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Bob Marley is an example of how music can sometimes transcend its limits, exempting from any merely technical and evaluative considerations, and move beyond the confines of purely artistic discourse. How music can cross boundaries and make its way into the political and social universe, be the most suitable medium to advocate for a cause, be the best conduit to give voice to those who don't have one. How an artist can remain above the rotten world of interest and exploitation, to become a symbol, emblem, banner. To become the spokesperson for the sufferings of millions of people, to denounce to the world the problems and contradictions of an era. To side with the marginalized, the losers, the victims and openly challenge the invincible giants of materialism, corruption, power with the weapons of joy, simplicity. Of hope.
On October 2, 1979, Bob Marley and The Wailers released "Survival". "Survival". In this album there is anger, social protest, deep political commitment, an exhortation to action. Bob Marley observes the pains and sufferings of the world and disagrees. He does not accept the cynical mechanisms of the system he lives in, the inequalities and injustices they inevitably provoke. So he encourages activism, "revolt", reaction. And his are not abstract, far-fetched speeches: he addresses his African brothers, deals with issues related to decolonization, civil war, the age-old profound crisis that grips the continent. There is "Africa Unite" and its reference to Pan-Africanism, the movement that promotes political unity and a common sense of identity among all African countries, and which is based on the idea of a brotherhood among blacks all over the world, victims of a sort of diaspora and destined to return to their land of origin. There is "Zimbabwe," an anthem in favor of the freedom of that country which a year later would rebel against British domination and become independent.
I don't know, the defeatism prevailing today would lead to say that music today has stripped itself of any actively political and social function, to remain pure entertainment, enjoyable pastime, huge and repulsive business. But more than anything, today there are too many artists with easy, vague, extremely undefined protests. Everywhere there are multiplying angry texts, stuffed with useless criticisms of politicians, the corruption of our times, the established system. Bob Marley had the courage to champion a people, and with his commitment and his music, to genuinely impact the society of the 70s, to concretely solve the problems that plagued it.
"Brothers, you are right, you are really right. We will fight. We must fight. We will fight for our rights".
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 So Much Trouble in the World (04:02)
So much trouble in the world now
So much trouble in the world now
Bless my eyes this morning
Jah sun is on the rise once again
The way Earthly things are going
Anything can happen
You see men sailing on their ego trips
Blast off on their space ship
Million miles from reality
No care for you, no care for me
So much trouble in the world now
So much trouble in the world now
All you got to do is give a little
Give a little, give a little
One more time YE-A-H! YE-AH!
So you think you have found the solution
But it's just another illusion
So before you check out your tide
Don't leave another cornerstone
Standing there behind
We've got to face the day
Ooh-we come what may
We the street people talking
We the people struggling
Now they are sitting on a time bomb
Now I know the time has come
What goes on up is coming on down
Goes around and comes around
So much trouble in the world
So much trouble in the world
So much trouble in the world
There is so much trouble
There is so much trouble
There is so much trouble
There is so much trouble in the world
There is so much trouble in the world
02 Zimbabwe (03:52)
Every man got a right to decide his own destiny
An' in this judgement there is no partiality
So arms in arms, with arms we fight this little struggle
'Cause that's the onl way we can, overcome a little trouble
But Brother you're right!, you're right
You're right, you're right, you're so right
We goin' fight (we goin fight), we'll have to fight (we goin fight)
We gonna fight! (we goin' fight)! fight for our rights
Natty Dread it in-a (Zimbabwe);
Set it up in (Zimbabwe);
Mash it up-a in-a Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);
Africans a-liberate (Zimbabwe), yeah.
No more internal power struggle;
We come together to overcome a little trouble.
Soon we'll find out who is the real revolutionary,
'Cause I don't want my people to be contrary.
And, brother, you're right, you're right,
You're right, you're right, you're so right!
We'll 'ave to fight (we gon' fight), we gonna fight (we gon' fight)
We'll 'ave to fight (we gon' fight), fighting for our rights!
Mash it up in-a (Zimbabwe);
Natty trash it in-a (Zimbabwe);
Africans a-liberate Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);
I'n'I a-liberate Zimbabwe.
(Brother, you're right,) you're right,
You're right, you're right, you're so right!
We gon' fight (we gon' fight), we'll 'ave to fight (we gon' fight),
We gonna fight (we gon' fight), fighting for our rights!
To divide and rule could only tear us apart;
In everyman chest, mm - there beats a heart.
So soon we'll find out who is the real revolutionaries;
And I don't want my people to be tricked by mercenaries.
Brother, you're right, you're right,
You're right, you're right, you're so right!
We'll 'ave to fight (we gon' fight), we gonna fight (we gon' fight),
We'll 'ave to fight (we gon' fight), fighting for our rights!
Natty trash it in-a Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);
Mash it up in-a Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);
Set it up in-a Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);
Africans a-liberate Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);
Africans a-liberate Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);
Natty dub it in-a Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe).
Set it up in-a Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);
Africans a-liberate Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);
Every man got a right to decide his own destiny.
05 Survival (03:55)
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 everyway. In everywhere
Na-na-na-na-na
We're the survivors; yes, the black survival
I tell you what
Some people got everything
Some poeple got nothing
Some people got hopes and dreams
Some people got ways and means
Na-na-na-na-na
We're the survivors; yes, the black survival
Yes we're the survivors like
Daniel out of the lions' den, survivors, survivors
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 facts and claims
Some peole got pride and shame
Some people got the plots and schemes
Some people got no aim it seems
Na-na-na-na-na
We're the survivors; yes, the black survival
We're the survivors; yes, the black survival
We're the survivors like shadrach, 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 survivors; 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
Nuclear mis-energy
It's a world that forces lifelong insecurity
All together now we're the survivors
Yes, the black survival
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've got to survive
But to live as one equal in the eyes of the almighty
06 Africa Unite (02:57)
Africa, Unite
'Cause we're moving right out of Babylon
And we're going to our father's land
How good and how pleasant it would be
Before GOD and man, yeah
To see the unification of all Africans, yeah
As it's been said already let it be done, yeah
We are the children of the Rastaman
We are the children of the Higher Man
Africa, unite 'cause the children wanna come home
Africa, unite 'cause we're moving right out of Babylon
And we're grooving to our father's land
How good and how pleasant it would be
Before GOD and man
To see the unification of all Rastaman, yeah
As it's been said already let it be done
I tell you who we are under the sun
We are the children of the Rastaman
We are the children of the Higher Man
So, Africa, unite, Africa, unite
Unite for the benefit of your people
Unite for it's later than you think
Unite for the benefit of your children
Unite for it's later than you think
Africa awaits its creators, Africa awaiting its creators
Africa, you're my forefather cornerstone
Unite for the Africans abroad, unite for the Africans a yard
Africa, Unite
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By G
"‘figata’... an effective expression of the impossibility of translating into words certain emotions that music evokes."
"Ok, the weed stuff, then rasta, then ska, then Jamaica, then heroin, then death, the myth... the nonsense! Wake Up And Live!!! FIGATA (!*) RASTAFARI!!!"
