Rodney was born in Saint Ann's Bay, St. Ann, Jamaica, as were Bob Marley and Marcus Garvey; who both had a great influence on Rodney's life. Garvey in his philosophy, which Burning Spear greatly took to, and Marley in directly helping Burning Spear get started in the music industry. Burning Spear was originally Rodney's group, named after Jomo Kenyatta, the first Prime Minister and President of an independent Kenya. As fame took hold the name of the group gradually became synonymous with Rodney.
Burning Spear is one of the strongest proponents of Marcus Garvey's self-determination and self-reliance for all African descendants, thus leading to several album releases in commemoration of the African activist.
In 2002, Burning Spear and his wife, Sonia Rodney who has produced a number of his albums, founded Burning Spear Records.
Burning Spear advocates messages of honesty, peace, and love, which tie in with his religious and political messages of Rasta and black unity.
About Burning Spear
Burning Music
"I don't know how other people see music," reggae legend Burning Spear reflects. "Some people might see it based upon money, some people might see music based upon opportunity and access. But I see music as life. I see music as inspiration."
For more than 35 years, Burning Spear's music-thus, his life-has inspired people on numerous continents. Since the beginning, his songs have implored listeners to fight oppression in all its forms, to work at improving their own condition and to consider the social impact of their actions.
OUR MUSIC builds upon the Jamaican native's legacy of musical activism. With its inimitable dancing groove, the album percolates and bubbles rhythmically in its call for unity between races, between nations, between individuals and even between business associates.
OUR MUSIC is the second album released on his Burning Spear label, following 2003's Grammy-nominated FREEMAN. In the midst of its expected messages about love, oppression and African history is the title track, a public confirmation that his brand of positivity is tempered with a strong sense of self. "Our Music" is Burning Spear's reclamation of his own artistry-a justification for establishing his record company and a challenge to all artists to commandeer their own future.
"A lot of artists just have no time to really look within the business section of the music business," Burning Spear reasons. "There's no one to really sit them down and give them some of that business understanding before they get into what they get into. So then people walk all over these artists and do things where it's not appropriate and it's not right. It's not in the artist's love."
With his art and his business now firmly in his own control, Burning Spear's OUR MUSIC stands among the most joyful albums of his career. Bolstered by its throbbing basslines, bright horn parts and slinky female background singers, the songs embrace persistence ("Try Again"), self-analysis ("Friends"), love ("Fix Me") and community ("Together") through deceptively simple lyrics that point to deeper issues. It is, in effect, smart music you can dance to.
"It's like art," he says. "You're gonna paint this thing, and people are gonna look at this art and say that it looks like a tree, looks like a car, some people it looks like a flower. People are gonna say different things according to what they see. It's very different, what it looks like to them."
No matter who looks at Burning Spear's career, they have to be impressed. Of his more than 25 albums, nine have earned Grammy nominations, with one of them - 1999's CALLING RASTAFRI - receiving the Academy's Best Reggae Album honor. And he remains one of the few reggae pioneers still working and influencing the people today.
Born Winston Rodney in St. Ann, Jamaica, he was an early fan of Bob Marley. As the legend goes, Rodney bumped into Marley while walking through a field, and the two began talking about music. Marley encouraged him to visit Jamaica's Studio One, where Rodney and a fellow musician recorded "Door Peep." By the time of its release, Rodney had branded the duo Burning Spear, taking the nickname of Jomo Kenyatta, who was jailed by a colonial British government in Africa but rose to become the first president of Kenya.
"I believe in people who are gonna stand up for what they believe in," Burning Spear notes, "not only for themselves, but for themselves and their people, and that was what Jomo was doing."
Even more central to Burning Spears' mission - and it truly is a mission - was the doctrine of Marcus Garvey, a 20th century figure who pushed for a stronger black race through self-reliance. The Jamaican-born Garvey supported freedom and economic strength for all people, but made the African-originated population his focus and published his views in a New York-based newspaper, Negro World. Garvey was jailed in the 1920s and eventually exiled to Jamaica, though he never lashed out at the system that brought him down. His message survived, influencing the likes of Kenyatta, Martin Luther King Jr., Marley and Burning Spear, which titled some of its seminal albums MARCUS GARVEY and MARCUS' CHILDREN.
"Those men wasn't preachin' any violence," Burning Spear says. "They were preachin' about Oneness and the struggles of black people about where they can live and having their voices heard. I don't see anything wrong with his plan and his direction. I think he opened a lot of eyes and opened a lot of mouths so those people could really talk and their voices could be heard. I think the time is right now to clear his name up and set his record free."
