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Bob Marley
War
Until the philosophy which holds one race
Superior and another inferior
Is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned
Everywhere is war, me say war
That until there is no longer first class
And second class citizens of any nation
Until the colour of a man's skin
Is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes
Me say war
That until the basic human rights are equally
Guaranteed to all, without regard to race
Dis a war
That until that day
The dream of lasting peace, world citizenship
Rule of international morality
Will remain in but a fleeting illusion
To be pursued, but never attained
Now everywhere is war, war
And until the ignoble and unhappy regimes
That hold our brothers in Angola, in Mozambique,
South Africa sub-human bondage
Have been toppled, utterly destroyed
Well, everywhere is war, me say war
War in the east, war in the west
War up north, war down south
War, war, rumours of war
And until that day, the African continent
Will not know peace, we Africans will fight
We find it necessary and we know we shall win
As we are confident in the victory
Of good over evil, good over evil, good over evil
Good over evil, good over evil, good over evil
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The Rastafarianism movement originated in Kingston and won crowds of followers
worldwide. It worships overthrown Ethiopian ruler, Haile Selassie I, as an utter
living God.
When a delegation of elated Rastas wandered up to Ethiopia to honour Haile -- who
was a Christian, and no saint! -- an uncivil ninny official sent them away. Wow,
what uncanny irony! However, this made their reverence stronger. Besides, God is
not supposed to know he is God. Haile is remembered for land reform , the worthy
emancipation of slaves, and for universal suffrage.
Rasta culture is revolutionary, witty, colorful. They proudly wear waving, uncut,
wiry-woven wool "natty dreadlocks", idolize Zion, downthrow the evil
wrathful vain white cutthroat whore of Babylon, inhale on a certain illicit herb
("...to eat every herb of the land" [Genesis]), shun alcohol and only
eat natural "vital I-Tal" lunch.
Marley popularized Reggae culture everywhere. He drew from Rastafarian ritual
drumming, chanting, and dance beat.
In his renowned opus titled *War*, Bob Marley delicately binds a dynamic speech
written by Selassie with a buoyant reggae tune: A noble quest for world peace and
equal rights, more vital now than ever.
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