What is the Song about?
This song seems to protest against the school system from that time, they seem to not agree with the cruel punishments given to the kids. There also seems to be an underlying message that ‘another brick in the wall’ means some form of emotional barrier between the outside world and the person who is behind this song. This could mean that the bricks were different events in their own life that built that wall, like the cruel school teachers or his father leaving his family. The end of the song could indicate suicede as they say “Goodbye, cruel world. I’m leaving you today”
Whose perspective is the Song written from? How can you tell?
This song was definitely written from the perspective of a person who experienced extreme trauma during their childhood. They build a brick wall around themselves as a barrier to shield them from the outside world. You can tell by the way it was written, it was definitely a protest against these sorts of things.
Why does this song matter? How is it contributing to the issue?
This song matters because it talks about genuine issues in that time like the education system, it was a cruel system with many flaws. It calls attention to something that is to this day still an issue, people shutting themselves out from the outside world and losing touch with reality.
What is the Song about?
This song seems to reference the story in the Bible where Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt after being enslaved there for decades. It also ties into an attempted assassination in 1976 which led to Marley fleeing to England. In general this is song also is heavily referencing the slavery in Jamaica, saying “Set the captives free.” It could also reference people going to Ethiopia, what they believe to be their promised land.
Whose perspective is the Song written from? How can you tell?
This song is definitely written from the perspective of a native Jamacain, saying they are tired of being enslaved and want freedom with the “movement of the people of jah.” They are showing a movement from where they were by saying “We know where we're going. We know where we're from. We're leaving Babylon, y'all! We're going to our father's land.
Why does this song matter? How is it contributing to the issue?
This song is a call to the Jamacian people showing that they don’t need to be stuck as slaves for others. They are moving to have their freedom, to stop the decades of slavery. It shines light on things that aren't perfect in our world, like slavery.