Bob Marley and Rastafari

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http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/adc/10001918A~Bob-Marley-Rasta-Man-Posters.jpg

Bob Marley's work and legend has dispersed around the world, bringing the message of One Love to the masses. His music is so spiritual and passionate that you can't fail to be affected by it and the message behind it.

It's so sad he died at the height of his popularity (like most of our musical icons).

Some Marley quotes to consider for the Conscious Bible:

“Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery. None but ourselves can free our minds.”

"Open your eyes and look within. Are you satisfied with the life you're living?"

“Herb is the healing of a nation, alcohol is the destruction.”

“The more people smoke herb, the more Babylon fall.”

"Get Up, Stand Up, Stand Up for your Rights. Get Up, Stand Up, Don't Give Up the Fight!"

“Until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned, everywhere is war and until there are no longer first-class and second-class citizens of any nation, until the color of a man's skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes. And until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race, there is war. And until that day, the dream of lasting peace, world citizenship, rule of international morality, will remain but a fleeting illusion to be pursued, but never attained... now everywhere is war.”

-Haile Selassie (Bob Marley quoted this in his song - War!)

Bob Marley initiated the first One Love concert in Jamaica. His goal was to unite the people of Jamaica during a time of political turmoil. He managed to get the two main politicial rivals to come on stage and hug.

This is what Marley stood for, unity and love in the face of oppression and war. His message lives on and continues to inspire millions with the hope that the common man can change the world if we just come together in the spirit of love.

Bob, as a Rastafarian, also championed the use of Ganja as a healing herb to be respected and used for its medical, psychological and spiritual properties.

I'm hoping the use of the sacred plant, cannabis, will be an essential element in COOL ceremonies. With recent Supreme Court rulings supporting the use of certain plants in religious ceremonies, we should be able to use it freely within a religious context. Several other religious groups are currently challenging the federal gov't on this issue. I suggest a wait & see attitude for the moment before we commit ourselves to this.

Comments?

[Skip]

On the downside, I'd have to say my biggest problem with Marley is how he and Rastafari in general focus on a lot of Xtian & Jewish mythology, like the devil and hell. Rastafari is a blend of both Jewish and Christian scriptures.

Some restrictions like diet just don't make sense. Rastafari pretty much prohibits the same things orthodox judiasm prohibits (pork, shellfish, cutting hair, even tobacco). While this made sense in the old days before refrigeration, it's absurd today. I can't understand why they felt it necessary to adopt such ancient illogical customs out of hand. (I am for promoting vegetarianism, however, for which I can provide 100 good reasons!).

The concept of Zion, a promised land, in its broadest sense is cool. Babylon is also a valid concept which describes the decent of humanity into greed and war.

Yet it's ironic to me that the Rastas living in tropical Jamaica consider that country hell and are waiting to be "transported" to their promised land - Ethiopia, like that's gonna be some kind of heaven there...

So I suggest we take what makes sense and leave the rest of the Rastafarian "dogma".

[BlackBillBlake]

Just down the road from where I now live, is a large country house and estate where Hailie Selasie lived during his time in the UK during WWII.


I love Bob Marley's music - still sounds good, undiminished in fact after many years.
Some other reggae and dub too. Lee Scratch Perry, lot of the old 70's reggae from people like Max Romeo, Jah Lion, Burning Spear, Junior Marvin. Also some homegrown UK bands, esp. Misty in Roots.

Whenever I have met Rastas, or had dealings with them, I've always got on well with no problems. There used to be a community of Rastas squatting a few houses down the road from where I was living in London back in 77. There was a sense of community between squatters, and the Rastas were nice people who always had formidable weed. And great music.

One thing I have always really liked and found interesting is the Rasta idea of changing words where they sound inappropriate - so 'opressor' becomes 'downpressor', because 'op' sounds like 'up'. I also like the 'I & I' thing.

[Skip]

This song encapsulates Marley's vision of One Love.

http://images.allposters.com/images/LPG/51245_a.jpg

Bob Marley's One Love/People Get Ready (Curtis Mayfield)

One love, one heart
Let's get together and feel all right
Hear the children crying (One love)
Hear the children crying (One heart)
Sayin', "Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right."
Sayin', "Let's get together and feel all right."
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa

Let them all pass all their dirty remarks (One love)
There is one question I'd really love to ask (One heart)
Is there a place for the hopeless sinner
Who has hurt all mankind just to save his own?
Believe me

One love, one heart
Let's get together and feel all right
As it was in the beginning (One love)
So shall it be in the end (One heart)
Alright, "Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right."
"Let's get together and feel all right."
One more thing

Let's get together to fight this Holy Armageddon (One love)
So when the Man comes there will be no, no doom (One song)
Have pity on those whose chances grow thinner
There ain't no hiding place from the Father of Creation

Sayin', "One love, one heart
Let's get together and feel all right."
I'm pleading to mankind (One love)
Oh, Lord (One heart) Whoa.

"Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right."
Let's get together and feel all right.
(Repeat)

[Skip]

Here's Curtis Mayfield's contribution (melody and some of the words), so the rest is Marley's. I recently saw a video of Curtis Mayfield performing this song and it freaked me out. I didn't realize he'd written part of the lyrics Marley used. So I was really confused as to how Mayfield had managed to rewrite Marley after he died. It's so weird I can't even explain it properly. I'm not even sure who died when.

PEOPLE GET READY
The Impressions
- words and music by Curtis Mayfield (1964)
- #14 hit for The Impressions in 1965 and covered by Rod Stewart and Jeff Beck in 1985?

People get ready, there's a train comin'
You don't need no baggage, you just get on board
All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin'
You don't need no ticket you just thank the lord

People get ready, there's a train to Jordan
Picking up passengers coast to coast
Faith is the key, open the doors and board them
There's hope for all among those loved the most
There ain't no room for the hopeless sinner whom would hurt all mankind
Just to save his own
Have pity on those whose chances grow thinner
For there is no hiding place against the kingdoms throne

People get ready there's a train comin'
You don't need no baggage, just get on board
All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin'
You don't need no ticket, just thank the lord.

Copyright 1964 Chi sounds (BMI)


I would so love to come up with a third version of this song! :)

[Skip]

Bob Marley's message rings so true, especially today.

So Much Trouble In The World
by Bob Marley

So much trouble in the world now (repeat)
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 spaceships
Million miles from reality
No care for you, no care for me
So much trouble in the world now (repeat)
All you've 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 this time
Don't leave another cornerstone standing there behind
We have 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 up must come down
Goes around 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 in the world
There is so much trouble in the world

[Scholar_Warrior]

something from George Clinton:

"P.Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up)"
Good evening.
Do not attempt to adjust your radio, there is nothing wrong.
We have taken control as to bring you this special show.
We will return it to you as soon as you are grooving.

Welcome to station WEFUNK, better known as We-Funk,
Or deeper still, the Mothership Connection.
Home of the extraterrestrial brothers,
Dealers of funky music.
P.Funk, uncut funk, The Bomb.

Coming to you directly from the Mothership
Top of the Chocolate Milky Way, 500,000 kilowatts of P.Funk-power.
So kick back, dig, while we do it to you in your eardrums.
And me? I'm known as Lollipop Man, alias the Long-Haired Sucker.
My motto is:

Make my funk the P.Funk
I want my funk uncut (make mine the P)
Make my funk the P.Funk
I wants to get funked up. (wants to get funked up)
I want the bomb,
I want the P.Funk (yeah)
I want my funk uncut. (make mine the P)
Make my funk the P.Funk
I wants to get funked up.

WEFUNK, y'all.
Now this is what I want you all to do:
If you got faults, defects or shortcomings,
You know, like arthritis, rheumatism or migraines,
Whatever part of your body it is,
I want you to lay it on your radio, let the vibes flow through.
Funk not only moves, it can re-move, dig?
The desired effect is what you get
When you improve your Interplanetary Funksmanship.
Sir Lollipop Man! Chocolate coated, freaky and and habit forming.
Doin' it to you in 3-D,
So groovy that I dig me.
Once upon a time called Now!
Somebody say, "Is there funk after death?"
I say, "Is Seven Up?"
Yeah, P.Funk!

Make my funk the P.Funk (uncut funk!)
I want my funk uncut (P.Funk!)
Make my funk the P.Funk (uncut)
I wants to get funked up.
I want the bomb,
I want the P.Funk
I want my funk uncut. (make mine the P)
Make my funk the P.Funk
I wants to get funked up.

Make my funk the P.Funk (make mine)
I want my funk uncut (the P)
Make my funk the P.Funk (hah!)
I wants to get funked up. (WEFUNK, y'all)
I want the bomb, (home of the bomb)
I want the P.Funk
I want my funk stepped on (Don't step on my funk)
Make my funk the P.Funk
Before I take it home

Yeah, I dig!
Let me put my sunglasses on.
That's the law around here, you got to wear your sunglasses.
So you can feel cool.
Gangster lean.
Y'all should dig my sun-rooftop.
Well, allright. Hey I was diggin' on y'alls funk for awhile.
Sounds like it got a three on it though, to me.
Then I was down south and I heard some funk with some main ingredients
Like Doobie Brothers, Blue Magic, David Bowie.
It was cool,
But can you imagine Doobiein' your funk? Ho!
WEFUNK, we funk.
Make my funk the P.Funk (ho!)
I want my funk uncut (oh, make mine)
Make my funk the P.Funk (yeah)
I wants to get funked up.
I want the bomb,
I want the P.Funk (P.Funk, y'all)
Don't want my funk stepped on
Make my funk the P.Funk
(Home of the extraterrestrial brothers)
Before I take it home.

