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.
Hey Jude
Toots and The Maytals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better
Hey Jude, don't be afraid
You were made to go out and get her
The minute you let her under your skin
And anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain
Don't carry the world upon your shoulders
For well you know that it's a fool who plays it cool
By making his world a little colder
Hey Jude, don't let me down
You have found her, now go and get her
Remember to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better
So let it out and let it in, hey Jude, begin
You're waiting for someone to perform with
And don't you know that it's just you, hey Jude, you'll do
The movement you need is on your shoulder
Hey Jude, don't make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her under your skin
Then you'll begin to make it
Better better better better better better, oh
Na na na nananana, nannana, hey Jude
The lyrics of "Hey Jude" by Toots and The Maytals convey a message of comfort and encouragement to someone who may be going through a difficult time or experiencing emotional pain. The song begins by urging the individual to not let their situation become worse and to instead take a sad song and transform it into something better. The phrase "let her into your heart" suggests opening up to love or allowing oneself to be vulnerable. By doing so, the person can initiate the process of healing and improvement.
The second verse reinforces this idea by advising the person not to be fearful but instead pursue their desired outcome, symbolized by the object of their affections. The lyrics suggest that once this person is welcomed into their life, positive transformation can begin.
The chorus reassures the person that they don't have to bear the weight of the world on their shoulders. They are advised not to pretend to be unaffected or detached as it only creates a colder world for themselves. The lyrics emphasize the importance of embracing vulnerability and reaching out for support.
The bridge of the song highlights the need to express and release emotions. The line "let it out and let it in" encourages the person to acknowledge and process their feelings. They are then reminded that they don't need anyone else to make a change, as the power to improve their circumstances lies within themselves.
The final repetition of the chorus serves as a rallying call to take a sad situation and make it better. The phrase "na na na nananana, nannana" is a feel-good and uplifting chant that further reinforces the idea of transformation and empowerment.
Overall, "Hey Jude" can be seen as a song of hope, urging the listener to embrace vulnerability, seek support, and take control of their own personal growth and happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Jude, don't make it bad
Hey Jude, don't worsen the situation
Take a sad song and make it better
Find a way to improve a sad situation
Remember to let her into your heart
Don't shut her out, allow her inside your feelings
Then you can start to make it better
Once you let her in, you can begin to fix things
Hey Jude, don't be afraid
Hey Jude, don't be scared
You were made to go out and get her
You were meant to pursue and win her over
The minute you let her under your skin
As soon as you allow her to deeply affect you
Then you begin to make it better
Then you can start improving the situation
And anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain
Whenever you feel hurt, hey Jude, hold back
Don't carry the world upon your shoulders
Don't bear the weight of the whole world on your own
For well you know that it's a fool who plays it cool
Because you know it's foolish to act unemotional
By making his world a little colder
By making his own life less warm and loving
Hey Jude, don't let me down
Hey Jude, don't disappoint me
You have found her, now go and get her
You have discovered her, now pursue and win her
Remember to let her into your heart
Don't shut her out, allow her inside your feelings
Then you can start to make it better
Once you let her in, you can begin to fix things
So let it out and let it in, hey Jude, begin
Express your emotions and allow new experiences, hey Jude, start now
You're waiting for someone to perform with
You're waiting for someone to collaborate with
And don't you know that it's just you, hey Jude, you'll do
And don't you know it's only you who can do it, hey Jude
The movement you need is on your shoulder
The action or change you need is within your control
Hey Jude, don't make it bad
Hey Jude, don't worsen the situation
Take a sad song and make it better
Find a way to improve a sad situation
Remember to let her under your skin
Don't shut her out, allow her to deeply affect you
Then you'll begin to make it
Then you'll start to improve it
Better better better better better better, oh
Better in a progressively enhanced way, oh
Na na na nananana, nannana, hey Jude
Vocals without specific meaning
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Unison Rights S.L.
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rtrepsas
RIP, Toots Hibbert who left this earth in late 2021
@christinebroadhurst6376
Best way to move to this song!!
Reggae stylzzz
@K1mbokhmer
Ya man! This is the reggae lost in time!!!!
@glennjones2300
U can kiss this lol
@niklastup6629
yes i
@glennjones2300
You
@glennjones2300
Samsung who lol