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:
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.
Wow, the things you can learn about reading this blog. I came across this little gem while checking out the Israelites video on YouTube:
Mungo Jerry (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvUQcnfwUUM)
LikeLike
Jamaica has produced an amazing amount of great music for an island smaller than Connecticut!
My favorite Jamaican song is “Many Rivers to Cross” by Jimmy Cliff. He wrote the song himself. Mr. Cliff sounds great live, too:
(https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TegLTsuvzXQ)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wonder if Mungo Jerry’s tune reached #1 in his native England.
LikeLike
Things get complicated with “Rastafarianism”. They are not quite like the “BHI” because many still tought the red green and black Pan-Africanism. I’m open to any discussion.
LikeLike
I was going to bypass this but I am on the commuter train getting home and I decided to click on this. I actually like it.
LikeLike
This one is one of my favorites, so thanks a lot. Used to listen to it a lot back in 200s when working for a company with strict office hours and early morning wake-ups I hate.
And then I’ve discovered this one, but it’s another story.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qeWqYNrS8U)
LikeLike