This week, my chosen piece is Three Little Birds, written and performed by Bob Marley and the Wailers for their 1977 album Exodus. The band, which debuted in 1963, was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady, and reggae group who released many notable albums that helped themselves and Jamaican music gain recognition in the eyes of global audiences. Exodus, which dropped in June of 1977, features many well-known songs, including Three Little Birds, that consist of “classic” downbeat reggae rhythms fused with various elements of soul, blues, and English rock music. Because of its global success, Exodus was named the greatest album of the 20th century in 1999 by Time Magazine and has since seen many of its tracks, including Three Little Birds and Turn Your Lights Down Low, continue to feature in best-of-all-times playlists, movies, and on various streaming and media platforms.  

When listening closely to Three Little Birds, one would hear many diverse musical instruments back up the call-and-response vocal organization of the piece, with Marley as the lead and the rest of the band creating the response. Amongst the various instruments, some of the most notable are bass, drums, electric guitars, a keyboard, and an organ, which, when combined with the repetitive lyrics stating, “Every little thing is gonna be alright,” creates the feel of joyous relaxation that is, as many people speculate, the purpose of the song.

I selected this song because Bob Marley, although passing away over four decades ago, is commonly attributed to being one of the most influential Jamaican musicians ever. His music mixes elements of catchy melodies and infectious rhythms with powerful and deeply personal lyrics that discuss important ideas of peace, love, and social justice, which have profound effects on worldwide audiences. And because I believe these integrated messages and their impacts on listeners are important to highlight and share, I selected one of his compositions for this week’s assignment.