This song is certainly NOT about cannabis. The stuff is never mentioned anywhere in the lyrics.
It's about religious hypocrisy. The lyricist holds the opinion that religion should bind people together, enable them to live in peace together. Instead, he observes, people argue about the "correct" way to believe ("isms") and end up separated instead of united in love of God ("schisms").
The song also tells people that they should not stay passively waiting for divine intervention if they want to better their lives. And they should not have to wait for the afterlife either. God is not going to "take away everything, and make everybody feel high" - take away all the pain and problems, provide bliss for each of us. God in the mind of this lyricist is "a living man" and he requires us to take action ourselves. We should not let ourselves be talked down to in church. No. "Stand up for your right!".
We all know that Marley was a deeply religious person. But this song is refreshingly anti-religious if you ask me. I also like to think that Jesus would certainly approve of it. He had some problems of his own with religious authorities and dogma in his time.
This song is certainly NOT about cannabis. The stuff is never mentioned anywhere in the lyrics.
It's about religious hypocrisy. The lyricist holds the opinion that religion should bind people together, enable them to live in peace together. Instead, he observes, people argue about the "correct" way to believe ("isms") and end up separated instead of united in love of God ("schisms").
The song also tells people that they should not stay passively waiting for divine intervention if they want to better their lives. And they should not have to wait for the afterlife either. God is not going to "take away everything, and make everybody feel high" - take away all the pain and problems, provide bliss for each of us. God in the mind of this lyricist is "a living man" and he requires us to take action ourselves. We should not let ourselves be talked down to in church. No. "Stand up for your right!".
We all know that Marley was a deeply religious person. But this song is refreshingly anti-religious if you ask me. I also like to think that Jesus would certainly approve of it. He had some problems of his own with religious authorities and dogma in his time.