Between 1967 and 1975, Desmond Dekker, Jamaica’s first recording superstar, graced the UK pop charts on no less than 7 occasions.
His ground-breaking hit, ‘Israelites’, was the first Jamaican-produced song to top the UK chart in April 1969.
Its popularity led to a reggae explosion that took the genre into the mainstream and opened the way for the likes of Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, and Toots & The Maytals to follow.
Consequently, despite his tragic death over decade ago this year, he remains one of a handful of reggae artists who are readily identified with the genre.
And now, over half a century since 'Israelites' forever changed the sound of popular music, it is celebrated once more with a brand new lyrics video.
If you don’t know the lyrics, you can now sing along with the confidence that you’re getting it right – word for word!
ISRAELITES LYRICS:
Get up in the morning, slaving for bread, sir
So that every mouth can be fed
Poor, me Israelites
Get up in the morning, slaving for bread, sir
So that every mouth can be fed
Poor, me Israelites
My wife and my kids, they packed up and leave me
Darling, she said, I was yours to receive
Poor, me Israelites
Shirt them a-tear up, trousers a go
I don't want to end up like Bonnie and Clyde
Poor, me Israelites
After a storm there must be a calm
They catch me in the farm
You sound your alarm
Poor, me Israelites
I said I get up in the morning, slaving for bread, sir
So that every mouth can be fed
Poor, me Israelites
I said my wife and my kids, they are packed up and leave me
Darling, she said, I was yours to receive
Poor, me Israelites
Look me shirts them a-tear up, trousers a go
I don't want to end up like Bonnie and Clyde
Poor, me Israelites
After a storm there must be a calm
They catch me in the farm
You sound your alarm
Poor, me Israelites
Poor me Israelites, poor me Israelites, poor me Israelites
