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.
Got to Be There
Toots and The Maytals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you've been weeping and wailing
Naughty, naughty
Who knows how that love had to linger on, somebody help
Got to be there
Got to be there
Got to be there
When the roll is called for your fate, aah (I feel the spirit)
If you go the bad way (I feel the spirit)
You must prepare to get bad pay (I feel the spirit)
The seed you sow, girl, thank God (I feel the spirit)
This you shall surely reap, my brother and sister, listen (I feel the spirit)
Oh, oh, hey, got to be there
Got to be there
Got to be there
Just to answer to your name when the roll is called for your fate
Lord have mercy now (I feel the spirit)
My brother Moses got to be there (I feel the spirit)
Also brother Peter got to be there (I feel the spirit)
The sinners got to be there, listen (I feel the spirit)
I've got to be there too, I've got to be there too, you know (I feel the spirit)
Got to be there
Got to be there
Got to be there
Just to answer to your name when the roll is called for your fate, hey, hey
Let me tell you now
Oh, ah, yeah
If you are from Canada
If you are from America (I feel the spirit)
If you are from Africa (I feel the spirit)
If you are from Jamaica (I feel the spirit)
You got to be there
Got to be there
Got to be there
Just to answer to your name when the roll is called for your fate
The song "Got to Be There" by Toots and The Maytals is a gospel-esque song that talks about the importance of being prepared, doing good deeds, and living a righteous life because in the end, we all have to answer for our actions. The lyrics suggest that if we live our lives devoting ourselves to kind acts, then we will be rewarded when our fate is called, and on the other hand, if we choose to take the wrong path, we must be prepared to face bad outcomes.
The singer asks the listeners to take responsibility for their actions and sow good seeds. It is vital to remember that whatever we sow, we shall reap. The chorus repeatedly reinforces the importance of being there, indicating that it is crucial to do all we can to be present when our fate is being called.
The song ends on a note of universality, stating that it does not matter where one is from or what one's background is. Regardless of where we come from or who we are, we all must be prepared to answer to our name when our fate is being called. The ultimate message is one of responsibility, kindness, and personal commitment to living a life that upholds those values.
Line by Line Meaning
Lord I must know
I need to understand
If you've been weeping and wailing
Have you been upset and sad?
Naughty, naughty
You've been behaving badly
Who knows how that love had to linger on, somebody help
Who can say why love lasts? Can anyone give me an answer?
Got to be there
It is necessary to be present
Just to answer to your name (I feel the spirit)
To respond when your name is called (I am moved by the Holy Spirit)
When the roll is called for your fate, aah (I feel the spirit)
When the list is read for judgment day (I am moved by the Holy Spirit)
If you go the bad way (I feel the spirit)
If you choose the wrong path (I am moved by the Holy Spirit)
You must prepare to get bad pay (I feel the spirit)
You will suffer consequences for your actions (I am moved by the Holy Spirit)
The seed you sow, girl, thank God (I feel the spirit)
Be grateful for the choices you make, they will shape your future (I am moved by the Holy Spirit)
This you shall surely reap, my brother and sister, listen (I feel the spirit)
You will experience the consequences of your actions, my siblings, pay attention (I am moved by the Holy Spirit)
Lord have mercy now (I feel the spirit)
May God have mercy on us (I am moved by the Holy Spirit)
My brother Moses got to be there (I feel the spirit)
Moses must be present (I am moved by the Holy Spirit)
Also brother Peter got to be there (I feel the spirit)
Peter must be present (I am moved by the Holy Spirit)
The sinners got to be there, listen (I feel the spirit)
Even the sinners must be present, listen (I am moved by the Holy Spirit)
I've got to be there too, I've got to be there too, you know (I feel the spirit)
I must be present as well, you know (I am moved by the Holy Spirit)
Oh, ah, yeah
Expression of affirmation
If you are from Canada
Regardless of where you come from
If you are from America (I feel the spirit)
Even if from America (I am moved by the Holy Spirit)
If you are from Africa (I feel the spirit)
Even if from Africa (I am moved by the Holy Spirit)
If you are from Jamaica (I feel the spirit)
Even if from Jamaica (I am moved by the Holy Spirit)
Just to answer to your name when the roll is called for your fate
It is necessary to be present and accounted for on judgment day
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Frederick Hibbert
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Eddy manijean
Lord, I must know.
If you've been weeping and wailing,
Naughty, naughty.
Who knows how that love had to linger on.
Got to be there.
Got to be there.
Got to be there.
Just to answer to your name,
When the roll is called for your fate.
If you go the bad way,
You must prepare to get bad pay.
The seed you sow, girl,
This you shall surely reap,
My brother and sister.
Got to be there.
Got to be there.
Got to be there.
Just to answer to your name,
When the roll is called for your fate
Lord, have mercy now. (I feel the Spirit)
Brother Moses got to be there.
Also brother Peter got to be there.
The sinners got to be there.
I've got to be there too.
Got to be there.
Got to be there.
Got to be there.
Just to answer to your name,
When the roll is called for your fate.
(..)
If you are from Canada.
If you are from America.
If you are from Africa.
If you are from Jamaica.
You got to be there.
Got to be there.
Got to be there.
Just to answer to your name,
When the roll is called for your fate..
Arlena F.
Sing it Toots!!! Love this song. May of this year was the first time I ever heard this song at a Bunny Wailer concert in NYC. Love it ever since.
raphael rousso
Yeah sing it Toots , gift us til the end of time !!!
mikigamba
I love this song, and for me In the Dark it's the best album from Toots Hibbert and The Maytals
Alexander Becker
@Lawrence Njawe I also love Pass the Pipe. Another album perfect from start to finish.
Lawrence Njawe
Agreed. Although some critics point to Funky Kingston. But this one is my favorite...
kirk cavenaugh
One of the best albums ever........
Crispymenace
the guitar in this gets me every time..
so good.
cheers.
Cal Lat Man 1963
RIP Toots Hibbert. You are a genius, and you blessed us with your music.
kirk cavenaugh
Best vibes ever.. I love u toots
Don't Hate Just Appreciate
RIP LEGEND MUSIC WILL LIVE ON 💯💯💯❤❤