Burning Spear's mission remains rather unchanged today, though the act and the music have undergone some alterations. The duo grew into a trio, but has long since morphed into Burning Spear, a solo artist. And while his music has always been a vehicle for social change, his songs are now increasingly melodic, developed with catchy hooks that use short phrases and point more subtly to internal truths for those willing to go through self-exploration.
The music survives in a much different musical era. The reggae genre, once a distinct idiom unto itself, has been co-opted by artists throughout the years and melded with other pop forms. Artists such as Eric Clapton, Paul Simon, The Rolling Stones, The Police, Stevie Wonder and UB40 combined it with pop and rock during the '70s and '80s, while Shaggy and Sean Paul have blended it with hip-hop textures in more recent years. Even country man Willie Nelson put together a hybrid album involving Toots Hibbert, of The Maytals.
Those efforts have called attention to the genre, and specifically to those who helped bring reggae to the world in the '70s, including Burning Spear, Peter Tosh, Hibbert and Marley. In his time, Marley gave Burning Spear his personal seal of approval, and the Spear continues to maintain a devotion to reggae's roots while continuing his service to Jah.
"I think people have to remember the originals," Burning Spear suggests. "So to be honest, I don't really feel no way about it when people put reggae in a different form. Regardless who's gonna do what with the music, I don't think they interfere with Burning Spear."
OUR MUSIC relies heavily on the roots of the reggae movement.
"What I tried to do with this album, musically and lyrically, is to go back to the '70s, when we were singin' about the history and the culture and the lifestyle of these people," Burning Spear observes. "A lot of Burning Spear songs of that earlier times, people would see as political. To me, it's just a natural thing. As an artist, I just expressed that."
Burning Spear continues his mission of expressing his heart, of entertaining and educating the masses. He cleverly accomplishes that by winning over his listeners' bodies before he impacts their minds. He witnesses that process each time he takes the stage.
"You see the head start to nod, you start to see one movement from one of these legs down here and another one, 'til the whole body just gets involved in the whole thing," he laughs. "You have to think about that when you're creatin' the music-you're not just creatin' the music for people to sit back and listen, 'Oh, that's all good and that's bad.' You need people to shake a leg."
As they listen at home and shake legs to OUR MUSIC, listeners will also be swept up with the headiness of Burning Spear's message. The political statements are still there, most obviously in the continued references to Marcus Garvey ("One Marcus" and "Little Garvey").
But OUR MUSIC also contains deeper ideas that penetrate quietly, subtly into the mind before they reach clarity. The bouncy "Friends" asks rather simplistically, "Are you my friend, my neighbor or my enemy?/Who are you? Who are you?" On further reflection, it's obvious that the question is a complex one about societal roles and provocative self-evaluation. "Together" recalls the image of African slaves, shackled together at the ankles, while suggesting that contemporary blacks can still link together figuratively at the elbow in the continued quest for equality. And "Fix Me" embraces the power and essence of love, which Burning Spear sees as the ultimate goal of humanity.
"Love," he says, "is a harmony thing, it's a communication. Love is a link."
Burning Spear's link is a pure one in 2006. Unfettered by someone else's record company, still linked to the roots of reggae and to the ideals of its forefathers, OUR MUSIC points to a better world for those who are oppressed, and for those who simply believe a better world is possible.
"Music," Burning Spear maintains, "is a very important thing. We have to remember that no force is stronger than the music."
Greetings
Burning Spear Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yes, greetings
Black Jah, black Jah come from Africa
Black Jah, black Jah come from Africa
First black man was from Africa yes, greetings
First black woman was from Africa yes, greetings
Black Jah, black Jah come from Africa
Greetings Africa yes, greetings
Greetings
Greetings Nigeria yes, greetings
Greetings Zimbabwe yes, greetings
Greetings Kenya yes, greetings
Greetings Ethiopia yes, greetings
Greetings Addis Abeba yes, greetings
Greetings Africa yes, greetings
Greetings yes, greetings
One thing I don't understand
How so many black people in America
Have no intention
Have no respect for their culture
I wonder why, I wonder why
But, anyway, I-man love
I-man love I-man black brethren in America yes, greetings
I-man love I-man black sistren in America
Even thouh they say that them a Yankee
Never, never, never, never mind that
A' me brethren yes, greetings
Never, never mind that a' me sistren
So they cause I an I people
To disown they people
But what a day when I an I people get together
Start to hold each other
What a feedback the wicked get
What a feedback the wicked get
What a feedback
Let me light my spliff
Get a clean and deep meditation
About black people hist'ry and culture
Greetings
What a feedback the wicked get
What a feedback the wicked get
What a feedback
Yes, greetings
The lyrics of Burning Spear's song "Greetings" is a powerful ode to the origins of black people and African culture. The repetition of "greetings" in the chorus serves as a means of paying respect to the different African nations mentioned in the song, such as Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Ethiopia. The song revolves around the idea that black people originated from Africa, and the first black man and woman also emerged from the same continent. Burning Spear sings about black people in America who disown their culture and have no respect for their origins. The singer wonders why this is the case, but he still shows love and respect for his black brethren and sistren in America. The hope is that one day, black people will unite and come together to celebrate their history and culture.
