I think there have been some good comments on here, but I would like to center on two lines of the song I believe to be improperly treated and, in fact, related in an interesting way. The lines are:
"emancipate yourselves from mental slavery..."
"we've got to fulfill the book"
Here Bob is engaged in what's called reification critique. That is, he's challenging people to think critically about their surroundings and stop taking as "natural" or "inevitable" events or situations that are products of human agency.
Why would people make such a mistake?
Well, according to (some interpretations of) Marx, the working class, or proletariat, suffers from "false consciousness." This false consciousness causes them to see capitalist expropriation as an inevitable outgrowth of material conditions, and even to identify with their oppressors in one way or another. The proletariat is much stronger than the bourgeoisie, but, because of this false consciousness, the proletariat fails to realize its revolutionary potential.
In other words, in order to achieve political emancipation, the proletariat must first achieve mental emancipation. And only they can do that.
I believe that Bob is referring to Christian eschatology in the second part. The book he is referring to is The Bible, specifically Revelation. There are those that would remain defeated when their leaders are murdered - or might even praise it in a strange way. This is because Revelation predicts things must get much worse before they get better - ie. Jesus returns. Thus, any attempt to better one's position is to go against God's will. One should welcome persecution, because that means The End - and Christian redemption - is nigh.
Bob clearly does not like this attitude.
So, there it is, in both of these lines, he's addressing arguments against a revolution of the proletariat. Get Up, Stand up!
@gnomeklpto - great comments, I appreciate your articulation of things, which happen to reflect, largely, my exact feelings on both Marley's words as well as my personal view of the status quo in our "Western" culture. Unfortunately, the proletariat majority are so far gone that I am not sure redemption is possible.
@gnomeklpto - great comments, I appreciate your articulation of things, which happen to reflect, largely, my exact feelings on both Marley's words as well as my personal view of the status quo in our "Western" culture. Unfortunately, the proletariat majority are so far gone that I am not sure redemption is possible.
Via one of the most insidious tactics used to truly brainwash people, people are led to feel that they have freed their minds, when in reality, they have simply purchased a pre-packaged and slickly-marketed set of beliefs that members of this group believe to constitute "free...
Via one of the most insidious tactics used to truly brainwash people, people are led to feel that they have freed their minds, when in reality, they have simply purchased a pre-packaged and slickly-marketed set of beliefs that members of this group believe to constitute "free thought," sometimes merely because a given belief challenges the current "establishment," whatever they may perceive that to be; a salient example of this would be the monikers of "Republican" and "Democrat" - both of those are just such packages of beliefs. I am surprised people don't realize that it's highly improbable that either of the extremes put forth by those groups could be "right" or "correct."
While it is true that some "established" ideals/practices/theories may need to be revised or thrown out, applied thinking/analysis should be done before doing so, lest the proverbial baby ends up thrown out with the bathwater. In my 37 years, I've observed that extremes in anything are usually poor positions to take - the seemingly sane/rational/logical "answer" is usually to be found somewhere in the middle (equilibrium).
The sad fact is, people simply don't want to think - it is too hard and, besides, there is something good to watch on TV right now, so I will "think" about things later! As long as people are amused/entertained/fed or otherwise distracted, they really don't care to think. To quote Kurt Cobain, singing about this fact, "Here we are now, entertain us."
Now, there are those, when blessed with time/money/opportunity for leisure, spend time thinking about how to solve or mitigate the "hard" problems (hunger, poverty, disease, etc.) of this world, but they seem to be few.
/>
Regarding your comments on the Book of Revelations, I completely agree that this is what Marley was referring to. And religious people I know do have the tendency to say, regarding the seemingly-downward spiral of society, "well, it's inevitable - it's been prophesied to happen, there's nothing we can do about it." Even if it proves to be true that we are in the "last days" predicted by that Biblical book, we are not justified in throwing our hands up in assumed defeat - we are to fight valiantly so that we can maintain honor. God would not have us hasten the demise of society, he'd have us fight a good fight.
Anyway, that's my 2 cents, for what that's worth. :)
He means we got to fulfill the Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey. No references to the "other" book are made in the song. When Marley sings "emancipate yourself from mental slavery" he is actually quoting Marcus Garvey. In November 1937 Garvey said, "we are going to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery for though others may free the body, none but ourselves can free the mind. Mind is our only ruler; sovereign."
