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.
Take Me Home Country Roads
Toots and The Maytals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Almost heaven, West Jamaica
True ridge mountains
Shining down the river
All my friends there
Older than those ridge
Younger than the mountainsBlowin' like a breeze
Country roads take me home
To the place I belong
West Jamaica, my ol' mama
Take me home country roads
I heard her voice
In the mornin' hour she calls me
Said "Son you remind me of my home far away"
Drivin' down the road I feel a sickness, I sure did
Oh yesterday, yesterday
All my memories, all gathered 'round her
My my lady swingin' through the water (water)
Dark and dusty painted on the sky
Misty taste of moonshine
Tears fall out my eyes
Country roads take me home
To the place I belong
West Jamaica, my my my my my my mama
Won't you take me go home country roads
Oh I like that, me too
Country roads take me home
West Jamaica, my my my my my my mama
Won't you take me go home country roads
Go, get ahead together
Country roads take me home
To the place I belong
West Jamaica, my my my my my my mama
Won't you take me go home country roads
Toots and The Maytals’s song Take Me Home Country Roads is a reggae interpretation of John Denver’s original song, which is a tribute to the beauty of West Virginia. In this version, Toots and The Maytals use the same melody and chorus but alter the lyrics to describe West Jamaica. The song starts with the lyrics “Almost heaven, West Jamaica” which is a play on the original lyrics, “Almost heaven, West Virginia.” By changing the location to Jamaica, Toots and The Maytals pay tribute to their own homeland.
They continue to describe the “true ridge mountains” which are shining down the river, with all their friends older than the ridge and younger than the mountains. These lyrics convey a sense of community and happiness. The chorus “Country roads take me home to the place I belong, West Jamaica, my ol’ mama” implies that Jamaica is home and the place where they belong. The lyrics also make a reference to nostalgia with the lines “All my memories all gathered round her, my my lady swingin' through the water, dark and dusty painted on the sky, misty taste of moonshine, tears fall out my eyes,” which convey memories of good times with loved ones.
Line by Line Meaning
Almost heaven, West Jamaica
West Jamaica is the heavenly place I am in, surrounded by beautiful mountains and a river that shines in the moonlight.
True ridge mountains
These mountains are real and high, giving us a sense of security and protection.
Shining down the river
The moon shines its light on the river, making the water appear like it's reflecting stars.
All my friends there
My friends from West Jamaica are there with me, enjoying the same beautiful scenery that I am witnessing.
Older than those ridge
My friends have been there longer than the mountains around us have existed, making them wise and experienced.
Younger than the mountains
Despite being there for a long time, my friends are still younger in spirit than the mountains surrounding us.
Blowin' like a breeze
We are carefree and enjoying life, just like the breeze blowing through the mountains.
Country roads take me home
I yearn to go back home and experience the comfort and familiarity of my hometown.
To the place I belong
My true home is where I feel a sense of belonging, a place where I am accepted and loved for who I am.
West Jamaica, my ol' mama
My mother and West Jamaica are both dear to me, their love and care providing warmth and comfort in my heart.
I heard her voice
I remember my mother's voice calling out to me, filled with love and concern.
In the mornin' hour she calls me
My mother often calls me in the morning, concerned about my well-being and eager to hear my voice.
Said "Son you remind me of my home far away"
My mother relates my love for my hometown to her feelings of homesickness for her own home far away.
Drivin' down the road I feel a sickness, I sure did
Traveling away from my hometown makes me feel homesick and unwell, missing the familiar sights and sounds that bring me comfort.
All my memories, all gathered 'round her
The memories of my hometown and my mother are all precious to me, providing a sense of comfort and belonging.
My my lady swingin' through the water (water)
I remember my mother swinging through the water, enjoying herself and making memories with me.
Dark and dusty painted on the sky
The sky is painted in shades of dark and dusty colors, adding to the beauty of the scene around me.
Misty taste of moonshine
The moonshine is misty and adds to the beauty of the night sky, making it feel even more surreal and magical.
Tears fall out my eyes
The beauty and memories of my hometown and my mother are so precious to me that they bring tears to my eyes.
Go, get ahead together
Let us move forward in life together, encouraging and supporting each other through thick and thin.
Lyrics © Roba Music Verlag GMBH, BMG Rights Management, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: John Denver, Mary Catherine Taffy Nivert-Danoff, William Thomas Danoff
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@river5554
I DO REMEMBER SEE TOOTS IN 1968 @ A CLUB ON HALFWAY 🌳 ROAD. I FELL
IN LOVE WITH HIM & HIS 🎶.
THERE WAS NO BOB MARLEY THEN.
IT WAS OF US FROM THE TELEPHONES
CO. MY FIRST EXPOSURE TO STAGE PROFORMANCE.
54 46 TO THIS DAY IS MY FAVORITE.
THANKS FOR SHARING HIS MEMORIES.
33/05/25.
🇨🇦 🍁 🇨🇦 .
@Grejb444
My Wife is from Jamaica I'm from West Virginia! This is blowing my mind.
@Garraldosmuzik
listen Cr roots versions =) blessings
@sambarker4035
Haha that's awesome
@richardnone5644
nobody is from west Virginia ha ha ha Richard in the tropics
@erikkingaard7181
Ha!!!
@fabienbourdier9847
hahaha amazing, you guys must love this song
@Michael_Johnson_5446
Rest in peace, Toots Hibbert.
@DeadFlowers69
Rest in sweet peace, Toots. This recording gives me chills.
@pseudoname3159
Rest In Universal Peace.
@krezzykrezz
Amen!