One aspect of Bob Marley’s lyrics that is specifically influential in his message is his use of inclusive terminology. His repetition of naming his listeners as ‘we’ may subliminally invoke an affiliation toward Marley’s message, and ignite a kind of common bond that breaches the gap between artist and audience.
This system makes sense, because the best way to instigate a gathering is to put yourself at the same level as those you are ‘recruiting’- in a sense. Marley is the master of this method. His lyrics are filled to the brim with ‘we’ ‘our’ ‘ourselves’, etc. A prime example is in ‘Exodus’. “So WE gonna walk…WE’RE the generation…WE know where WE’RE going...WE know where WE’RE from…WE’RE leaving Babylon, WE’RE going to OUR fatherland…” This creates a common group of people with a similar background, shared current struggles, and a unified goal for the future. It is an all-inclusive, feel-good message that anyone can relate to and join because it is vague enough to support anyone’s feelings.
The same holds true with ‘Jamming’ and ‘Redemption Song’.
Jamming: “WE can do it anyhow…WE neither beg nor WE won’t bow…WE all defend the right…”
Redemption Song: “WE forward in this generation triumphantly…none but yourselves can free OUR minds…how long shall THEY kill OUR prophets while WE stand aside and look…”
This separation between ‘us’ and ‘them’ is another source of unity within the lyrics. Its Marley and his listeners against whatever enemy the audience chooses. The ‘man’, ‘big businesses’, the ‘killers of the prophets’, etc, are all appropriate choices for the ‘them’. The ‘us’ is those who support Marley’s message, which is basically whatever you choose it to be.
Some may argue that it is just music, and the message and lyrics aren’t necessarily used to generate a following. This is true to some extent, but whenever an artist has an agenda for which his music is an outlet, I think independent thinking is vital when listening to this message.