Israelites

The Aces, Desmond Dekker & the Aces, Jimmy Cliff, Desmond Dekker

About Israelites

"Israelites" is a song written by Desmond Dekker and Leslie Kong that became a hit for Dekker's group, Desmond Dekker & The Aces, reaching the top of the charts in numerous countries in 1969. Although few could understand all the lyrics, the single was the first UK reggae number one and among the first to reach the US top ten (peaking at number 9). It combined the Rastafarian religion with rude boy concerns, to make what has been described as a "timeless masterpiece that knew no boundaries".  


Year:
1972
2:37
379 
#7

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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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Desmond Dekker

Desmond Dekker (16 July 1941 – 25 May 2006) was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer-songwriter and musician. Together with his backing group, The Aces (consisting of Wilson James and Easton Barrington Howard), he had one of the first international Jamaican hits with "Israelites". Other hits include "007 (Shanty Town)" (1967) and "It Miek" (1969). Dekker was one of the most popular musicians within Jamaica, and is one of its best-known musicians outside it. more »

0 fans

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.
Reggae Icon
Desmond Dekker is considered one of Jamaica's first international musical sensations, and he is one of the pioneers of reggae music.
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.
Grammy Nomination
The 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".
Cultural Influence
The 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.
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.
Music Style
The 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.
First Non-American/Non-British #1 in the US
Desmond 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.
Song's Popularity
The 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.
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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    Israelites

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1969

    Billboard #9


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