Being of Jamaican birth, naturally I might be and, in fact, I am inspired and motivated by the words and songs of the legendary, late Bob Marley. One of his most famous songs is entitled the same name of this essay; that is “Three Little Birds.”
The song was released in 1977 on his album “Exodus.” Later it was released as its own single. The song tells of Marley’s early morning awakening to 3 birds who are sweetly singing by his door. Bob could have been writing about any of the tropical singing birds in Jamaica. The picture painted by this idyllic setting is that the birds were conveying to him not to worry about anything great or small. At the time, Jamaica was going through a political identity affirmation. It was only in its 15th year of independence as from Great Britain. With this new independence, it was trying to understand and see which form of government was best for its people and progress. Michael Manley was the Prime Minister. Manley was attempting to integrate Socialistic principles into Jamaica. The example for Manley was Fidel Castro’s Cuba. Cuba was directly backed by the then apparently powerful Soviet Union.
Castro and Cuba had convinced Manley and others throughout the world that their Socialism/Communism was a great dynamic for their country. They were most influential in the Caribbean region of Jamaica, which was only 90 miles away from Cuban shores. They had convinced Manley and other Jamaicans that Cuba was a good working example. In fact, Cuba’s greatest import to Jamaica was sending medical personnel to Jamaica to augment the challenged medical system. In the 1970s, many Jamaican students of college age then went to Cuba to learn medicine. Cuba eventually also sent funding to start grade schools in Jamaica. It was apparent that Cuba had a foothold in the emerging country. Some of this influence also slipped into other Caribbean islands such as Grenada.
The Jamaican people had what could only be described at the time as a “soft” civil war. Many people who were very aware of (the Soviet Union backed) Cuba were actively trying to resist their influence. There were also those who thought the idea of going the way of Cuba was a good idea. The political parties — the PNP (headed by Michael Manley) and the JLP (headed by Edward Seaga) — convinced their followers that each of their sides were just and using almost any means to defeat the other. During 1972-1980, which was under Manley’s governance as Prime Minister, this situation manifested itself as violence and death in the Jamaican streets. The political death toll was in the hundreds annually. It is estimated that as many as 844 people were killed in political violence surrounding the election of 1980. It is in this climate that Bob Marley wrote “Three Little Birds.”
There was much to worry about. Besides the violence and killings, there was rampant inflation, shortages of consumer products. There was also a “brain drain” going on from Jamaica. Its most influential and educated citizens were fleeing primarily to the US.
“Bob,” as we Jamaicans affectionately refer to him, saw his role as getting people to work together rather than fight. He wanted the Jamaicans to focus on the positive. He was part of a peace rally in 1978 that prompted both party leaders to attempt to work together. This iconic picture is a significant moment in the political history of Jamaica. It shows the leaders of the two distinct parties in Jamaica at the time making a gesture of peace.
Fast forward to today – how can we apply the “Three Little Birds” principle to our lives. We must find a way to dismiss the negative and naysayers in the world. On Jan. 1, 2000 when no planes fell out the sky because of “Y2K,” we should have been encouraged that those predicting the end of the world (again) were incorrect. On Dec. 12, 2012 when the Mayan calendar’s “zero dating” apocalypse did not occur, we should have been even more skeptical. Remember, too, Al Gore’s doomsday clock that the world had until Jan. 27, 2016 to stop climate change by ending use of fossil fuel. I’m not exactly sure how he was able to get such a precise date, but surely he must know. By now each of us should know that there are those who will do their best to convince us of doomsdays yet to come. Equally by now, we should know that no matter what the real or perceived crisis is, we find ways to press on.
Marley’s “Three Little Birds” song is not about some naïve person simply hoping for the best. He is merely applying the universal — and in the case of Christians, the concept that humans are ultimately not in charge of the final destiny of ourselves. That force we acknowledge as God governs everything (seen and unseen). “ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
We see that inflation is currently running at 9.1% and gas prices are significantly higher. We don’t worry – we pray. Ukraine is being crushed by Russia. We don’t worry – this will be solved some way, somehow. Water in Lake Mead in the Las Vegas area, where I live, is at an all time low; it too will be all right. So many other issues to worry about – the debate on guns… Roe v. Wade, immigration… is Crypto currency a thing of the future?… will Elon Musk ultimately buy Twitter?… (I put that last one in as a lighter issue). All issues great and small will be solved and surpassed with other issues of the future.
I keep three little toy birds in my backyard on the wall. The Vegas sun has bleached them almost to not being recognized. I guess it is almost time to replace them. I keep them there to remind me of Bob’s song and the concept of “don’t worry” to get through every day. It is simple, melodic, and calming, going straight to the soul.
Respectfully…
DG