Israelites
The Aces, Desmond Dekker & the Aces, Jimmy Cliff, Desmond Dekker
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Get up in the morning, slaving for bread, sir So that every mouth can be fed Poor me Israelites Aah Get up in the morning, slaving for bread, sir So that every mouth can be fed Poor me Israelite My wife and my kids, they packed up and leave me Darling, she said, I was yours to be seen Poor me Israelite Shirt them a-tear up, trousers is gone I don't want to end up like Bonnie and Clyde Poor me 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 Israelite 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
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Written by: DESMOND DEKKER
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Original Release"Israelites" was originally released in 1968 by Jamaican singer Desmond Dekker and his group, Desmond Dekker & the Aces.
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Reggae IconDesmond Dekker is considered one of Jamaica's first international musical sensations, and he is one of the pioneers of reggae music.
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Chart Performance"Israelites" became a hit around the world, peaking at #1 in the UK Singles Chart. In the United States, it peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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Grammy NominationThe song was nominated for the Grammy Hall of Fame, a special Grammy award established in 1973 to honor recordings that are at least 25 years old and that have "qualitative or historical significance".
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Cultural InfluenceThe song's lyrics, dealing with the struggles and hardships of a poor man in Jamaica, introduced a global audience to the realities of life in the country.
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Rastafarian Theme"Israelites" contains a Rastafarian theme, a then burgeoning religious and social movement in Jamaica. The term "Israelites" reflects the Rastafarian belief that people of African descent are the true children of Israel.
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Music StyleThe song is a example of the rocksteady genre, a precursor to reggae music, characterized by offbeat rhythms, vocal harmonies, and politically or socially conscious lyrics.
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First Non-American/Non-British #1 in the USDesmond Dekker was the first Jamaican artist to have an international hit, and "Israelites" was the first song by a non-American and non-British artist to reach #1 in the US.
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Song's PopularityThe song is so iconic that it has been covered by numerous artists and featured in a wide range of media, including films, television series, and commercials.
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Re-release Success"Israelites" was re-released in 1975 and again reached the UK charts, demonstrating the song's enduring popularity.
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Citation
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"Israelites Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 31 Oct. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric-lf/535931/Desmond+Dekker/Israelites>.
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