“Buffalo Soldier” by Bob Marley

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Lyrical Analysis
Song 1 Lyrics: “Buffalo Soldier” by Bob Marley
[Verse 1]
Buffalo soldier, dreadlocked rasta
There was a Buffalo Soldier in the heart of America
Stolen from Africa, brought to America
Fighting on arrival, fighting for survival
I mean it, when I analyse the stench
To me it makes a lot of sense
How the dreadlocked rasta was a Buffalo Soldier
[Verse 2]
And he was taken from Africa, brought to America
Fighting on arrival, fighting for survival
Said it was a Buffalo Soldier, dreadlocked Rasta
Buffalo Soldier in the heart of America
[Verse 3]
If you know your history
Then you would know where you're coming from
Then you wouldn't have to ask me
Who the 'eck do I think I am
[Verse 4]
I'm just a Buffalo Soldier in the heart of America
Stolen from Africa, brought to America
Said he was fighting on arrival, fighting for survival
Said he was a Buffalo Soldier, in the war for America
Said he, woy yoy yoy, woy yoy-yoy yoy….
[Verse 5]
Buffalo Soldier troddin' through the land, wo-ho-ooh!
Said he want to ran and then you want a hand
Troddin' through the land, yea-hea, yea-ea
Said he was a Buffalo Soldier in the war for America
Buffalo Soldier, dreadlocked Rasta
Fighting on arrival, fighting for survival
Driven from the mainland to the heart of the Caribbean
Said he, woy yoy yoy, woy yoy-yoy yoy….
[Verse 6]
Trodding through San Juan
In the arms of America
Trodding through Jamaica, a Buffalo Soldier
Fighting on arrival, fighting for survival
Buffalo Soldier, dreadlock rasta
Woy yoy yoy, woy yoy-yoy yoy…
Analysis
"Buffalo Soldier" is a song by Bob Marley that was released on his 1983 album "Confrontation." The song is about the experience of African Americans recruited by the United States Army to fight in the Indian Wars in the late 19th century.
Notably, “Buffalo soldiers” were six peacetime regiments tasked with supporting the colonialist Westward expansion by offering protection to settlers, providing labor for infrastructural projects, and guarding the US mail. The soldiers were instrumental in the expansion and were tasked with fighting against Native American tribes. The nickname is said to have been given by the Native American tribes as the African American soldiers reminded them of buffalo, and the soldiers were famed for their strength. The first verse of the song narrates how the Africans were kidnapped from their homes in Africa and brought to a new land where they had to fight for their survival (Smith 17). Later on, the colonialists forced African Americans to fight for America against the Native Americans. The song has social and political history about Blacks in the Americas (Smith 17). In the army, the Buffalo soldiers were not treated as equals by their commander. In such a way, the song is a call to fight for equality.
The song is still relevant to the current political climate as African Americans still face significant levels of discrimination in the United States. On the one hand, African Americans have made significant progress in an attempt to increase their political pow...