The song explores the themes of unity, respect, and pride in one's origins. The lyrics show the deep connection between black people and their African roots, and the need to acknowledge and celebrate their history and culture. The phrase "Black Jah come from Africa" emphasizes the idea that black people are connected to the origins of humanity itself. The repetition of "never mind that" when referring to the Yankee label given to black people in America shows that Burning Spear believes that labels and divisions should not define the black community. The hope is that black people will come together to support each other and overcome their challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Yes, greetings
Acknowledgement and respect
Black Jah, black Jah come from Africa
The origin of black people is Africa
First black man was from Africa yes, greetings
The first black man was from Africa, acknowledging and respecting history
First black woman was from Africa yes, greetings
The first black woman was from Africa, acknowledging and respecting history
Greetings Africa yes, greetings
Acknowledge greeting to Africa
Greetings Nigeria yes, greetings
Acknowledge greeting to Nigeria
Greetings Zimbabwe yes, greetings
Acknowledge greeting to Zimbabwe
Greetings Kenya yes, greetings
Acknowledge greeting to Kenya
Greetings Ethiopia yes, greetings
Acknowledge greeting to Ethiopia
Greetings Addis Abeba yes, greetings
Acknowledge greeting to the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Abeba
Greetings Africa yes, greetings
Acknowledge greeting to Africa
One thing I don't understand
Expression of confusion and curiosity
How so many black people in America
Observation about the number of black people living in America
Have no intention
Lack of motivation or desire
Have no respect for their culture
Lack of appreciation for their cultural heritage
I wonder why, I wonder why
Expression of curiosity and uncertainty
But, anyway, I-man love
Despite the confusion, the artist expresses love
I-man love I-man black brethren in America yes, greetings
Acknowledging and respecting black brethren living in America
I-man love I-man black sistren in America
Acknowledging and respecting black sistren living in America
Even thouh they say that them a Yankee
Acknowledging the label placed on black people living in America
Never, never, never, never mind that
Disregarding the label placed on black people living in America
A' me brethren yes, greetings
Acknowledging and respecting the artist's brethren
Never, never mind that a' me sistren
Disregarding the label placed on the singer's sistren
So they cause I an I people
Observation about the actions of others towards black people
To disown they people
The actions of others causing black people to disown their heritage
But what a day when I an I people get together
Hopeful sentiment for a future when black people unite
Start to hold each other
Physical and emotional embrace between black people
What a feedback the wicked get
Positive outcome when black people unite and embrace their heritage
Let me light my spliff
The artist is preparing to smoke marijuana
Get a clean and deep meditation
The singer desires a clear and meaningful spiritual experience
About black people hist'ry and culture
The focus of the singer's meditation
What a feedback
Positive outcome
Contributed by Abigail H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@sweetpotato908
Burning spears should be awarded lifetime one of Africa's greatest sons
@doterorootsmpress5906
Greetings all the way from Kenya 🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪
@jamalrasford7709
Greetings 2020
@davidkinyua3599
Yes greetings
@sandilendzinisa4425
greetings from Azania(South Africa)
@kakimuniafu450
Dotero RootsMpress...in April 2022 too!
@Nditso
Greetings Zimbabwe🇿🇼🇿🇼🇿🇼 am here 2021 this genre is therapeutic. Burning Spear still burning 🔥🔥
@ganyanidavis4541
Greetings from Zimbabwe
@calam8286
Greetings and love from Bangladesh. May the fire from the spear never diminish.
@nicodemusngwala2079
Greetings from Kiwira Tukuyu Mbeya Tanzania