Album: Rastaman Vibration (1976)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the closing track of Rastaman Vibration, Bob Marley's most successful album in the US during his lifetime. The song decried Jamaica's status as a pawn of the capitalist US atop a chord structure adapted from a Philly soul hit. Guitarist Earl "Chinna" Smith told Mojo that the song came together when he started jamming on the Spinners 1974 track "Since I Been Gone" along with keyboard player Tyrone Downie and drummer Carly Barrett. Bunny Wailer suggested they add an intro, and Marley came up with they lyrics along with his wife, Rita.
  • Don't involve Rasta in your say say
    Rasta don't work for no C.I.A
    Rat race, rat race, rat race! Rat race, I'm saying


    "Rat Race" is a term used to describe the frustrating, competitive lifestyle lived by countless people in the west. Critics of the capitalist, free-market economy argue that westerners feel like they are caught on a treadmill as they strive without success to get ahead of their rivals. Marley was no fan of the capitalist system and criticized American attempts to impose it in his homeland.
  • Rastaman Vibration reached #8 on the Billboard 200, the highest US chart position any Wailers' album would achieve during Marley's lifetime.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce PavittSong Writing

The man who ran Nirvana's first label gets beyond the sensationalism (drugs, Courtney) to discuss their musical and cultural triumphs in the years before Nevermind.

Justin Timberlake

Justin TimberlakeFact or Fiction

Was Justin the first to be Punk'd by Ashton Kutcher? Did Britney really blame him for her meltdown? Did his bandmates think he was gay?

Mike Love of The Beach Boys

Mike Love of The Beach BoysSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist of The Beach Boys talks about coming up with the words for "Good Vibrations," "Fun, Fun, Fun," "Kokomo" and other classic songs.

Trucking Songs That Were #1 Hits

Trucking Songs That Were #1 HitsSong Writing

The stories behind the biggest hit songs about trucking.

Eric Burdon

Eric BurdonSongwriter Interviews

The renown rock singer talks about "The House of the Rising Sun" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."

The Fratellis

The FratellisSongwriter Interviews

Jon Fratelli talks about the band's third album, and the five-year break leading up to it.