Tell Me Where’s A Survivor...Black Survivor
I'm Looking for The Survivors, The Black Survivors
Oh, I Found A Survivor, Yes, A Black Survivor
I’m The Survivor, Black Survivor...
On an episode of "Like It Is" with the late great Gil Noble which you can view on YouTube, Father Marley was asked what led to the writing of his most militant effort of a record known as "Survival". His answer was the 1976 shooting which injured Marley, his wife, and his manager. Due to no fatalities from the event, he surmised that that was indeed: Survival. Afterwards, Gil proceeded to ask, "What happened on the night he was shot?", it is here in this piece I offer my interpretation of his words in response:
It was about 3 nights before that ambush in the night, hit my door on Hope Road…gunfire bombarded me in a dream.
Bullets ran through my arms, torso and chest left red as I turn to see my own mother caught one to the head.
Naturally, any man would adhere to fear. Being that death feeling so near, so close as here.
That's when I hear "Don't Run. Stand Up."
“Despite what is happening now, repeat this to you now: Don't Run. Stand Up."
So, when the gunmen came in 3 days to do what gunmen do, I recalled that visual proof to be my ultimate truth.
Don't Run. Stand Up. I Choose to Stay Alive; I Am Determined to Survive.
‘Cause I’m A Survivor, A Black Survivor
Just Like You’re A Survivor, ‘Nother Black Survivor
Fore We Are Survivors, Yes, Them Black Survivors
We Are Survivors...The Black Survivors-
Survivors, Black Survivors
21st Century Natural Born Freedom Fighters
Legendary, Luminary African Souls on Fire
Lit by The Sun, Spirits Ever Young, Gold in Our Blood, the Iron Lion Pride of Zion
Loc'd Eyez on Forward Movement, Though We Never Forget Where We Came From
Marching Through The Wintry Cold Winds of America
Where Their Aim is to Dismay, Maim, Frame, and Slay Us like The Buffalo
But Souljahs Multiply Not Die, 'Cause High or Low We Are Beautifully Bold,
Adaptively Adequate, Intimately Innovative,
Relentlessly Resilient, Spiritually Sophisticated,
Compassion, Vigilant; Bravery, Militant;
Potential, Limitless; Any Thought of Killing It? Finish It!
Or Keep On Underestimating Our Innerstanding of the Situation
For Each One of Us Has The Tools of Creation
With Hands Made Strong by The Hands of The Almighty
To Hold On Through The Troubles and Struggles Day'ly & Night'ly
In Spite of The Tears That River Our Face
Despite The Fears That Slither Our Way
Our Hearts Beat On With That One Drop Rhythm
Staying The Course On Hope's Road Past The Babylonian System
Still Waking Up to Live, Turning Over Every Stone
Till They Wake Up to See Us Turn’t Into Cornerstones
We Are Not Conquered, We Are The Independence of Zimbabwe
We Are The Liberators, and Revolution is Coming at Our Pace
So, Ride Natty Ride, in The City of Cin Cin, Shine Nati Shine
And If They Come to Ambush in The Night Remember This Good Word to Recite
"Don't Run, Stand Up"; Your Life is Your Right, Your Right is To Live
So, Get Up, Stand Up, Fight On…And Live!
We're The Survivors, The Black Survivors!
We're The Survivors, The Black Survivors!
We're The Survivors, Yes, The Black Survivors!
We Are Survivors, Black Survivors!
The Survivors (Dedication to Bob Marley) by SoL
Performance was STAYonLIT
Lyrics were Composed in SoL
Published via Embold with SoL
Hook Interpolates from Survival by Bob Marley & The Wailers (1979): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyrpNfcNCz8&t=0s
Inspired by Bob Marley Interview w/ Gil Noble - "Like It Is" in NYC [1980]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7bSqj_3Q5g
On December 22, 2022, Charlie Suits and Cleöcrt teamed up with SoL to perform his poem "The Survivors" at the famous Wine & Jazz Lounge known as Nostalgia. Joined, spontaneously, by the venue's in-house band, a powerful rendition of music and voice was experienced by all in the room. One of the attendees managed to capture the event on film for your eyes, ears, and heart to enjoy. Click Video To Watch:
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