He means we got to fulfill the Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey. No references to the "other" book are made in the song. When Marley sings "emancipate yourself from mental slavery" he is actually quoting Marcus Garvey. In November 1937 Garvey said, "we are going to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery for though others may free the body, none but ourselves can free the mind. Mind is our only ruler; sovereign."
Watch the acoustic version of Redemption Song. When Bob Marley sings "we got to fulfill the book" it is Marcus Garvey's picture...
Watch the acoustic version of Redemption Song. When Bob Marley sings "we got to fulfill the book" it is Marcus Garvey's picture that is displayed.
@gnomeklpto well what he is addressing in that particular line is the fear of a nuclear holocaust which is what was consuming the minds of all at that time and still is meanwhile the real issue is that while physical slavery (catching and selling of human beings) might have ended a new type had sprung up, slavery of the mind. Communism, capitalism, feminism, christianity, islam, gay rights all these banners and flags that represent ideas block reason... All idealism ought to have a human face and human feeling but as most minds are enslaved they do not. What Bob...
@gnomeklpto well what he is addressing in that particular line is the fear of a nuclear holocaust which is what was consuming the minds of all at that time and still is meanwhile the real issue is that while physical slavery (catching and selling of human beings) might have ended a new type had sprung up, slavery of the mind. Communism, capitalism, feminism, christianity, islam, gay rights all these banners and flags that represent ideas block reason... All idealism ought to have a human face and human feeling but as most minds are enslaved they do not. What Bob Marley is saying to all of us living in this age of ideas is "Are you master or slave to your ideas?"
The people who ask mankind to see things this way are often hated and persecuted thats why the line "how long shall they kill our prophets while we stand aside and look". as for "have no fear for atomic energy cause no of them can stop the turn", the bible speaks of a day when the doom's day clock will strike twelve. it will come when it must so it is no use living in fear. Better get your freedom from mental slavery and live a happy life.
He is so right, slavery is still on and it is not restricted by skin color anymore. Every race and place has its own variety.
I think there have been some good comments on here, but I would like to center on two lines of the song I believe to be improperly treated and, in fact, related in an interesting way. The lines are: "emancipate yourselves from mental slavery..." "we've got to fulfill the book"
Here Bob is engaged in what's called reification critique. That is, he's challenging people to think critically about their surroundings and stop taking as "natural" or "inevitable" events or situations that are products of human agency.
Why would people make such a mistake?
Well, according to (some interpretations of) Marx, the working class, or proletariat, suffers from "false consciousness." This false consciousness causes them to see capitalist expropriation as an inevitable outgrowth of material conditions, and even to identify with their oppressors in one way or another. The proletariat is much stronger than the bourgeoisie, but, because of this false consciousness, the proletariat fails to realize its revolutionary potential.
In other words, in order to achieve political emancipation, the proletariat must first achieve mental emancipation. And only they can do that.
I believe that Bob is referring to Christian eschatology in the second part. The book he is referring to is The Bible, specifically Revelation. There are those that would remain defeated when their leaders are murdered - or might even praise it in a strange way. This is because Revelation predicts things must get much worse before they get better - ie. Jesus returns. Thus, any attempt to better one's position is to go against God's will. One should welcome persecution, because that means The End - and Christian redemption - is nigh.
Bob clearly does not like this attitude.
So, there it is, in both of these lines, he's addressing arguments against a revolution of the proletariat. Get Up, Stand up!
@gnomeklpto - great comments, I appreciate your articulation of things, which happen to reflect, largely, my exact feelings on both Marley's words as well as my personal view of the status quo in our "Western" culture. Unfortunately, the proletariat majority are so far gone that I am not sure redemption is possible.
@gnomeklpto - great comments, I appreciate your articulation of things, which happen to reflect, largely, my exact feelings on both Marley's words as well as my personal view of the status quo in our "Western" culture. Unfortunately, the proletariat majority are so far gone that I am not sure redemption is possible.
Via one of the most insidious tactics used to truly brainwash people, people are led to feel that they have freed their minds, when in reality, they have simply purchased a pre-packaged and slickly-marketed set of beliefs that members of this group believe to constitute "free...
