Bob Marley and the Wailers
Latest Album: One Love at Studio One: 1964-1966 (Heartbeat, 2006)
http://web.bobmarley.com/index.jsp
OK, OK-- Marley's not a Christian artist. But don't tell the Anglicans.
The song One Love by the late reggae legend will be included in a new collection of Anglican church hymnals in Jamaica, along with the song Psalm 27 by another reggae musician, Peter Tosh.
Here's the first verse of One Love:
"One Love! One Heart!If that sounds perfectly fine to you, note that both Marley and Tosh were devout Rastafarians , and "the Lord" refers to Haile Selassie I, the former Emperor of Ethiopia, who they believe is God incarnate. Rastas also practice the spiritual use of marijuana and wear dreadlocks besides churning out great reggae music.
Let's get together and feel all right.
Hear the children cryin' (One Love!);
Hear the children cryin' (One Heart!),
Sayin' give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right."
Rev. Ernle Gordon, rector of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Kingston, said members of the Anglican Church of Jamaica were enthusiastic about including the songs in the hymnal, despite their sometimes vocal opposition to Christianity.
"They may have been antichurch, but they were not anti-God or antireligion," Gordon said. The action is part of a broader effort by the church to "Caribbeanise" theology.
Gordon said the use of reggae rhythms in the Anglican Church is nothing new. "We've been having reggae and 'mento' masses for 25 years," he said. "We make it clear that the words we use are correct theology. ..."
Oh, whatever.
But you've got to admit Marley is a lot more exciting dead than most Christian music artists are alive.
So now I'm pushing for The Kinks' hit song Lola to be included in the Baptist Hymnal... but only in the back, as a responsive reading. Anybody else have a suggestion?
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Bob Marley, Christian humor, satire, humor
2 comments:
More lyrics from the song:
Let them all pass all their dirty
remarks
There is one question
I'd really love to ask
Is there a place for the hopeless sinner,
Who has hurt all mankind just
to save his own beliefs?
and these...
Let's get together to fight
this Holy Armagiddyon
So when the Man comes there will be no, no doom
Have pity on those whose
chances grows t'inner;
There ain't no hiding place
from the Father of Creation.
Gives you the idea that you can read much more into this song than the 'One Love' refrain.
Methinks Bob was chastising a lot of people with his reference to 'let them all pass their dirty remarks.'
When you look close, it is an odd inclusion in the hymnal.
Long-time "Door" reader, first-time commenter.
The Simpsons' writers had fun with the idea of "In The Garden Of Eden" by Iron Butterfly used in a church service, though it did wear out the organist.
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