The Politics of Oppression in the Lyrics of Bob Marley

The Politics of Oppression in the Lyrics of Bob Marley

"Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights!" This is the sound of lyrical bliss from one of Bob Marley's many songs. From the beginning, Bob Marley's lyrical choice has always been towards that of defending what you believe it and not letting anyone take over or bring you down. He was a heroic figure to many, especially those who trust and believe deeply in Rastafarianism. According to The Story of Bob Marley, Marley's lyrics embody "political repression, metaphysical and artistic insights, gangland warfare and various periods of mystical wilderness." Music often serves as a way to pass down traditions that can not only provide us with a look back on history but can also give us a greater understanding of the present. Bob Marley's lyrics intensify the fans knowledge about cultural oppression and its effects of bringing one down.

In 1967 Bob Marley had begun to focus his music around the Rastafarianism and his beliefs, which he had been introduced to a little earlier on. This moment in time is where his real legacy began. His old musical anthems were out and his new music based dedication was to spiritual and social issues. The song One Love was written based on Marley’s idea that everyone should stop fighting and become one. It is also suggested that within the song there is a deeper meaning about oppression and expressing how evil will come to those who sin. Bob Marley had extremely strong and deep beliefs for Rastafarianism and would go to many lengths to abide by the religion. Written in One Love Marley asks “Is there a place for the hopeless sinner, who has hurt all mankind just to save his own?” he is more or less asking along with that question; why people do what they do. Because the next line after that “One love, one heart” drifting back to everybody becoming equal, accepting, and one with each other. All Marley wanted was unity and peace within ones self and to be able to bring that grace upon everyone. Peace on Earth and everyone loving each other is a very common and vague statement loosely used among many now a day. Bob Marley used it for other reasons. He truly believed it was a mission that could be accomplished. By having such heavy beliefs for his religion and the inner peace he came to have within, he knew that each and every person could find that part of themselves as well to be reached.

Bob Marley’s last and final song was The Redemption Song before he died at age 36 from cancer. The opening to this song is talking about being stolen from, losing everything to the greater people who take from you. But following that is the proof of strength Marley possessed within his song “But my hand was made strong by the hand of the almighty. We forward in this generation triumphantly.” He still finds good hope within what was lost. Instead of sitting and dwelling in a depressed mind frame Marley showed there is always new hope, new beginnings; “Redemption songs” as he sings. . He wanted to fight against oppression to show there is always another rout to take than to constantly go down. There are healthier ways to look at what is happening in your surroundings than becoming depressed and “brought down” by it. Bob Marley fought for oppression, redemption, love, unity, and so much more in a subtle comforting way through music. Trying to effect individuals, fans, cultures, one by one to not look at everything as bad but to accept and take things for the better in hopes of everyone being able to unite as one. Marley preaches for those things in the chorus by asking “Won't you help to sing these songs of freedom?” The next part of the song reaches deeper into ones self and emotions. Telling us to release ourselves from “mental slavery” and that no one can remove this block of self oppression unless it is done with our own strength; “None but ourselves can free our minds.” At the end he chants “‘Cause all I ever had: Redemption songs. All I ever had: Redemption songs. These songs of freedom. Songs of freedom.” Showing the only thing he had where he could truly speak about what was right to believe and do within ones self were all his songs. His music was his freedom, his escape.

Trenchtown Rock is a prime example of how Marley used his music to escape the bad things occurring during his life. Showing how music is a way to avoid oppression and focus on what is left around you. Songfacts.com stated that:

“Trenchtown is a poor area in Kingston, Jamaica where Marley grew up. After