Peak
9
Weeks
10
Score
1,530
Chart Year
1969
"Israelites" was one of the first truly international Ska hit singles, peaking at #9 in the US and #1 in the UK. There were fears that Dekker's heavy Jamaican accent on the recording would limit international appeal as listeners would find it difficult to understand the lyrics, and indeed jokes abound about the many mis-hearings of the lyrics of the song. "Get up in the morning, slaving for bread sir" was misheard as "Get up in the morning, baked beans for breakfast" for example, and comedian Lenny Henry famously joked about how many people thought the "ooh, mi Israelites" line was actually "oooh, mi ears are alight"! Despite this and indeed because of the humor from the misheard lyrics, the song became a huge hit single. When he was working on his Some Time in New York City album, John Lennon apparently demonstrated to the American musicians he was working with how to play reggae correctly by playing this song's bassline to them. Some of the artists to cover this song include Madness, Jeremy Oates & the Music Makers, Apache Indian, Max Romeo and Millencolin. The UK Punk band The Clash were huge fans of the song, and would often play it in rehearsals and soundchecks. When they appeared on the Alright Now TV show in March 1979, they ended the broadcast with a live cover of the song. Dekker wrote this song with his producer, Leslie Kong, who ran a record store in Jamaica before expanding into production work. Kong also produced Jimmy Cliff and The Upsetters before his untimely death from a heart attack in 1971 at age 38. When this song was first released, it was credited to Desmond Dekker & The Aces. In 1975, it was re-released in the UK, making #10 in a version credited to just Desmond Dekker. The Israelites were the inhabitants of Israel descended by Jacob. The word can also be used to describe one of God's chosen people. Dekker uses the meaning in this later context, as he sings about his struggles while repeatedly invoking the term.
Get up in the morning, slaving for bread, sir So that every mouth can be fed Poor me Israelites, ah 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 Israelites Shirt them a-tear up, trousers is gone I don't want to end up like Bonnie and Clyde Poor me Israelites After a storm there must be a calm They catch me in the farm You sound your alarm Poor me Israelites I said I get up in the morning, slaving for bread, sir So that every mouth can be fed Poor me Israelites 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 Look me shirts them a-tear up, trousers are gone I don't want to end up like Bonnie and Clyde Poor me Israelites After a storm there must be a calm They catch me in the farm You sound your alarm Poor me Israelites Poor me Israelites, poor me Israelites, poor me Israelites
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 17, 1969 | 96 | 30 |
| 2 | May 24, 1969 | 74 | 52 |
| 3 | May 31, 1969 | 41 | 85 |
| 4 | Jun 7, 1969 | 18 | 108 |
| 5 | Jun 14, 1969 | 16 | 110 |
| 6 | Jun 21, 1969 | 12 | 114 |
| 7 | Jun 28, 1969 | 9 | 117 |
| 8 | Jul 5, 1969 | 19 | 107 |
| 9 | Jul 12, 1969 | 19 | 107 |
| 10 | Jul 19, 1969 | 28 | 98 |