I think this is Joe's epitaph. This song was released on his posthumous album Streetcore, and to me, it's Joe having his final say. He didn't know he was going to die, but hearing this, it doesn't matter. He's left us with something to think about.
He wrote protest music when he was with The Clash - he was always politcially minded, but this song feels like the words of a man who knows he's too old (or in Bob Marley's case, too sick) to stomp around angrily, but who hasn't finished saying what he wanted to say.
They should have put these words on his gravestone:
"Won't you help to sing
These songs of freedom
'Cause all I ever had
Redemption songs
All I ever had
Redemption songs
These songs of freedom
These songs of freedom"
And so now it's up to everyone else. Keep singing the songs of freedom. Keep fighting the good fight. Continue Joe and Bob's (and everyone else's) good work.
I think this is Joe's epitaph. This song was released on his posthumous album Streetcore, and to me, it's Joe having his final say. He didn't know he was going to die, but hearing this, it doesn't matter. He's left us with something to think about. He wrote protest music when he was with The Clash - he was always politcially minded, but this song feels like the words of a man who knows he's too old (or in Bob Marley's case, too sick) to stomp around angrily, but who hasn't finished saying what he wanted to say.
They should have put these words on his gravestone: "Won't you help to sing These songs of freedom 'Cause all I ever had Redemption songs All I ever had Redemption songs These songs of freedom These songs of freedom"
And so now it's up to everyone else. Keep singing the songs of freedom. Keep fighting the good fight. Continue Joe and Bob's (and everyone else's) good work.