Bob Marley - War (1976)

Bob Marley - War (1976)

Bob Marley and the Wailers

Bob Marley was a famous Jamaican singer-songwriter and guitarist, born in 1945 and dead in 1981. He is still an emblem of the reggae, a music genre originated in Jamaica in the late 1960's. The song “War” was recorded with the Wailers and it appeared in the album Rastaman Vibration in 1976. We are going to explain you in which way it is a protest song. Firstly, we will analyze the lyrics and their meaning. Then, we will associate them with historical and cultural contextual elements.

Haile Selassie

The lyrics of the song are part of or inspired by the speech of the Ethiopian emperor before the United-Nations in 1963. Haile Selassie condemn the Italian aggression against his people. Bob Marley really appreciate this speech and put it up in the rehearsal's local of the Wailers. A few years later he decided to use the speech for the lyrics of his song.

In the first and second paragraphs, Bob Marley is denouncing discrimination in the world and in the countries. The beginning of the lyrics are a direct quote of Selassie's speech. He explains that today there are different categories of citizen and different races which are not equal. He also says that in any nations the color of the skin is more significative than the color of the eyes, he fights against those discrimination and declare a pacific war on this philosophy.

In the third paragraph he declares that for him the basic humans rights must be “guaranteed to all without regard of race”. It is another reference to Selassie who reproach to Mussolini not to respect the international rights with the colonization of Ethiopia. Once more, and as in the other paragraphs, he says war.

Apartheid in South-Africa

In the fifth paragraph he directly denounce the political regimes in Angola, Mozambique and South-Africa. In fact, in 1963 Mozambique and Angola were under Portuguese dictatorial governments. When Bob Marley write the song, they were free but there still were internal conflicts. At that time the apartheid is striking in South-Africa. This part of the song reflects international tensions, racism and slavery.

In the fourth and in the last paragraphs, Bob Marley alludes to his dreams of peace in the world. He wants a “world citizenship” and a “rule of international morality” but he also knows it is just an illusion. In the last paragraph, he promise that African people will fight and will be victorious against evil.

In the sixth paragraph, the lyrics are generalizing the war to the entire world : “east”, “west”, “north” and “south”. Bob Marley maybe wanted to say that racism is everywhere and that we have to fight against discrimination in every parts of the world.

In conclusion, this protest song is an anthem against racism, a symbol of fight against oppressions and an ode to peace. There was many covers of this song from artists from differents countries. It was also adapted to other forms of oppression like the cover of Sinnead O'Connor who denounces sexual violences on children.

Lyrics of the song 

Until the philosophy, I will like to divide it with those which want to learn...

Which hold one race

Superior and another, inferior

Is finally, and permanently

Discredited and abandoned

Everywhere is war

Me say war

That until there're no longer

First class and second class

Citizens of any nation

Until the colour of a man's skin

Is of no more significance

Than the colours of his eyes

Me say war

That until the basic human rights

Are equally guaranteed to all

Without regard to race

Dis a war

That until that day

The dream of lasting peace

World citizenship

Rule of international morality

Willl remain in but a fleeting illlusion

To be pursued

But never attained

Now everywhere is war, war

And until the ignoble and unhapppy regimes

That hold our brothers in Angola, in Mozambic,

South Africa, sub-human bondage

Have been toppled

Utterly destroyed

Well everywhere is war

Me say war

War in the east

War in the west

War up north

War down south

War, war

Rumours of war

And until that day

The African continent

Will not know peace

We africans will fight it

We find if necessary

And we know we shall win

As we are confidents

In the victory

Of good over evil, good over evil

Good over evil, good over evil...

Estelle DATTIN et Lucie ROUSSEAU