Gettin' deep.
Once upon a time called Right Now
Ain't it funky now
Far 'round
Hey, doin' it to ya in the earhole

Make my funk the P.Funk
I want my funk uncut (make mine the P)
Make my funk the P.Funk
I wants to get funked up. (I want the bomb)
I want the bomb,
I want the P.Funk
Don't want my funk stepped on
Make my funk the P.Funk
Before I take it home
Yeah

We're not leavin' y'all, I want you all to stay tuned for Starchild
Make my funk the P.Funk
I want my funk uncut
Make my funk the P.Funk
I wants to get funked up.
I want the bomb,
I want the P.Funk
Don't want my funk stepped on (oh, make mine)
Make my funk the P.Funk (I wants to get funked up)
Before I take it home

Don't stop, get down
Talk!
Blow your horn
Peee-youuu!
Wants to get funked up
Well, allright!

Make my funk the P.Funk
I want my funk uncut
Make my funk the P.Funk
I wants to get funked up.
I want the bomb, (P.Funk)
I want the P.Funk
I want my funk uncut.
Make my funk the P.Funk
I wants to get funked up.

Make my funk the P.Funk
I want my funk uncut
Make my funk the P.Funk
I wants to get funked up.
I want the bomb,
I want the P.Funk
I want my funk uncut.
Make my funk the P.Funk
Before I take it home

Welcome to station WEFUNK, better known as We-Funk,
Or deeper still, the Mothership Connection.
Home of the extraterrestrial brothers,
Dealers of funky music.
P.Funk, uncut funk, The Bomb.

Lollipop Man here, alias the Long-Haired Sucker.
Chocolate coated, freaky and habit-forming
Coming to you in 3-D
So groovy that I dig me
Yeah!
Yeah! P.Funk!

[Anima_Mercury]

Hi Skip!


I'd like to share these opinions...

On the downside, I'd have to say my biggest problem with Marley is how he and Rastafari in general focus on a lot of Xtian & Jewish mythology, like the devil and hell. Rastafari is a blend of both Jewish and Christian scriptures.Then he thinks better than both of them! ;) I mean... Xtain & Jewish. Remember that Bob is (to me he hasn't died, his music and ideas are still alive) a very mystical person. A mystical person would think and even believe of such thing as a devil and hell. Take a look at this logical idea: "if you believe in joy is because of sadness. If you believe in Light is because of obscurity, and if you believe in God it's because of the devil."
See? There is logic in there... It all has its opposite side: goodness-badness, light-darkness, spring-winter, birth-death... and so on.

Some restrictions like diet just don't make sense. Rastafari pretty much prohibits the same things orthodox judiasm prohibits (pork, shellfish, cutting hair, even tobacco). While this made sense in the old days before refrigeration, it's absurd today. I can't understand why they felt it necessary to adopt such ancient illogical customs out of hand. (I am for promoting vegetarianism, however, for which I can provide 100 good reasons!).I think that as a very spirtual and mystical person, Bob intentions are to make us consciuous of the killing of animals and therefore reincarnation. Now, cutting hair dunno. Maybe he just wanted to have it long, why not? And tobacco for sure is no good! ;)

The concept of Zion, a promised land, in its broadest sense is cool. Babylon is also a valid concept which describes the decent of humanity into greed and war.Totally agree!

Yet it's ironic to me that the Rastas living in tropical Jamaica consider that country hell and are waiting to be "transported" to their promised land - Ethiopia, like that's gonna be some kind of heaven there...Bear in mind allegories, Skip...
Well, Earth is hell... just take a look around and you'll see it in every corner. suffering is right here, poverty is right here, prostitution, wars, killings, twisted society, no values, fears and slavery, discrimination, violations, rapes, robberies, hyprocresy, lust, and so on.
Promised land could be Ethiopia ("meaning returning to the origin") or India or China or elsewhere. Promised land is the whole world, not just a piece of land.

So I suggest we take what makes sense and leave the rest of the Rastafarian "dogma".Or let's just find a meaning behind words ;)

♥ Love ♥

Anima_Mercury


http://www.purplemoon.com/Stickers/one-love-rnd.jpg

[Skip]

Good response, Anima_Mercury! :)

[Anima_Mercury]

Good response, Anima_Mercury! :)Thanks Skip! :)


♥ Love ♥

A. Mercury


http://www.purplemoon.com/Stickers/bumper/marley-free-mind2.jpg