Marley and Everyone–31 Years After

May 17th, 2012 in Music

A guy in a crumpled cowboy hat and snap-shirt sits on a “starlit” stool with acoustic guitar.  He begins to sing of his grandpa’s death and his grandma’s efforts to comfort him in the loss.  Grandma pulls to the side of the road and plays him a song on her car’s 8-track player.   Given the singer’s gestalt and drawl, we expect grandma to play Willie Nelson (Gravedigger), George Jones (A Picture of You), Porter Wagoner (Green, Green Grass of Home), or (better yet) Gram Parsons (In My Hour Of Darkness).  Instead, country-singer Dean Brody hears Bob Marley singing that “everything’s going to be alright.”  It’s a somewhat jarring juxtaposition, but we “that knows it, feels it.”  We get grandma’s use.  Given Marley’s persistent positivity, the lyrics could be from a handful of his songs, but likely either Three Little Birds or No Woman, No Cry (make sure to check that latter link and especially at the 4:08 mark to see/hear the real deal).  The latter suits the scene better, but it makes no matter.   The lyrics never fail to comfort.

There are few universals in this world, but if there is one, it’s that Bob Marley’s songs continue to affect us universally, even in corners where you would least expect it.  Check out Dean Brody tipping his hat to Robert Nesta Marley nearly 31 years to the day that Marley left too soon (RIPMay 11, 1981).  Everything’s gonna be alright.

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