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For this paper I will discuss the track, “Babylon System,” from Bob Marley’s album Survival. It was not hard to choose this song to analyze, as it is most certainly one of my favorite Bob songs. ... Answering the question of “my favorite Bob tune” has for a long time been a headache-inducing waste of time for me. The one thing I can say about “Babylon System” is that its unique rhythm and sound distinguish it from most of Bob’s other songs, which makes it easier for me to choose it as a favorite. ... ” The way they all have these conflicting pulls is an excellent example of rhythmic tension. ... Tension enough to keep your mind from “settling” into an easy groove but not too tense so as to sound in discord. ... Bob’s singing creeps out of the mesh from nowhere. His first couple notes are so subtle, but then almost immediately he has that familiar Bob power in his voice. ... The I-threes do a great backup part the whole time Bob is singing, the chorus behind the preacher. ... I love Bob’s last call to rebel—there is so much suffering in the voice, the suffering of an entire race of people who have lived for years under the oppression of the ‘Babylon system.’ One of the most incredible musical elements to this song is Bob’s powerful singing. ... Each word he sings has a pulled, stressed sound, adding to the pulling tension of the band. They then play this Babylon system section, with wonderful backup singing by the I-threes, who become one harmonious instrument.
At 2:38 the band moves from Babylon system section to the ‘tell the children the truth’ section, and something begins to happen with the machine. ... The first part of the song was like a spoken “you ain’t gonna ‘press us no more;” the Babylon system section was sort of getting the word out about this oppressive system. ... I will forever hope for that lost recording or live performance with an extended version of Babylon System. ... It has to do with the tension of the piece and the conflicting parts.
Approximate Word count = 1755
Approximate Pages = 7
(250 words per page double spaced)
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