Deep Reggae from Burning Spear

   

Let Burning Spear drop some knowledge on ya. From an interview at Perfect Sound Forever by Jason Gross.

PSF: One of your early songs was 'Throw Down Your Arms.' Do you think that expresses your political views?
People might term that to be political but it's just reality. If you have people throw down their arms, then you have many people live longer. You'd have less people shooting or going to war. The world would become more peaceful and people would live among other people without any fear or any doubt. 'Throw Down Your Arms' is very appropriate and very important and very intelligent.

PSF: What was the message behind 'Social Living' (from 1978)?
Social living is a very old standard saying. You got to be socialized. When you can socialize with people then you get to know people better and people get to know you better. Socialize with people and then people can know you from inside out. Today, you don't find a lot of people socializing with people. I think socializing is very important in peoples' style of living. You try to love people the best way you can. You get to know people the best way you can.

PSF: You're a very spiritual person. How would you say that a person would lead a righteous life?
I think that spirituality is how you think and how you feel. Each one has to think within their own direction. Each one has to discipline themselves. Each one needs to accept all the good things. Each one has to accept. Spirituality is not like the individual has to be in church for 24 hours or you always have to be discussing about spirituality. It's just a simple thing. It's how you think. It's how much you want to know and how much you want to do.

PSF: Do you see your music as being an inspiration or giving comfort to others?
I see the music as that way for me. I always think of that. I think my music provides comfort for people and uplifts the mind and the heart of a lot of people. People start looking in the right direction on many different levels. There is a lot of reggae that do the same thing to a lot of different people.

PSF: Do you see your music as something like a ritual?
I think that everything which is good is within the music. Sometimes people feel it differently from how I present the music. I'm just the presenter. Sometimes the music hit people and take hold of the people and carry them on different levels, different heights. Only they can tell you the kind of vibes or the level that the music take them to.