Songs Of Freedom

956 Words4 Pages
Jacob Waggoner 25 Oct 10 ENC-1102 Word Count 816 Songs of Freedom On September 23, 1980 Bob Marley played his final show protesting to “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery” because “None but ourselves can free our mind” (White 27). While sitting on a stool armed with only his guitar he sang “Redemption Song” knowing that he only had one month to live after being diagnosed with cancer. Bob Marley’s life was his music and it transcended across generations, social status and to every corner of the globe. Authors King and Jensen state in their article, “The lyrics in reggae music are full of powerful metaphors which argue for change in society” (27). Bob Marley wrote “Redemption Song” to tell a message about slavery. He sings of the slavery his ancestor’s faced and the slavery he knows as oppression from modern day society. Marley’s music is a plea to abolish oppression, and it was a symbol of resistance and resilience. Bob Marley injured his toe while playing a game of soccer that sometime later would be his demise. Marley’s injury worsened over time and it led doctors to suggest amputation, which Marley refused to have amputated because “Rasta don’t amputate” (Jacobson 3). Doctors began to explore different options to try and save his toe, which was riddled with melanoma. The surgeons performed a skin graft and it was deemed successful. Unfortunately over time the cancer metastasized throughout his body and a brain tumor was found as a result. Soon after being diagnosed with melanoma he wrote the song “ Redemption Song”. The message of the song speaks of oppression, defeat and freedom all at the same time. Bob Marley’s personal experience of oppression began at birth because he claims, “My father was a white and my mother was black. Them call me half-caste or whatever. Me don’t dip on nobody’s side.” (Smith 1). This upbringing fueled his
Open Document