Bob & Me

On February 6, 1945 Robert Nestor Marley came into this world and left it irrevocably changed.

Whether it be "I Shot the Sheriff", "Turn Your Lights Down Low", "Trench Town Rock", "Redemption Song" or "Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)", Bob's songs are known all over the world.

As a transplanted Jamaican with a large Jamaican family, one would think that I would have had at least one Marley CD. I distinctly remember being shamed by the guy installing my air conditioned unit.

After being in my house for a while, and hearing the music being played, he asked me if I didn't have any reggae. I said "no". His response: "Not even Bob Marley"?? Hearing again my negative response, his eyebrows shot up.

Not realizing the error of my ways, I asked him what was the big deal... I mean its not like I didn't know who Bob Marley was! He just shook his head in dismay and hurried out of my house still stunned at my lack of cultural identity.

Shamedfaced, I hurried into a 2nd hand cd store and picked up a few compilation CDs of Bob Marley and played them.

I was hooked in no uncertain terms.

Bob helped me find my cultural identity.. I'm not saying that Bob Marley is the epitome of Jamaica. But as a transplanted Jamaican, my Jamaican identity was a bit watered down.

Bob helped me.

I have memories of family with Bob's music. My totally "stoosh" family singing Bob's songs at family reunion...what??? Spliff smoking, dreadlocked Bob and MY family?? Wow.

Again...Bob helped me.

Memories of a few summers ago in Toronto with my uncle playing "Redemption Song" on his piano and the rest of us joining in...WHAT??

Oh yes...once again...Bob helped me.

Whether it is "Kinky Reggae", "Guava Jelly", "Exodous", "Craven Choke Puppy" or talkin 'bout "Bull Buck & Duppy Conqueror" or not wanting to "wait in vain"..Bob's lyrics have stood the test of time.

Songs about love or songs about the betterment of people are basically the focus of his lyrics. Feel good lyrics? Hardly. "Buffalo Soldiers" talking about "fighting and survival" are hardly feel good lyrics...yet it feels right.

Fast forward several years. I have Bob on my iPod. For some reason, it keeps me going on the treadmill. It pushes me further.

I find myself not being able to stop running when any of his songs pop up. Its not like his songs are fast paced...but well its Bob...or in the words of Bono...The Right Honorable Robert Nestor Marley [yum...just hearing his Irish accent pronounce his name...yum yum!!]

Bob, I drink a toast to you on your birthday. May you rest in peace.
http://web.bobmarley.com



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