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.
Let It Be
Toots and The Maytals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just like that
Let's get it together
I'm not saying I am right and you are wrong
Let's get it together, let's get it together
I'm not saying you are right and I am wrong
Let's get it together, get it together
We're right all the way, all way
Won't you give a little bit?
Talk a little bit? Yeah
Pull it together, together
The lyrics for Toots and The Maytals's song Let's Get It Together focuses on the importance of unity and working together towards a common goal, despite differences or disagreements. The repetition of the phrase "Let's get it together" emphasizes the urgency of coming together and finding a solution to whatever issue is at hand. The singer recognizes that both parties may have their own perspectives and opinions, but emphasizes the need to put those differences aside and work together.
The lines "We're right all the way, all way" suggests that both parties are capable of being correct in their own way, and that their combined efforts can lead to a greater outcome. The lyrics also ask for communication and compromise, with the lines "Won't you give a little bit? Talk a little bit?" suggesting that both parties need to be willing to listen and communicate their thoughts and feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Expressing agreement and enthusiasm for the upcoming call to action.
Just like that
Suggesting that the process will be easy if everyone cooperates and works together.
Let's get it together
Encouraging everyone to come together and work on a common goal.
I'm not saying I am right and you are wrong
Acknowledging that there may be differing opinions but emphasizing the need to find a solution together.
Let's get it together, let's get it together
Reiterating the call to action to work together.
I'm not saying you are right and I am wrong
Repeating the earlier acknowledgement of differing opinions and emphasizing the need to work together despite that.
Let's get it together, get it together
Emphasizing the need to come together and work on the issue at hand.
We're right all the way, all way
Asserting that the collective effort will lead to a positive outcome.
We're right all the way, all way
Repeating the previous assertion to strengthen the message.
Won't you give a little bit?
Asking for everyone to contribute and do their part in the process.
Talk a little bit? Yeah
Encouraging communication and discussion among everyone involved.
Pull it together, together
Reiterating the need to come together and work towards a common goal.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, BROADWAY MUSIC CORPORATION
Written by: FREDERICK HIBBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind