This song was originally played at the 1st annual raggae fest of Jamaica, I believe in 1962. The festival was a symbol of expression after it's gained freedom, and raggae or "ska" was truely Jamaica's own. The festival had a contest for singers to write songs for the festival and Toots wrote "Bam Bam"
The song roots from an expression in Jamaican folklore called "Bam Bam", which translates rather difficultly. It doesn't have a direct translation but it's basically; I won't bring trouble, but if you trouble me I won't hesitate to fight"
In the end, Toots won the festival and was signed soon after. He is the founder of all raggae, long before Marley, although he is a godfather too...
This song was originally played at the 1st annual raggae fest of Jamaica, I believe in 1962. The festival was a symbol of expression after it's gained freedom, and raggae or "ska" was truely Jamaica's own. The festival had a contest for singers to write songs for the festival and Toots wrote "Bam Bam"
The song roots from an expression in Jamaican folklore called "Bam Bam", which translates rather difficultly. It doesn't have a direct translation but it's basically; I won't bring trouble, but if you trouble me I won't hesitate to fight"
In the end, Toots won the festival and was signed soon after. He is the founder of all raggae, long before Marley, although he is a godfather too...