Today is Bob’s day. An important day for me. A turning point you might say. I guess we all have them. Mine originates in 1979. April 16 to be precise. Western Springs. A Speedway venue. Bikes and Midgets. Lotsa noise.

Lotsa spirit that evening too. Marley style.

 

 

Bobs day .. program, hangs in the garage-still

 

 

This song was apparently written as he was coming to terms with terminal cancer. Urges people to

“Emancipate yourself from mental slavery…..None but ourselves can free our minds“

All too true.

Often covered. Bob himself said

‘It’s not copied…It’s a feel’

And politicized. Bono from U2 connects..

“I carried Bob Marley’s Redemption Song to every meeting I had with a politician, prime minister, or president. It was for me a prophetic utterance or as Bob would say ‘the small ax that could fell the big tree’. The song reminded me that freedom always comes with a cost, but for those who would prepare to pay it, maybe ‘emancipation from mental slavery’ would be our reward.”

This was a concert full of spirit. A man. Not white. Not black. Moving the world.

‘I don’t have prejudice against meself. My father was a white and my mother was black. Them call me half-caste or whatever. Me don’t dip on nobody’s side. Me don’t dip on the black man’s side nor the white man’s side. Me dip on God’s side, the one who create me and cause me to come from black and white’

Back then I was a punk. Some things never change.

The evening was XScellent. And my 650 flew.

 

 

bobs day .. no woman no cry

 

 

‘Money can’t buy life’

Happy Birthday Bob. RIP.