So Arm in Arms, with Arms

Bob Marley and the Wailers : Zimbabwe

[Purchase]

On October 2, 1979 Bob Marley and the Wailers released Survival, an album noted for its militant message of pro-African solidarity which was a far cry from the easy slanking mood of the album that came before it, Kaya. The song "Zimbabwe" was recorded while then-Rhodesia was still in the midst of a a civil war that would lead to its independence. 

Not one song from Survival made it onto the Legend so you probably haven't heard them a million times.That said, it's an excellent album. Some Marley fans even say it's his best.

Among the tracks is "Ambush at Night" about the December 3, 1976 attack upon the Marley compound. Despite having bodyguards in place, the assassins broke into the home, hitting Marley with a bullet in his arm which would be there for the rest of his life. Rita Marley was grazed by a bullet to the head. Lewis was hit several times. Marley played the concert two days after the shooting, and although he would say he recognized at least one of the shooters he never told the police.

The lyrics include the lines "Ambush in the night /All guns aiming at me /Ambush in the night /They opened fire on me now/ Ambush in the night /Protected by his majesty" I wrote more about the incident on its 40th anniversary.