Via one of the most insidious tactics used to truly brainwash people, people are led to feel that they have freed their minds, when in reality, they have simply purchased a pre-packaged and slickly-marketed set of beliefs that members of this group believe to constitute "free thought," sometimes merely because a given belief challenges the current "establishment," whatever they may perceive that to be; a salient example of this would be the monikers of "Republican" and "Democrat" - both of those are just such packages of beliefs. I am surprised people don't realize that it's highly improbable that either of the extremes put forth by those groups could be "right" or "correct."
While it is true that some "established" ideals/practices/theories may need to be revised or thrown out, applied thinking/analysis should be done before doing so, lest the proverbial baby ends up thrown out with the bathwater. In my 37 years, I've observed that extremes in anything are usually poor positions to take - the seemingly sane/rational/logical "answer" is usually to be found somewhere in the middle (equilibrium).
The sad fact is, people simply don't want to think - it is too hard and, besides, there is something good to watch on TV right now, so I will "think" about things later! As long as people are amused/entertained/fed or otherwise distracted, they really don't care to think. To quote Kurt Cobain, singing about this fact, "Here we are now, entertain us."
Now, there are those, when blessed with time/money/opportunity for leisure, spend time thinking about how to solve or mitigate the "hard" problems (hunger, poverty, disease, etc.) of this world, but they seem to be few.
/>
Regarding your comments on the Book of Revelations, I completely agree that this is what Marley was referring to. And religious people I know do have the tendency to say, regarding the seemingly-downward spiral of society, "well, it's inevitable - it's been prophesied to happen, there's nothing we can do about it." Even if it proves to be true that we are in the "last days" predicted by that Biblical book, we are not justified in throwing our hands up in assumed defeat - we are to fight valiantly so that we can maintain honor. God would not have us hasten the demise of society, he'd have us fight a good fight.
Anyway, that's my 2 cents, for what that's worth. :)
@gnomeklpto
@gnomeklpto
He means we got to fulfill the Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey. No references to the "other" book are made in the song. When Marley sings "emancipate yourself from mental slavery" he is actually quoting Marcus Garvey. In November 1937 Garvey said, "we are going to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery for though others may free the body, none but ourselves can free the mind. Mind is our only ruler; sovereign."
He means we got to fulfill the Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey. No references to the "other" book are made in the song. When Marley sings "emancipate yourself from mental slavery" he is actually quoting Marcus Garvey. In November 1937 Garvey said, "we are going to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery for though others may free the body, none but ourselves can free the mind. Mind is our only ruler; sovereign."
Watch the acoustic version of Redemption Song. When Bob Marley sings "we got to fulfill the book" it is Marcus Garvey's picture...
Watch the acoustic version of Redemption Song. When Bob Marley sings "we got to fulfill the book" it is Marcus Garvey's picture that is displayed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFGgbT_VasI
@gnomeklpto well what he is addressing in that particular line is the fear of a nuclear holocaust which is what was consuming the minds of all at that time and still is meanwhile the real issue is that while physical slavery (catching and selling of human beings) might have ended a new type had sprung up, slavery of the mind. Communism, capitalism, feminism, christianity, islam, gay rights all these banners and flags that represent ideas block reason... All idealism ought to have a human face and human feeling but as most minds are enslaved they do not. What Bob...
@gnomeklpto well what he is addressing in that particular line is the fear of a nuclear holocaust which is what was consuming the minds of all at that time and still is meanwhile the real issue is that while physical slavery (catching and selling of human beings) might have ended a new type had sprung up, slavery of the mind. Communism, capitalism, feminism, christianity, islam, gay rights all these banners and flags that represent ideas block reason... All idealism ought to have a human face and human feeling but as most minds are enslaved they do not. What Bob Marley is saying to all of us living in this age of ideas is "Are you master or slave to your ideas?"
The people who ask mankind to see things this way are often hated and persecuted thats why the line "how long shall they kill our prophets while we stand aside and look". as for "have no fear for atomic energy cause no of them can stop the turn", the bible speaks of a day when the doom's day clock will strike twelve. it will come when it must so it is no use living in fear. Better get your freedom from mental slavery and live a happy life.
He is so right, slavery is still on and it is not restricted by skin color anymore. Every race and place has its own variety.