Music / Natty Dread

Natty Dread is a 1974 music album by Bob Marley and The Wailers. It was the first album recorded after former bandmates Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer had left. They were replaced by the I-Threes, a female background choir consisting of Judy Mowatt, Marcia Griffiths and Bob's own wife Rita.

The album is notable for the hit singles "Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)", "Lively Up Yourself" and an Early-Installment Weirdness version of "No Woman, No Cry", which would become a much larger hit after being recorded live on the next album Live! (1975).

Tracklist

Side One

1. "Lively Up Yourself" (5:29)
2. "No Woman, No Cry" (4:06)
3. "Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)" (3:10)
4. "Rebel Music (Three O' Clock Roadblock)" (6:40)

Side Two

1. "So Jah S'eh" (4:25)
2. "Natty Dread" (3:33)
3. "Bend Down Low" (3:10)
4. "Talkin' Blues" (4:06)
5. "Revolution" (4:20)

Them Tropes Full...

• Anti-Police Song: "Rebel Music", where Bob is arrested for marihuana possession.
• As the Good Book Says...: In "Revolution" Bob quotes lyrics from Psalm:16 : Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. Coincidentally Peter Tosh also quoted from this same psalm in his song "Igziabeher (Let Jah Be Praised)" from Legalize It.
• Badass Boast: "Rebel Music".
  Hey Mr. cop, [ what are you sayin' down there?] got no birth certificate on me!
• Continuity Nod: Near the end of "Lively Up Yourself" Bob already mimicks a policeman asking for inspection of somebody's bag, a story he gives a full blown exposé in "Rebel Music", where the bag turns out to be a little herb stock.
• Cool People Rebel Against Authority and The Coup: "Revolution"
  It takes a revolution to make a solution.
• Corrupt Politician: "Revolution"
  Never make a politican/ quench you a favor
  They will always want to control you forever
• Crapsack World: "Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)", "Revolution", "No Woman, No Cry", "So Jah Seh", "Talking Blues", though the band does bring a hopeful message for the future too.
• Early-Installment Weirdness: The studio version of "No Woman, No Cry" sounds almost like a joke, compared to the far more dramatically epic version found on the next album Live! (1975).
• Empty Fridge, Empty Life: "Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)"
  A hungry mob is an angry mob
• Epic Rocking: "Lively Up Yourself", "Rebel Music".
• Face on the Cover: Bob's face in close-up.
• Fascists' Bed Time: "Rebel Music" has somebody arrested at three o' clock at night , after curfew.
• The Future Will Be Better: "No Woman, No Cry", "Talking Blues", "Revolution".
• God Is Good and God-Is-Love Songs: "So Jah Seh"
  So Jah seh. None of my seed shall sit on the sidewalk and beg bread.
  (choir) No they can't and you know that they won't!
• I Am the Band: Bob's face is seen on the album cover, none of the other members.
• Intercourse with You: "Bend Down Low".
  Darling, bend down low
  Let me tell you what I know
• I Just Want to Be Free:
  • "Rebel Music".
  Why can't we roam this open country?
  Why can't we be what we want to be?
  We just want to be free
  • "Revolution".
  Like a bird in the tree
  The prisoners must be free
  • "Talkin' Blues".
  And who's going to stay at home, when you know that the freedom fighters are fighting?
• List Song: Marley lists several real existing streets in Kingston in Natty Dread.
• Ode to Intoxication: "Rebel Music" in which Bob protest against the anti-marihuana laws.
• Pep-Talk Song: "Lively Up Yourself".
• The Power of Love: "No Woman, No Cry", where Marley comforts a woman living in dire circumstances.
• The Power of Rock: "Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)"
  Forget your troubles and dance!
• Protest Song: "So Jah Seh", "Revolution", "Rebel Music", "Talking Blues" and "Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)."
• Refuge in Audacity: "Talking Blues".
  I feel like bombing a church/ now that you know that the preacherman is lying
• The Revolution Will Not Be Civilized: "Revolution", "Talking Blues", "Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)" all address that revolution is unevitable and won't be civilized.
• Slobs Versus Snobs: - "Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)"
  A hungry mob is an angry mob (...)
  Cost of livin' gets so high
  Rich and poor they start to cry
  Now the weak must get strong
  They say: "Oh, what a tribulation"
• Something Blues: "Talking Blues".
• Strong as They Need to Be: "Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)".
  Now the weak must get strong
• Take That!: The police in "Rebel Music".
  Why can't we roam this open country?
  Why can't we be what we wanna be?
  We wanna be free
• Time Marches On: Since 2014 marihuana is legal in Jamaica, making "Rebel Music" in which Marley is arrested and has his herb stock taken away from him somewhat out-dated.
• Title Track: "Natty Dread"
  Dread, natty dread

---

Let righteousness cover the Earth / like the water cover the sea!!