Whenever I see a tree planted in a flower bed that's covered in wood chip mulch, I always feel a little sorry for that tree. How's it supposed to feel, standing all day in a massacre of chopped up trees? How completely awful. I know. I know. Trees can't see. I'm not so lucky, however. I see it and it haunts me.
Enough of that.
I love the way reggae songwriters feel absolutely no pressure to be clever or unique or creative. Reggae songwriters just say, in the very simplest terms, whatever's on their minds. They can just repeat the same three words over and over again. Every reggae song in the world has fewer lyrics than every other song in the world (with the obvious exception of George Harrison songs).
That's the reason Bobby McFerrin's song Don't Worry, Be Happy doesn't really qualify as a reggae song. The chorus sounds right, but he explains the concept too much in the verses. Examples aren't required, Bobby. We get it. Don't worry about writing verses. Be happy with the chorus. This morning I heard a reggae cover of the song. Do you know what it said? It said, "don't worry, be happy" over and over and over and then there was a bridge that was the chorus of the Three Dog Night song Joy to the World, and then it said "don't worry, be happy." some more. It was great, and it illustrates the other great thing about reggae songwriters: they often don't even bother to write new songs. They just mix up existing songs. These guys are great.
In spite of all of this, however, I could never be a reggae songwriter. Reggae is all about mastering the aesthetic, and I'm just too white and nerdy. I'll never be rasta. I know that now. So, I'm cutting off my dreadlocks. I'm tired of being called "Sideshow Bob". Four feet is long enough. I'm going to the barber right now.
I wonder if afros are in style? Hmmm...
Hello, friends. Irie. Irie.
Later. Love.
