One Drop Twenty-Five
Feel it in the one drop/And we'll still find time...
So this is it - the final posting. Over the last seven months we’ve run 25 posts covering many aspects of reggae music, style and culture. Thanks for staying with us! We leave you with something simple - a heartfelt poetic appreciation of Bob Marley from Jeff Dawson, plus a final look at the great man in action.
We’ll be publishing the poems from this project as a download on the 45th anniversary of Bob Marley’s death - May 11th.
We end where reggae arguably began, at least for most of us…the first great bluebeat/ska record to be an international hit outside Jamaica - Millie Small’s My Boy Lollipop. Pure joy, I’m sure you’ll agree.
Keep your hailing frequencies open - there’s a wealth of reggae out there for you to discover.
Marley’s Legacy
Brothers and sisters, please welcome From Jamaica, Island recording stars Bob Marley and the Wailers! Born in Nine Mile, Jamaica, One of his country's favourite sons Sadly died in Miami, Florida Illness taking him far too young Too early for most of us To get that chance to see him live But his music inspired generations Black, brown and white Bringing reggae and 'One love' To millions worldwide From the oldest Jamaican To the very youngest child The influence across the pond Was now plain to see Reggae bands in the British charts Two Tone and Punk hitting the scene Rocksteady, Ska and Calypso Now heard on many streets I've loved this music to this day From those early days in my teens The Clash, Stiff Little Fingers, The Ruts and many more Fusing Reggae with Punk Anti-Nazi credentials proudly nailed to the door They shaped my beliefs for life Anti fascist - now, forever - for sure! Eventually we saw the Wailers A tribute to Bob and their songs Get up, Stand up, Stir it up Exodus and Redemption Song Could you be loved, We're Jammin', Buffalo soldiers dancing all night long So, give me that heavy bass That melodic guitar and drums Songs of protest, songs of love Reggae, Blues, Soul and Dubs Black Uhuru, Steel Pulse, The Specials, Or UB40 in any concert hall or club In the eight decades That have passed since his birth Robert Nesta Marley Has surely left his mark on this Earth Not just music, as a symbol of culture And of course his spiritual worth Now it's his sons and daughters Singing and playing on to carry his word...
Jeff Dawson aka Jeffarama
Bob Marley and the Wailers in concert at London’s Rainbow on June 4th 1977
Elegy for Millie Small
My, girl,
how you lit the fuse
to that cane-sweet beat,
blue as Kingston sky,
mashing up systems
from here to Brixton,
making the world
go giddy-up.
Andy Jackson