The Survivors (Dedication to Bob Marley) | Poem

"Because in that thing there's a struggle there, that is real, that is a real struggle. And plenty people try skip the struggle, you know, and try to make life much easier. Someplace, sometime, somehow, somewhere easier, you know. But easier it only lasts for time, because the struggle is [...'points to head'...] our people [...] Rastafari, and allow our people now must know the truth, and deal with it. Because, if we don't deal with it, you know, it's judgement time and there's some who GoD really pick, that some MUST survive. So, we call for Survivors them, now." - Bob Marley"

Backstory Coming Soon....

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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:

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, The Black Survivor...

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's 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

For We Are Survivors, Yes, Them Black Survivors

We're The 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 Overstanding 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 Are The Survivors, The Black Survivors!

We Are The Survivors, The Black Survivors!

We Are The Survivors, Yes, The Black Survivors!

We Are The Survivors, The Black Survivors!

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The Survivors (Dedication to Bob Marley) by SoL

Performance was STAYonLIT

Lyrics were Composed in SoL

Published via Embold with SoL

Written on Sunday, February 6, 2022

Inspired by Bob Marley Interview w/ Gil Noble - "Like It Is" in NYC [1980]

*Hook Interpolates the Chorus from Survival by Bob Marley & The Wailers

***************************************

MESSAGE FROM THE ARTIST:

This Artistic Piece of Literature is the Sole

Intellectual Property of The Original Author &

Copyright Owner by name of Steven O. Lynn

bka SoL aka Mista STAYonLIT; All Rights Reserved.

*Unless Otherwise Indicated, This Creative Portion

Of This Piece Is The Ownership of The Stated Artist.

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This poem is included in the spoken word anthology known as “Arts Equity Collective presents: SOS Empowerment Arts & Healing (Student Textbook)”. This poetry collection includes over 80 poems, short stories and essays plus visual work of real-life experiences of struggle and resilience from different artists of different backgrounds. Included is commentary from nationally renowned writer and poetess MoPoetry Phillips, providing a hopeful narrative to curate safe spaces of release, healing, and the writing tools to do so.

You purchase a copy of this full color publication by donating $18 to Arts Equity Collective via PayPal at https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=ZV6KYXG9X2TSW and write "Book Sales” in the comment section. Or you can send payments via Zelle using email MoPoetry@ArtsEquityCollective.org. All donations go to AEC's work in the school system and prison system to provide classes/workshops for trauma reform through creative writing.

For additional information, visit https://www.artsequitycollective.org, or send an email to mopoetry@artsequitycollective.org.

Art by №paparazziart

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Live Performance w/ Charlie Suits, Cleöcrt, & The Nostalgia Band

"Get Up, Stand Up...Survivors!" - Live Band Performance 36th Annual Juneteenth Celebration

Survival (1979) - Bob Marley & The Wailers

Bob Marley Interview w/ Gil Noble - "Like It Is" in NYC

Quote Reference Video