Israelites (song)

"Israelites" is a song written by Desmond Dekker and Leslie Kong that became a hit for Dekker's group, Desmond Dekker & The Aces,[2] 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).[3] It combined the Rastafarian religion with rude boy concerns,[4] to make what has been described as a "timeless masterpiece that knew no boundaries".[5]

"Israelites"
Single by Desmond Dekker & The Aces
from the album The Israelites
B-side"My Precious World (The Man)" by Beverley's All Stars
ReleasedOctober 1968 (1968-10)[1]
Recorded1968
GenreReggae
Length2:47
LabelPyramid Records - PYR 6058 (UK)
Uni Records 55129 (USA)
Songwriter(s)Desmond Dekker and Leslie Kong
Producer(s)Leslie Kong
Desmond Dekker & The Aces singles chronology
""007 (Shanty Town)""
(1967)		 "Israelites"
(1968)		 ""It Mek""
(1969)

Song

Originally issued in Jamaica as "Poor Me Israelites",[6] it remains the best known Jamaican reggae hit to reach the United States Hot 100's top 10,[4] and was written almost two years after Dekker first made his mark with the rude boy song, "007 (Shanty Town)".[2] Dekker composed the song after overhearing an argument: "I was walking in the park, eating popcorn. I heard a couple arguing about money. She was saying she needs money and he was saying the work he was doing was not giving him enough. I related to those things and began to sing a little song: 'You get up in the morning and you're slaving for bread.' By the time I got home, it was complete."[7] The title has been the source of speculation,[8] but most settle on the Rastafarian Movement's association with the Twelve Tribes of Israel. In the 1960s, Jamaican Rastafarians were largely marginalized as "cultish" and ostracized from the larger society, including by the more conservative Christian church in Kingston. Destitute ("slaving for bread") and unkempt ("Shirt them a-tear up, trousers is gone"), some Rastafarians were tempted to a life of crime ("I don't want to end up like Bonnie and Clyde"). The song is a lament of this condition.

The vocal melody is syncopated and is centred on the tone of B flat. The chords of the guitar accompaniment are played on the offbeat and move through the tonic chord [B flat], the subdominant [E flat], the dominant [F], and the occasional [D flat],[4] viz, [B flat] - [E flat] - [F] - [B flat] - [D flat]. It was one of the first reggae songs to become an international hit, despite Dekker's strong Jamaican accent which made his lyrics difficult to understand for audiences.[9]

Despite "Israelites" being recorded and released in 1968, the Uni 45 discography shows its cataloguing in 1969.[10] In June 1969 it reached the Top Ten in the United States, peaking at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. It hit number one in the United Kingdom,[11] the Netherlands, Jamaica, South Africa, Canada, Sweden and West Germany.

"Israelites" brought a Jamaican beat to the British top 40 for the first time since Dekker's number 14 hit "007 (Shanty Town)" in 1967.[2]

The disc was released in the UK in March 1969 and was number one for one week, selling over 250,000 copies.[12] A global million sales was reported in June 1969.[12]

Dekker had two more UK Top 10 hits over the next year, "It Mek" and his cover of Jimmy Cliff's song "You Can Get It If You Really Want".[2][11]

Dekker recorded on the Pyramid record label, and when its catalogue was acquired by Cactus Records in 1975, "Israelites" was re-issued in a first-time stereo mix.[2] Just over six years after the original release, the song again reached a Top Ten position in the United Kingdom.[2]

The song has appeared in numerous movies and television programs,[13] including the soundtracks of the 1989 American film Drugstore Cowboy and the 2010 British film Made in Dagenham.

On November 3, 2019, "Israelites" was prominently featured in the third episode of HBO's Watchmen. Potentially because of this usage, the song charted again, entering the Billboard Digital Reggae Song Sales Chart at number two.[14]

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (1969) Peak
position
Australia (Go-Set)[15] 3
Australia (Kent Music Report)[16] 5
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[17] 2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[18] 3
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[19] 8
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[20] 9
Germany (Official German Charts)[21] 1
Ireland (IRMA)[22] 7
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[23] 1
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[24] 12
Sweden (Kvällstoppen)[25] 2
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[26] 6
UK Singles (OCC)[27] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[28] 9
US Cash Box Top 100[29] 8
Chart (1975) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[27] 10

Year-end charts
Chart (1969) Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[30] 60
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[31] 21
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[32] 21

See also

References
  1. "Israelites / The Man - Desmond Dekker & The Aces". rateyourmusic. Retrieved 2019-07-12.
  2. Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 126. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
  3. Roberts, David (2001). British Hit Singles (14th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 40. ISBN 0-85156-156-X.
  4. Mark Phillips (2002), GCSE Music, ISBN 9780435813185, retrieved 2014-03-27
  5. "Biography by Jo-Anne Green". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 23 November 2008.
  6. "Desmond Dekker & The Aces, Beverley's All Stars - Poor Me Israelites / Fly Right". Discogs.
  7. "Desmond Dekker". The Independent. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
  8. "Song Meanings".
  9. Du Noyer, Paul (2003). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music (1st ed.). Fulham, London: Flame Tree Publishing. p. 359. ISBN 1-904041-96-5.
  10. "45 Discography for UNI Records". Retrieved 2014-05-05.
  11. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 149. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  12. Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 258. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  13. "Desmond Dekker - IMDb".
  14. Jackson, Kevin (2019) "Israelites hits Billboard, again", Jamaica Observer, 13 November 2019. Retrieved 24 November 2019
  15. "Go-Set Australian charts - 5 July 1969". www.poparchives.com.au.
  16. "Every AMR Top 100 Single in 1969". www.top100singles.net.
  17. "Austriancharts.at – Desmond Dekker and the Aces – Israelites" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  18. "Ultratop.be – Desmond Dekker and the Aces – Israelites" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  19. "Ultratop.be – Desmond Dekker and the Aces – Israelites" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  20. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5928." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  21. "Offiziellecharts.de – Desmond Dekker and the Aces – Israelites". GfK Entertainment Charts.
  22. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Israelites". Irish Singles Chart.
  23. "Dutchcharts.nl – Desmond Dekker and the Aces – Israelites" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  24. "SA Charts 1965 - 1989 Acts D". South Africa Rock Lists. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  25. "Låtarna från Kvällstoppen 3 juni 1969". NostalgiListan.
  26. "Swisscharts.com – Desmond Dekker and the Aces – Israelites". Swiss Singles Chart.
  27. "Desmond Dekker and the Aces: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  28. "Desmond Dekker The Aces Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  29. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles July 5, 1969". www.cashboxmagazine,com.
  30. "AMR Top Singles of 1969". www.top100singles.net.
  31. "Jaaroverzichten 1969". Ultratop. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  32. "Top 100 1969 - UK Music Charts". www.uk-charts.top-source.info. Retrieved 2020-06-24.

Bibliography
  • Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
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