Desmond Dekker & The Aces: Israelites

 

Remarks:

This was the first reggae song to reach #1 on the British pop chart. It also reached #1 in Dekker’s native Jamaica as well as South Africa, West Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Canada in 1969. It went to #9 in the US, the first hit by a Jamaican artist singing in a Jamaican style of music.

“Israelites” refers to the Rastafarian belief that Black Jamaicans are descendants of the Israelites in the Bible, a belief that comes from Black Israelites in the US.

Thanks to Joe for reminding me of this song.

See also:

• songs: the 1960s
• Black Israelites

Lyrics:

Get up in the morning, slaving for bread, sir
So that every mouth can be fed
Poor, poor me, Israelites. Aah

Get up in the morning, slaving for bread, sir
So that every mouth can be fed
Poor me, the Israelite

My wife and my kids, they packed up and leave me
Darling, she said, “I was yours to be seen”
Poor me, the Israelite

Shirt them a-tear up, trousers are gone
I don’t want to end up like Bonnie and Clyde
Poor me, the Israelite

After a storm there must be a calm
They catch me in the farm
You sound your alarm
Poor a-poor a-poor me, the Israelite

[Instrumental]

I said I get up in the morning, slaving for bread, sir
So that every mouth can be fed
Poor me, Israelite. Aah

I said my wife and my kids, they are packed up and leave me
Darling, she said, I was yours to be seen
Poor me, Israelites. Aah

Look Me shirts them a-tear up, trousers are gone
I don’t want to end up like Bonnie and Clyde
A-poor a-poor me, Israelites. Aah

After a storm there must be a calm
They catch me in the farm
You sound your alarm
Poor me, Israelite
A-poor a-poor a-poor me, Israelites. Aah
Poor me, Israelite
Poor me, Israelite

Source: Genius Lyrics.