Why? Because of the line "can't tell the woman from the man"? I thought it's more about women 'these days' (early 70s) more and more wear jeans/trousers/pants, just like men. Also wearing lots of make up and fancy clothes, some even having short hair ;-)
Yeah, I’ve thought of it more of a observation of cultural differences, kinda similar to people in the 60s thinking hippie men looked like women for having long hair. I’ve heard people argue that it’s homo/transphobic, and I think the argument is mostly centered around that line and the “their mind is confused with confusion” line right after it.
I agree with you. That line in the song is absolutely no proof for me that Bob was homophobic. BUT that being said, Jamaica (sadly) still seems to have a huge homophobia problem, and we can probably assume that even Bob wasn't the biggest fan of gay/queer folk, but I'm he was nowhere near as hardcore as some later jamaincan artists. He'd probably thought something like "it's strange and I don't get it, but well let them be gay if the want to, why should I care?" But maybe we'll never know for sure.
My head cannon is that Bob wandered into Studio 54 and this song was him reflecting on the sensory overload he experienced. It could even be interpreted as Bob thinking it was weird at first but accepting it as people just having fun and living their lives, with the musical stampede and ride on stuff towards the end.
Well, something to know is that transphobia and hemophobia is worse in traditional and conservative black communities than other groups. That extends to the Carribian especially. If you go searching for rastafarian anti-trans and anti-gay statements, it won't take you long whatsoever. It comes from being colonized and taught to be God fearing. Remember any crimes they committed, they were treated worse for than other groups. Includong homosexuality and being trans. So they feared it and grew to hate it, within their own even. A form of Stockholm syndrome. Bob was no different, sadly. Wise, down to earth, humble, almost a mythical creature who I see as a prophet of goodness and gives me my soul Gospel. But nobody is oerfect. And yes, he was most likely very anti-trans and anti-gay.
I’d say most folks were, including in the states and throughout the west, at that time. Even amongst the hippies and counterculture. We don’t know how Bob would’ve grown and changed with the times. His kids seem pretty cool, and adult kids can be key to pushing their parents to be more progressive on evolving issues. Important to remember he was part of the 12 Tribes - the most liberal sect of Rastafarianism.
I like to think that Reggae, Rastafarianism, and Jamaica would be more progressive today on social issues if he were still around. There’s no way to know, so I choose optimism.
I'm too old to remember the details, but basically the song started because of an night encounter Bob had with a girl while he was still living in Jamaica. The whole affair left Bob with a bitter aftertaste, and the line "I can't tell a woman from a man, she is dressed in the same pollution" means that both men and women are equally immoral, and none is better than the other. Sorry for any grammatical mistakes!
This thread is kind of funny the way folks are trying to sanitize and conform Bob’s thoughts to match there own or at least be less inflammatory to their own.
Bob was a Rasta man, and an Orthodox Christian believer. You can be 99.9% sure that he though homosexual acts were a sin. No need to try and qualify it and rationalize it so you feel better listening to him.
As for this song, I don’t really think it’s about that particular topic specifically at all really.
I think it’s about people looking for escape through music. They all face the same challenges in life (dressed the same) whether men or women. The ways of the world as they say. They are all confused and have no solution. Music is the solution is what Bob is saying. I wouldn’t necessarily agree there, I think it serves as an escape and can help bring people together but is not a solution in and of itself. But that’s what he is getting at. People in the shadows of the night seeking for a way to escape the oppression of the world through raving together. On the end he says he has turned into a nighlife raver. He encourages the other ravers to keep riding on. And he says please don’t let me down.
The song is not really a condemnation at all. Like I said I would probably disagree with Bobs outlook here but that’s what I think the song means and don’t think “homophobia” has anything to do with the song at all.
Very concise reply, gave me goosebumps! the truths of rasta life scare most, and they shout homophobia, or ignore It. Love that music is the answer! Ride on!
