"The Israelites"--???

dougie_monty · March 7, 2001, 12:54am

This song, from the 60s, has always confused me.
I might have connected it with the Israel of the Bible, but nothing in the lyrics–the part I can make out clearly–sounds like anything from the history of Israel in the Bible or the chronicles of neighboring countries.
Does anyone know what the lyrics refer to, of not ancient Israel?
Thanks very much.

cher3 · March 7, 2001, 12:59am

Given that the lyrics refer to how poor and hardworking the singer is (“slaving for bread”), I think he is comparing himself to the Israelites slaving for Pharoah in Egypt.

Eutychus · March 7, 2001, 1:02am

From : http://home.onestop.net/rastaman/selections/sel-desmond-dekker-1.html

One of the most identifiable voices of rock-steady, Desmond Dekker is a seminal figure in the development of reggae music and was once one of Jamaica’s most popular figures. In the U.S., he is still best remembered for the 1969 Top Ten hit “Israelites” that he recorded with his band the Aces. It was a chart topper in England and was the first gold record ever issued in Jamaica. In the states the song was presented as a novelty song since few could understand the meaning of the puzzling lyrics which are actually a cry against the oppression and brutal conditions daily faced by most modern-day African-Jamaicans. The lyrics “Get up in the morning, bake beans for breakfast. Get up in the morning, same thing for breakfast” are a sly reference to slaving, meaning that most have to get up early so they can slave away for a little bit of money.