Music · Westmoreland · written in Patois with an English translation
Peter Tosh born right ya inna Westmoreland — a Grange Hill — pon di 19th a October 1944. Im real name a Winston Hubert McIntosh. Im grow up poor, but fram im a pickney im love music bad, an im teach imself fi play guitar. As a young man im move go a Kingston, go live inna Trench Town, an a deh-so, inna 1963, im an Bob Marley an Bunny Wailer start di Wailers — di group weh carry reggae go a di whole worl. Tosh voice did deep an strong, an im hand could play any instrument yuh gi im. Im help write some a di bigges song dem, like Get Up, Stand Up. When di Wailers mash up, Tosh gwaan pon im own. Im put out Legalize It inna 1976 an Equal Rights inna 1977. Im music neva fraid fi chat di truth — im sing bout justice, bout equal rights fi evri smadi, bout di sufferer dem. Some a di big people dem inna society neva like i, an im ketch nuff fight fram Babylon. Im dead inna September 1987, but di music live on. Inna 2012 Jamaica gi im di Order of Merit, an im res a Belmont, right ya inna Westmoreland, weh people fram all ova di worl come look fi im. Wi big up wi parish son: a truth im did a chat.
Peter Tosh was born right here in Westmoreland — at Grange Hill — on the 19th of October 1944. His real name was Winston Hubert McIntosh. He grew up poor, but from childhood he loved music deeply, and he taught himself to play guitar. As a young man he moved to Kingston, went to live in Trench Town, and it was there, in 1963, that he, Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer started the Wailers — the group that carried reggae to the whole world. Tosh's voice was deep and strong, and his hands could play any instrument you gave him. He helped write some of the biggest songs, like Get Up, Stand Up. When the Wailers broke up, Tosh went on on his own. He released Legalize It in 1976 and Equal Rights in 1977. His music was never afraid to speak the truth — he sang about justice, about equal rights for everybody, about the sufferers. Some of the powerful people in society didn't like it, and he caught plenty of trouble from the authorities. He died in September 1987, but the music lives on. In 2012 Jamaica gave him the Order of Merit, and he rests at Belmont, right here in Westmoreland, where people from all over the world come to visit him. We salute our parish son: it was truth he was speaking.
Peter Tosh baan rait ya iina Westmoreland — a Grange Hill — pan di 19t a October 1944. Im riil niem a Winston Hubert McIntosh. Im gruo op puor, bot fram im a pikni im lov myuuzik bad, an im tiich imself fi plie gitaa. Az a yong man im muuv go a Kingston, go liv iina Trench Town, an a de-so, iina 1963, im an Bob Marley an Bunny Wailer staat di Wailers — di gruup we kyari rege go a di uol worl. Tosh vais did diip an schrang, an im han kud plie eni inschrument yu gi im. Im help rait som a di bigis sang dem, laik Get Up, Stand Up. Wen di Wailers mash op, Tosh gwaan pan im uon. Im put out Legalize It iina 1976 an Equal Rights iina 1977. Im myuuzik neva fried fi chat di chuut — im sing bout jostis, bout iikwal raits fi evri sumadi, bout di sofara dem. Som a di big piipl dem iina sosaiati neva laik i, an im kech nof fait fram Babilan. Im ded iina September 1987, bot di myuuzik liv aan. Iina 2012 Jamieka gi im di Order of Merit, an im res a Belmont, rait ya iina Westmoreland, we piipl fram aal uova di worl kom luk fi im. Wi big op wi parish son: a chuut im did a chat.
The history and the figures come from the sources above. The Patois is mine.
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