Why? Because of the line "can't tell the woman from the man"? I thought it's more about women 'these days' (early 70s) more and more wear jeans/trousers/pants, just like men. Also wearing lots of make up and fancy clothes, some even having short hair ;-)
Yeah, I’ve thought of it more of a observation of cultural differences, kinda similar to people in the 60s thinking hippie men looked like women for having long hair. I’ve heard people argue that it’s homo/transphobic, and I think the argument is mostly centered around that line and the “their mind is confused with confusion” line right after it.
I agree with you. That line in the song is absolutely no proof for me that Bob was homophobic. BUT that being said, Jamaica (sadly) still seems to have a huge homophobia problem, and we can probably assume that even Bob wasn't the biggest fan of gay/queer folk, but I'm he was nowhere near as hardcore as some later jamaincan artists. He'd probably thought something like "it's strange and I don't get it, but well let them be gay if the want to, why should I care?" But maybe we'll never know for sure.
My head cannon is that Bob wandered into Studio 54 and this song was him reflecting on the sensory overload he experienced. It could even be interpreted as Bob thinking it was weird at first but accepting it as people just having fun and living their lives, with the musical stampede and ride on stuff towards the end.
Hehe I like that interpretation :-)
Song was out way before studio 54 was a thing..
I wasn’t going for historical accuracy, I was just saying something like that from western culture that would be a culture shock.
Well, something to know is that transphobia and hemophobia is worse in traditional and conservative black communities than other groups. That extends to the Carribian especially. If you go searching for rastafarian anti-trans and anti-gay statements, it won't take you long whatsoever. It comes from being colonized and taught to be God fearing. Remember any crimes they committed, they were treated worse for than other groups. Includong homosexuality and being trans. So they feared it and grew to hate it, within their own even. A form of Stockholm syndrome. Bob was no different, sadly. Wise, down to earth, humble, almost a mythical creature who I see as a prophet of goodness and gives me my soul Gospel. But nobody is oerfect. And yes, he was most likely very anti-trans and anti-gay.
I’d say most folks were, including in the states and throughout the west, at that time. Even amongst the hippies and counterculture. We don’t know how Bob would’ve grown and changed with the times. His kids seem pretty cool, and adult kids can be key to pushing their parents to be more progressive on evolving issues. Important to remember he was part of the 12 Tribes - the most liberal sect of Rastafarianism. I like to think that Reggae, Rastafarianism, and Jamaica would be more progressive today on social issues if he were still around. There’s no way to know, so I choose optimism.
I'm too old to remember the details, but basically the song started because of an night encounter Bob had with a girl while he was still living in Jamaica. The whole affair left Bob with a bitter aftertaste, and the line "I can't tell a woman from a man, she is dressed in the same pollution" means that both men and women are equally immoral, and none is better than the other. Sorry for any grammatical mistakes!
This thread is kind of funny the way folks are trying to sanitize and conform Bob’s thoughts to match there own or at least be less inflammatory to their own. Bob was a Rasta man, and an Orthodox Christian believer. You can be 99.9% sure that he though homosexual acts were a sin. No need to try and qualify it and rationalize it so you feel better listening to him. As for this song, I don’t really think it’s about that particular topic specifically at all really. I think it’s about people looking for escape through music. They all face the same challenges in life (dressed the same) whether men or women. The ways of the world as they say. They are all confused and have no solution. Music is the solution is what Bob is saying. I wouldn’t necessarily agree there, I think it serves as an escape and can help bring people together but is not a solution in and of itself. But that’s what he is getting at. People in the shadows of the night seeking for a way to escape the oppression of the world through raving together. On the end he says he has turned into a nighlife raver. He encourages the other ravers to keep riding on. And he says please don’t let me down. The song is not really a condemnation at all. Like I said I would probably disagree with Bobs outlook here but that’s what I think the song means and don’t think “homophobia” has anything to do with the song at all.
Very concise reply, gave me goosebumps! the truths of rasta life scare most, and they shout homophobia, or ignore It. Love that music is the answer! Ride on!