Bob Marley - 'Redemption Song'
Musical Medicine....a track that's like a good session in the swim up bar for the soul!
Bob Marley - 'Redemption Song' (1980)
I have chosen this song for a couple of reasons. Last year I went to Jamaica for a holiday and was expecting to be bombarded with Bob Marley songs all day long. I was wrong, it was mostly modern ragga stuff which doesn't really appeal. It's far too aggressive and not what I wanted to hear sipping my Red Stripe on the beach!
Finally, I heard a bit of Bob, this particular song which I never really took much notice of before. It's not quite the stereotypical 'jammin' reggae you get on holiday resorts. I only remember a guy strumming it on a guitar and singing it during the sad funeral scene from the movie The Beach. This time though, I really listened "none but ourselves can free the mind". I never realised they were words from a Marcus Garvey speech and how influential a song it was. Even considered one of his best works!
When I came back from Jamaica, I saw that Marley the recent documentary was on and made sure I watched it straight away. I ashamedly realised I actually knew nothing about The Great Bob Marley, his life and what he did for the people of Jamaica.
All this came back to me last week, walking along the beach in Koh Phi Phi on the way to one of the only restaurants there for dinner. I could hear a guitar gently strumming over the lapping waves and one of the other hotel guests singing it. It's a beautiful song and is now right up there with my favourites from Bob. It means so much more to me now.
One Love, Jamiaca.
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| None but ourselves can free our minds |
I have chosen this song for a couple of reasons. Last year I went to Jamaica for a holiday and was expecting to be bombarded with Bob Marley songs all day long. I was wrong, it was mostly modern ragga stuff which doesn't really appeal. It's far too aggressive and not what I wanted to hear sipping my Red Stripe on the beach!
Finally, I heard a bit of Bob, this particular song which I never really took much notice of before. It's not quite the stereotypical 'jammin' reggae you get on holiday resorts. I only remember a guy strumming it on a guitar and singing it during the sad funeral scene from the movie The Beach. This time though, I really listened "none but ourselves can free the mind". I never realised they were words from a Marcus Garvey speech and how influential a song it was. Even considered one of his best works!
When I came back from Jamaica, I saw that Marley the recent documentary was on and made sure I watched it straight away. I ashamedly realised I actually knew nothing about The Great Bob Marley, his life and what he did for the people of Jamaica.
All this came back to me last week, walking along the beach in Koh Phi Phi on the way to one of the only restaurants there for dinner. I could hear a guitar gently strumming over the lapping waves and one of the other hotel guests singing it. It's a beautiful song and is now right up there with my favourites from Bob. It means so much more to me now.
One Love, Jamiaca.
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