Bob Marley
p.1). Their religion reflects the social and geographical environment in which they live. The use of marijuana is used as a sacrament and aid to achieve logical meditation in their religion. The Rasta leaders regarded marijuana as “wisdomweed” and urged that it be smoked as a religious right. They allege that marijuana was found growing on the grave of King Solomon and they cite biblical passages, Psalms 104:14, to attest its sacramental propeties, “He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man, that he may bring forth food out of the earth” (Bradbury p.3). This is very important because Bob Marley was obviously under the influence of marijuana during most of his writing and performances. Thus, this drug had an impact on the way that Bob Marley performed, wrote, and lived his life. Though the drug marijuana was very important to the Rastafarian religion they looked down on other things such as alcohol, tobacco, all meat, and seafood (Bradbury p.3). They truly did not see anything wrong with the use of a drug that is illegal not only in their country, but in ours. Much of Bob Marley’s work has to do with his opinion of the drug.
I am going to compare and contrast three of Bob Marley’s most famous and listened to works. The songs “No woman no cry”, “Get up, Stand up”, and “Jammin” all are on a collection of Bob Marley’s greatest hits album Legend. The album which came out after his death has sold more than ten million copies and the United States and around twenty million throughout the rest of the world (BobMarley.com/ lyrics p.1). The greatest hits album combines the best songs from the twelve albums he made as a musician in his short, but successful life. The three songs that I am comparing all have very different meanings and are suppose to make you feel the situation as well as hear about it. They all involve the members of Bob Marley and the Wailers which was Marley’s second band. They all also involve different rhythms and beats to which the vocals are played.
The first song “No Woman no cry” was originally recorded for the 1974 release “Natty Dread”. The song is a deep reminiscence of Bob Marley’s impoverished life in Trenchtown (Miller p.3). The song was dedicated to his brethren and friend known as Tarter. Had it not been for Tarter’s household kitchen, Bob Marley would have gone without food on occasion; starved. Tarter is referred to in the song as one of the “good friends we have had, oh one of the good friends we’ve lost along the way” and in the next verse he says, “in this bright future you can’t forget your past”. Bob Marley is acknowledging the things that his friend Tarter did for him in the past and how even though he is now a star he will not forget what got [next page]