiter l'espace avec ta voix magnifique... Et soudain la magie s'installe, une piste de danse apparait sous mes pieds... Et je rêve d'un paradis, d'une
vibration universelle...
edipo mota simoes
Foi um dos melhores 👏👏👏
susan halperin
this is one of the most treasured and important songs in my life
Joseph Nkitseng
One of the greatest songs off all times. Toots and the Maytals. Been looking for this song all my life.
susan halperin
you are right
William Filer
We used to cover this tune back in the day. I haven't heard it in years. I hear Toots even at Starbucks, sigh, but not this gem.