キャンプファイアとラスタマンの歌

アフリカ旅行 「夕日と蝶の群れ」より続く

空の青みが深くなり、月明かりもない、静かなサファリ最後の夜。木の枝にぶら下げたランプに照らされて、横切る人の影が、夜空の雲に写る。

キャンプファイアを焚くと、村からやってきたラスタマンが歌い始めた。聞き覚えのある曲のほかにも、自分で作詞作曲した歌を、村の集まりなどで歌うそうだ。家族のこと、友達のこと、エイズのこと、ギターにのせて村の若者に伝えることが、ラスタマンの仕事だそうだ。薪がなくなるまで、ゆっくりと夜は深まっていった。

Redmption Song
Words by Bob Marley

Old pirates yes they rob I
Sold I to the merchant ships
Minutes after they took I from the
Bottom less pit
But my hand was made strong
By the hand of the almighty
We forward in this generation triumphantly
All I ever had is songs of freedom
Won't you help to sing these songs of freedom
Cause all I ever had redemption songs, redemption songs

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery
None but ourselves can free our minds
Have no fear for atomic energy
Cause none of them can stop the time
How long shall they kill our prophets
While we stand aside and look
Some say it's just a part of it
We've got to fulfill the book

Won't you help to sing, these songs of freedom
Cause all I ever had, redemption songs, redemption songs, redemption songs

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery
None but ourselves can free our minds
Have no fear for atomic energy
Cause none of them can stop the time
How long shall they kill our prophets
While we stand aside and look
Yes some say it's just part of it
We've got to fulfill the book

Won't you help to sing, these songs of freedom
Cause all I ever had, redemption songs
All I ever had, redemption songs
These songs of freedom, songs of freedom