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.
Pressure Drop
Toots and The Maytals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hmm hmm hmm, yeah
Hmm hmm hmm, yeah
It is you (oh yeah)
It is you, you (oh yeah)
It is you (oh yeah)
Oh yeah pressure drop a drop on you
I say a pressure drop, oh pressure
Oh yeah pressure drop a drop on you
I say when it drops, oh you gonna feel it
Know that you were doing wrong
I say when it drops, oh you gonna feel it
Know that you were doing wrong
Hmm hmm hmm, yeah
Hmm hmm hmm, yeah
Hmm hmm hmm, yeah
I say a pressure drop, oh pressure
Oh yeah, pressure drop a drop on you
Oh yeah, pressure drop a drop on you
It is you (oh yeah)
It is you, you (oh yeah)
It is you (oh yeah)
I say a pressure drop, oh pressure
Oh yeah, pressure drop a drop on you
Oh yeah, pressure drop a drop on you
I say when it drops, oh you gonna feel it
Oh yeah, pressure drop a drop on you
Toots and The Maytals's song "Pressure Drop" is a warning song, urging people to be cautious of their actions before consequences catch up with them. The repetitive hook, "pressure drop, oh pressure, oh yeah, pressure drop a drop on you," refers to the build-up of negative consequences, such as guilt or shame, resulting from wrongful actions. The lyrics aim to communicate that any negative actions done in the past will eventually catch up, and one must be ready to face the consequences.
The second verse starts with "I say when it drops, oh, you gonna feel it, know that you were doing wrong." This suggests that when the pressure drops, and the consequences catch up, individuals will regret their past actions. The repetition of the phrase, "it is you," further emphasizes the personal responsibility individuals hold for their actions. The buildup of the chorus also showcases the intensity and momentum of the negative consequences when they catch up with an individual.
In summary, "Pressure Drop" is a cautionary song that emphasizes the importance of being responsible for one's actions as the negative consequences could be intense and likely to catch up with the individual.
Line by Line Meaning
Hmm hmm hmm, yeah
The singer is humming with a positive vibe.
It is you (oh yeah)
The song is directed towards a specific person.
It is you, you (oh yeah)
The singer emphasizes that the person deserves the upcoming consequences.
'Cause a pressure drop, oh pressure
The phrase 'pressure drop' is repeated to create a sense of urgency.
Oh yeah pressure drop a drop on you
The person is going to experience a sudden change in circumstance.
I say when it drops, oh you gonna feel it
The singer repeats the urgency of the phrase 'when it drops' to emphasize the consequence.
Know that you were doing wrong
The person is being held accountable for their actions.
I say a pressure drop, oh pressure
The warning is repeated to ensure the message is received.
Oh yeah, pressure drop a drop on you
The consequence will affect the person directly.
It is you (oh yeah)
The song is still directed towards a specific person.
I say when it drops, oh you gonna feel it
The singer repeats the warning one last time.
Oh yeah, pressure drop a drop on you
The consequence will definitely happen to the person.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Frederick Hibbert
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind