Three Little Birds: My Semi-Personal Bob Marley Story

I was listening to an old CD mix of mine while riding down the road in the last few weeks. I had heard some songs that reminded me of kind of a Buddhist bent. One of them is a Bob Marley tune that I have just always loved: Three little birds. OK, I realize this is a little bit of a stretch.

Three Little Birds is just one of my favorites. There is not much to say about its simple message of peace other than it is probably the original “Don’t worry be happy” tune. It usually has no problem bringing a smile to my face and thoughts of better days when I’m down.

I do have a Bob Marley story, although it is not really mine. Well, I suppose now part of it is. Some of the story may seem like folk lore, but the “times” and air flights were different in 1980, and my friend, who told us the story was not the type to embellish, although my memory of the story may do that for him.

So… A good friend of mine from college, an older fellow who was in the country from Venezuela, shared a story after a long night of playing a drinking game we had all made of the game Trivial Pursuit. A couple of us hung around after the game, hanging out in a buddy’s dorm room. A reggae song came on the radio and it prompted my friend to tell of an experience he had on a plane. An experience that he had never shared before.

The story started when my friend found himself traveling on a large plane, I’m remembering that he was traveling to New York City. I’m certain it was in the North East coast of the US. It wasn’t a packed plan, but my friend had met this curious black musician who was just plain nice and just plain cool. He traveled with a group of others that my friend guessed were probably in the band. I remember him telling us about how this man, having a guitar with him, ended up playing and singing on the plane for the few enthusiastic passengers. My friend at that time did not know the man or his music, but he was so taken with the man that he remembered his name.

Bob Marley offered him tickets to his next show like a guy offering tickets to his next sidewalk performance. My friend could not make it the show, so he regretfully did not accept the tickets. Once the plane landed, my friend’s curiosity lead him to ask about the man who he had met, and he later became a fan. My friend thoughtfully spoke the last of his seemingly life changing story. He didn’t speak in pride of the meeting of a rock star but in the soft tones of a man still in wonder of an experience. He then explained, with regret in his voice, that the man he met that day was traveling to one of the last shows he ever performed. Bob Marley died of cancer in 1981.

In the twilight of that early morning, when my friend shared his story, I too did not know much of Bob Marley. I had seen one of Marley’s concerts when I was younger on late night TV. At that age I didn’t quite get reggae, but as I listened to my Venezuelan friend, I was taken by the story. Knowing my friends reactions (which were uncommon for him), I too gave thought to Bob Marley. I wish I could remember more of the story to tell you, or that I could tell it in the way that my friend did. All I can really add to the story is that after I heard it and gave listen to some of Marley’s songs, I could not dismiss the honesty of the message of his lyrics as I could so many other artists. The story definitely made me give a closer listen.

If you haven’t heard the song I found a neat little clay animated video and posted it below so you can give it a listen. The music in the video performed by Giberto Gil, and he brings a more mellow feel to the classic. Can you imagine that? I love the very last part of the video… good for a smile.

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And for those of you who like reading the lyrics… they are some of the simplest I know.

Three Little Birds

Don’t worry about a thing,
cause every little thing gonna be all right.
Singing, don’t worry about a thing,
cause every little thing gonna be all right!

Rise up this mornin,
Smiled with the rising sun,
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singing sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Saying, this is my message to you:

Singing, don’t worry bout a thing,
cause every little thing gonna be all right.
Singing, don’t worry bout a thing,
cause every little thing gonna be all right!

Rise up this mornin,
Smiled with the rising sun,
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singing sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Saying, this is my message to you:

Singing, don’t worry about a thing, worry about a thing, oh!
Every little thing gonna be all right. don’t worry!
Singing, don’t worry about a thing – I wont worry!
cause every little thing gonna be all right.
Singing, don’t worry about a thing,
cause every little thing gonna be all right – I wont worry!
Singing, don’t worry about a thing,
cause every little thing gonna be all right.
Singing don’t worry about a thing, oh no!
cause every little thing gonna be all right!

–

Smiles to all…

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