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.
Preacher
Toots and The Maytals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kneeling, oh kneeling
Oh, kneeling, oh, kneeling under ever loving ways
[Incomprehensible]
Kneeling, ooh kneeling
Oh, kneeling, oh, kneeling, kneeling under ever loving ways
Like I'm going to cry right now
Feel I'm going to lose, lose my mind
Feel I'm going to cry, cry right now
And he said, "Sister
You better come fall down on your knees and pray for all your sins"
And he said, "Brother
You know you're fitting for thy kingdom"
Just like when Joshua commanded stood still
He didn't, stood still
And I said "Father
Please, please, please have mercy upon me"
'Cause I got to, got to, got to
Kneeling, ooh kneeling
Oh, oh kneeling, kneeling under ever loving ways
Everybody sing the song
Kneeling, oh, oh kneeling
And God said, let there be light, oh yeah
And God divided the dark from the light
And the light He called day
And the darkness He called night
So the evening and the morning was the first day
God created the heaven, sand and earth
And this earth was without form and void
'Cause I got to, got to, got to
Kneeling, ooh, oh kneeling
Oh, kneeling, oh kneeling, kneeling under ever loving ways
The lyrics of "Preacher" by Toots and The Maytals are filled with religious imagery and references. The song begins with the repetition of "got to" followed by the words "kneeling under ever loving ways". This line sets the tone for the rest of the song, emphasizing the importance of humility and submission in the face of a higher power. The verses describe the turmoil and fear felt by the singer, who feels like they are losing their mind and may even cry. The preacher in the song is acknowledged as a guiding figure, encouraging repentance and a better life in the eyes of God.
The bridge of the song references the Biblical story of Joshua commanding the sun to stand still, emphasizing the power of faith and prayer. The singer then implores God for mercy, further emphasizing the importance of submission and humility. The song concludes with a retelling of the creation story, showcasing the singer's belief in God's power and creation.
Overall, "Preacher" by Toots and The Maytals is a deeply religious and introspective song that emphasizes the importance of faith and submission in the face of a higher power.
Line by Line Meaning
Got to, got to, got to, got to
The singer emphasizes the importance of a certain action or behavior.
Kneeling, oh kneeling
The singer is showing reverence, humility or respect towards a higher power or authority.
Oh, kneeling, oh, kneeling under ever loving ways
The singer is acknowledging the power of love and how it can guide their actions and decisions.
[Incomprehensible]
This line could represent the confusion, chaos or uncertainty in someone's life.
Feel I'm going to lose, lose my mind
The singer is experiencing mental distress or emotional turmoil.
Like I'm going to cry right now
The singer is feeling overwhelmed by their emotions and may cry as a result.
And he said, "Sister
A religious or spiritual leader is giving advice or guidance to someone.
You better come fall down on your knees and pray for all your sins"
The advice given is for the person to repent and ask for forgiveness for any wrongdoing.
And he said, "Brother
The advice is given to another person, who may be in need of spiritual guidance or support.
You know you're fitting for thy kingdom"
The person is being reminded of their rightful place in the afterlife, based on their actions in this life.
Just like when Joshua commanded stood still
A reference to a biblical story where Joshua, with God's help, commands the sun and moon to stand still.
He didn't, stood still
The person is acknowledging the power of faith and prayer in influencing the course of events.
And I said "Father
The person is addressing God, seeking mercy, forgiveness or guidance.
Please, please, please have mercy upon me"
The person is asking God to be forgiving and merciful, in light of their faults or flaws.
Everybody sing the song
The singer is inviting everyone to join in the spiritual or religious experience.
And God said, let there be light, oh yeah
A reference to the biblical story of creation, where God creates light to separate the darkness.
And God divided the dark from the light
God creates order out of chaos, separating the light from the darkness.
And the light He called day
God gives a name to the light, creating something distinct and recognizable.
And the darkness He called night
God gives a name to the darkness, creating something distinct and recognizable.
So the evening and the morning was the first day
The first day of creation was defined by the separation of light and darkness.
God created the heaven, sand and earth
God is the creator of the universe, and all that exists within it.
And this earth was without form and void
The earth was created without structure, shape or order, and required further work by God to take shape.
Kneeling, ooh kneeling
The singer continues to show reverence, humility or respect towards a higher power or authority.
Oh, oh kneeling, kneeling under ever loving ways
The singer is emphasizing that their actions are guided by a force of love, rather than fear or obligation.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FREDERICK HIBBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@paulconnelly2366
my heart is broken cuz I never saw you live, but your music touched my soul and changed my life.❤
@yvamarquer
Thank you Toots
@nickalmeida510
R.I.P. Toots
@StreetFCbaltimore
Nice!!!