Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: ska
Song Meaning of “54-46 Was My Number – Live In New Orleans / 1991” by Toots & The Maytals
This live performance of ’54-46 Was My Number’ by Toots and the Maytals serves as a rousing musical testimony to a life lived in resistance. The song refers to the police registration number Toots Hibbert received after being served a two-year prison sentence for receiving a joint. Rather than submit to the oppressive system, Toots opted to “pull a rebellion” and “wear a label of pride,” a revolutionary attitude that serves as a rallying cry for freedom that resonates long after the final notes of the song.
The live performance of ’54-46 Was My Number’ captures the intensity of this unique moment in musical history; the energized crowd join Toots in his act of defiance, swaying, clapping, and singing along to the contagious chorus. Deeply rooted in its cultural and political context, this seminal performance urges its audience to stand up, embrace their identity, and fight for their rights. In the spirit of Toots memorable prison number, ’54-46′ stands for the power of self-determination and freedom of expression.