Bob Marley's music is good for Mass
published: Friday | July 23, 2004

THE EDITOR, Sir:

IN RESPONSE to Devon Dick's column of July 20, regarding Bob Marley as a liberation theologian and the use of his songs in church, I would like to report that I, in fact, just sang 'No Woman No Cry' at a Roman Catholic funeral Mass this past weekend to very good response, in particular from the grieving widow.

The use of this particular song would seem to take issue with one of the questions posed by Mr. Dick in regards to claims by some 'feminists' that Bob's songs did not adequately express respect towards women. Personally, I have never heard a more beautiful song than 'Johnny Was' off the Rastaman Vibration LP, with a lyric that tenderly comforts the mother of a young man gunned down by a stray bullet with the refrain, "Can a mother's tender care cease towards the child she bears?"

Time will tell, and the importance of Bob Marley & the Wailers' music yet to be fully appreciated.

I am, etc.,

ELIZABETH

BARRACLOUGH

Albuquerque, New Mexico

lizardbearclaw@earthlink.net