The Words of Bob Marley

Survival Bob Marley
How can you be sitting there
Telling me that you care
That you care
When everytime I look around
The people suffer in suffering
In everywhere, In everywhere

Na-Na-Na-Na-NA
We're the survivors
Yes, the black survival

I tell you what
Some people got everything
Some people got nothing
Some people got hopes & dreams
Some people got no aim it seems

Na-Na-Na-Na-Na
We're the survivors;
Yes the black survival
Yes we're the survivors like
Daniel out of the Lion's den suvivors

So my brethren, my sisthren
Which way will we choose
We better hurry, oh hurry woe now
'Cause we got no time to lose
Some people got plots & schemes
Some people got Ways & means
Some people got the facts & claims
Some people got the pride & shame

Na-Na-Na-Na-Na
We're the suvivors;
Yes, the black survival (repeat)
We're the survivors like Shedrach,
Meshach and Abednego
Thrown in the fire but never get burn

So my brethren, my sisthren
The preaching and talking is done
We gotta live up woe now, woe now
'Cause the father's time has come
Some people put the best outside
Some people keep the best inside
Some people can't stand up strong
Some people won't wait for long

Na-Na-Na-Na-Na
We're the suvivors; a black survival
In this age of technological inhumanity
We're the survivors black survival
Scientific atrocity, we're the survivors
Atomic mis-philosophy, we're the survivors
It's a world that forces life long insecurity
All together now we're the survivors
Yes, the black suvival
A good man is never honoured
In his own country.
Black survival
Nothing change.
Nothing strange
Nothing change.
Nothing strange
We got to survive, we got to survive
But to live as one equal in the eyes
Of the almighty
The words of Bob Marley struck a chord in me over twenty years ago and that chord resonates still. Not just the popular “Jammin’” which still gets a lot of play, or “I Shot The Sheriff” (honestly, I prefer Clapton’s version) but the songs of anguish, pride, anger, liberty, and a willingness to fight for what is right. These words are found on the lesser played Survival album. Songs like Survival, Ambush in the Night, Africa Unite, and Zimbabwe. In the words of these songs you hear the heart of Bob Marley; freedom, liberty, opportunity, responsibility, and love of one person for another. Respect. At the time racial oppression and discrimination were easily recognized, but the words have greater meaning. They address freedom for all people and they tease with naming the oppressors. On the surface it is the white race oppressing other races, but deeper in his words you see the powers that be. Corrupt politicians, international corporations, and their hired thugs, used to keep the peasants in their place as slave workers for the insatiable corporate kings. Marley spoke out clearly if you keep your head and understand. He was brilliant in spite of his proficient use of ganja. With his advanced cancer, maybe that was the only thing he could use to endure the pain and stay cognizant enough to put his words to music. His words of love, liberty, and life speak to us today. And, as he said, “Wake Up And Live”, for if you are not willing to stand up for yourself, no one will stand up for you. Liberty is only ours if we are willing to die to take it. Liberty First!!!