A column dedicated to great songs, old and new.
July 19, 2005
Written by Bob Marley
From Burnin', Tuff Gong/Island Records, 1973
"At Bob and Rita's wedding party, on February 10, 1966, this
tune, which had (originally) come out at the end of the previous
year, was played over and over for a full half-hour."
- BobMarley.com
Burnin'
The Wailers
Bob Marley has meant a lot to me over the years. He was biracial, an islander, and unafraid to speak of his political views and religious instincts.... all things which resonate with me on a personal level. I was happy to see that Bob's impact on music and culture was fully celebrated in a recent issue of Rolling Stone. Given the ubiquity of his image, and the immense popularity of reggae music as a kind of woo-hoo "party" music, it's important to remind people that behind the icon, there was a passionate activist and deeply spiritual person who sought justice for the oppressed people on his island, and around the world.
"Put it On", like much serious reggae music, is at its core, a liturgical song. It is meant for spiritual reflection and celebration (in the Rasta tradition, this activity is of course enhanced with herbal support materials). The lyrics, blues-like in form, have a simplicity meant for meditation:
"Feel them spirit
Feel them spirit
Feel them spirit
Lord, I thank you
Lord, I thank you...
Feel alright now
Feel alright now
Feel alright now
Lord, I thank you
Lord, I thank you"
The music bounces along with undeniable joy and positivity, which is an interesting contrast to the darker issues Marley tackles elsewhere on the excellent Burnin' album. Clearly, Marley intended this song as a straightforward song of praise, a kind of musical prayer. This stanza says it all:
"No more cryin'
No more cryin'
No more cryin'
Lord, I thank you
Lord, I thank you..."
The background vocals on "Put it On" are pure gospel-soul, and add a lot to the song's mood-revitalizing vibe. I like to think of "Put it On" as a kind of tonic for the spirit, which you can take when you're feeling a little down. It's one of my favorite ways of remembering Bob Marley.
Feel them spirit.
pcm
Purchase:
Burnin'
at Amazon.com
at Tower
Records
Recommended Reading:
Catch a Fire: The Life of Bob Marley by Timothy White, (Owl
Books Reprint), 1998
at Amazon.com