Friday, February 6, 2009

Happy Birthday Bob!


Bob Marley would have been 64 today. It's hard for me to believe that he was only 36 when he died. He was a true poet, in his mind and in his heart.

He left us way too soon.

Everyday at work, as I sit at my desk, I can look over my monitors and see Bob hanging on my wall. Many years ago, I purchased a charcoal drawing of him at an art show. I paid about a hundred dollars or so for it. At the time, that was a pretty large sum for me. I've never regretted the purchase. During those years, (my low to late 20's), I moved several times. Bob was always the last thing off the wall in the old place and the first thing on the wall in the new place.

When I got divorced, I brought Bob to my office. No one in my office even knows who he is. I tell them he's my grandfather. The most common response is: "Are you Indian"?

Philistines.

I love to watch him sing, he has such passion. I get the feeling he'd be just as happy singing on a street corner as he would be in a concert hall. It was about the music, not the money.

Anyway, I love Bob. I wish he were still around.



Redemption Song

Old pirates, yes, they rob I;
Sold I to the merchant ships,
Minutes after they took I
From the bottomless pit.
But my hand was made strong
By the 'and of the Almighty.
We forward in this generation
Triumphantly.
Won't you help to sing
These songs of freedom? -
'Cause all I ever have:
Redemption songs;
Redemption songs.

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;
None but ourselves can free our minds.
Have no fear for atomic energy,
'Cause none of them can stop the time.
How long shall they kill our prophets,
While we stand aside and look? Ooh!
Some say it's just a part of it:
We've got to fulfil de book.

Won't you help to sing
These songs of freedom? -
'Cause all I ever have:
Redemption songs;
Redemption songs;
Redemption songs.
---
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;
None but ourselves can free our mind.
Wo! Have no fear for atomic energy,
'Cause none of them-a can-a stop-a the time.
How long shall they kill our prophets,
While we stand aside and look?
Yes, some say it's just a part of it:
We've got to fulfil de book.
Won't you help to sing
Dese songs of freedom? -
'Cause all I ever had:
Redemption songs -
All I ever had:
Redemption songs:
These songs of freedom,
Songs of freedom.

7 comments:

Bee said...

I can't get over the fact that no one in your office knows who Bob Marley is!! Are you kidding me?

He would have been a great oldie, I'm sure. Despite his untimely death, though, his body of work is still so meaningful and lasting. He has an immediately recognizable sound, and I love that there is both protest and peace in it.

Brave Sir Robin said...

No, sadly I am not kidding.

Not.
A.
Single.
Person.

In a company of almost 50 people.

splord said...

But it's not my birth-- oh. :)


Also? Holy Crap.

You work in the most clueless office ever, dude.

Unknown said...

I am sooo sorry that you are constantly surrounded by folks who don't know who Bob is. Blows my mind!!

Lucy said...

I think perhaps Redemption Song is still one of my all time favourites, though I did rather like Bunny Wailer's version of it, post-Bob.

Came across to thank you for the comment on my archive post; Bee is a dear like that isn't she!

Brave Sir Robin said...

Lucy -

Yes, she is.

:)

Anonymous said...

Nobody near the Caribean has heard of Bob. Of our generation. The 40somethings.

Plain don't believe you. You're lying man.

Give me the extensions and I'll hum Jammin'. I don't care how freakin' conservative they are they'll jam back.

That or you are lying.