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.
Knock On Wood
Toots and The Maytals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I do, I will surely, I will lose a lot
For your love is better than any love other I've know
It's like thunder, lightning
The way you love me is frightening
I better knock on wood
Baby
I got superstitious about you, but I can't take change
You got me spinning, baby, spinning in a trance
But your love is better than any other love I've known
It's like thunder, lightning
The way you love me is frightening
You better knock on wood
It's no secret, but that woman fills my loving cup
She sees, so ready, that I get enough
And her love is better than any other love I've known
It's like thunder
It's like lightning
The way you love me is frightening
I better knock on wood
Baby
Better, yes, better
(yes you better knock, knock, knock on wood) yes, I better
(yes you better knock, knock, knock on wood) oh, knock on wood
(yes you better knock, knock, knock on wood) you know I would, would
(yes you better knock, knock, knock on wood) it's no secret
(yes you better knock, knock, knock on wood) no, oh, better
(yes you better knock, knock, knock on wood) hangin' above me
(yes you better knock, knock, knock on wood) I can't leave her
(yes you better knock, knock, knock on wood) oh no, baby
Knock on wood, woo!
The lyrics of Toots and The Maytals' song Knock on Wood express the fear of losing a good thing. The singer is in a relationship that they deem is better than any other love they have known. They feel lucky to have this love and do not want to lose it. The line "I better knock on wood" is an expression of their superstition, they believe that by knocking on wood, they can prevent the possibility of losing their good thing. The singer is also afraid of change and cannot imagine a situation that would threaten their good thing.
The singer describes their partner's love as lightning and thunder, something that is powerful and unique. They are in a trance that his lover has created and cannot get enough of them. The idea of lightning and thunder could mean that their partner's love brings excitement and passion into their life. The phrase "It's like thunder, lightning," is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the intensity of the love between the two people.
In conclusion, Knock on Wood is a song that expresses the fear of losing a good thing, the power of love, and the importance of knocking on wood to prevent bad luck. It's not just a song about superstition but also a message that reminds people to be grateful for the good things in their life and to appreciate them.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't want to lose the good thing that I've got
I am afraid of losing what I have with you, and I desire to keep it.
If I do, I will surely, I will lose a lot
Losing what I have with you would be a big loss.
For your love is better than any love other I've know
The love you give me is so exceptional that I have never had such a beautiful love experience.
It's like thunder, lightning
The power of your love is intimidating and electrifying.
The way you love me is frightening
The intensity and depth of your love is overwhelming.
I better knock on wood
I need to make sure that I don't jinx what I have with you.
I got superstitious about you, but I can't take change
I am becoming superstitious about what we have, but I don't want anything to change.
You got me spinning, baby, spinning in a trance
You have me enchanted and mesmerized by how much you love me.
It's no secret, but that woman fills my loving cup
Everyone knows that you complete me and have filled me with love.
She sees, so ready, that I get enough
You always make sure that I am satisfied and fulfilled with love.
Better, yes, better
Your love is better than anything else in the world.
(yes you better knock, knock, knock on wood) yes, I better
I need to acknowledge how lucky I am and not tempt fate.
(yes you better knock, knock, knock on wood) oh, knock on wood
I should knock on wood to avoid misfortune and keep things as they are.
(yes you better knock, knock, knock on wood) you know I would, would
I will definitely knock on wood because I don't want to lose what we have.
(yes you better knock, knock, knock on wood) it's no secret
Everyone knows that what we have is valuable and rare.
(yes you better knock, knock, knock on wood) no, oh, better
I am truly fortunate to have you and your love in my life.
(yes you better knock, knock, knock on wood) hangin' above me
I feel like something is hanging over me threatening to take our love away.
(yes you better knock, knock, knock on wood) I can't leave her
I am completely indebted and loyal to you, and I can't lose you.
(yes you better knock, knock, knock on wood) oh no, baby
I can't risk losing such a special and amazing love with you.
Knock on wood, woo!
I will knock on wood because having your love is too important to risk losing.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: EDDIE FLOYD, STEVE CROPPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind