Depends on the song. I wouldn’t put him in the same category as someone like The Antlers, but he’s got some stuff that’s serious.
Like his entire discography in your opinion is somber?
Name a song and I have a melacholic take.
Three little birds?
Marley is obviously dealing with lots of internal conflict and he is searching for hope in everything he sees. He clings to song of three little birds he encounters desperately hoping they can clear his head of the turmoil.
Rose up this morning, smiled at the rising sun. Three little birds beside my doorstep singing a sweet song. A melody pure and true. Singing, this is my message to you. Don’t worry about a thing, because every little thing is gonna be alright.
Dude you should seek help if you think this is a sad song. This of all his songs is at peace with life.
Give me your dark take on Jammin’.
We jammin’ is an exaltation of the feelings felt when resisting your oppressors. No bullet can stop us now; we won’t beg; we won’t bow. It’s also a prayer to the highest power that he give them the strength to keep on resisting and holding their heads high. Finally, it’s a call for love to bring everyone together to exalt in their resistance.
Also, don’t call me mentally ill. I am giving you my honest take and if you disagree fine but there isn’t anything wrong with disagreeing with someone. Unless you’re an asshole.
Oh, my wife tells me I’m not an asshole but I am likely to say things an asshole would say. I’m more than a little empathy deficient. Don’t have much in the way of complex emotions.
For your part, I like your take on Jammin’.
Lastly, needing help seeing your way through things does not mean you are sick, but if you can’t hear the joy in any of Marley’s music, I just don’t know.
Edit: not saying your username checks out, but…
I think a lot joy comes from catharsis. Modest Mouse has a verse “And if it takes shit to make bliss; well I feel pretty blissfully.” I suspect, and maybe Marley has said this, the joy he sings about comes from struggles he was able to overcome and find himself.
As someone who is always personally mourning because of depression, anxiety, etc. I feel a lot of the same things Marley sings about. Listen to ‘coming in from the cold’ sometime and think about what it means to be nothing and having life thrust upon you.