So Much Things To Say

Song: So Much Things To Say

Written By: Bob Marley

Performed by: Bob Marley, Lauryn Hill

Appears on: Bob Marley’s “Exodus” (1977), Lauryn Hill’s MTV Unplugged No. 2 (2002)

Trying to choose the “best” Bob Marley song is impossible, but So Much Things To Say is one of my favorites. In it, Marley issues a call-to-action against “they”, “they” being anyone who talks a good game but won’t back it up, especially politicians and The System (Babylon, to a Rastafarian). It’s nowhere near as militant as some of his earlier (“Burnin’ and Lootin’ “) or later (“Zimbabwe”) songs, but it definitely calls on all of us to stand up for our rights.

“They got so much things to say” Marley sings, but when it comes to action, “they” crucify Jesus, sell out Marcus Garvey, and turn their backs on Paul Bogle. What can we do about it? Well, we can all do our part to see that the-powers-that-be live up to their words – “don’t forget … who you are and where you stand in the struggle.”

Marley also realizes that “they” are probably not going to look kindly on being held accountable and while he’s not looking for a physical fight, we must take a stand against “spiritual wickedness in high and low places” and our response might require civil disobedience that may not be “justified by the laws of men”, but will ultimately be rewarded.

My favorite line in the song is “When the rain fall, it don’t fall on one man’s housetop” and Marley insists that we “remember that”. I initially thought he meant we’ve all got problems (see “every man thinks his burden is the heaviest” from “Running Away” on the “Kaya” album), but I think what he’s saying here is that when the rain of injustice or inaction falls, it affects all of us, not just some of us.

The next-to-last verse neatly sums up the song: “They got la, la, la, la … they “la” very much all the time”. They’re all talk and no action, or as we say in Texas “All hat and no cattle.”


So Much Things To Say
They got so much things to say right now;

They got so much things to say.

They got so much things to say right now;

They got so much things to say.

Eh! But I'll never forget no way: they crucified Je-sus Christ;

I'll never forget no way: they stole Marcus Garvey for rights.

I'll never forget no way: they turned their back on Paul Bogle.

So don't you forget (no way) your youth,

who you are and where you stand in the struggle.

They got so much things to say right now;

They got so much things to say.

They got so much things to say right now;

They got so much things to say.

I'n'I nah come to fight flesh and blood,

But spiritual wickedness in 'igh and low places.

So while they fight you down,

Stand firm and give Jah thanks and praises.

'Cos I'n'I no expect to be justified

by the laws of men - by the laws of men.

Oh, true they have found me guilty,

But through - through Jah proved my innocency.

Oh, when the rain fall, fall, fall now,

It don't fall on one man's housetop. Remember that:

When the rain fall,

It don't fall on one man's housetop.

They singin': so very much, so very much, oh so very much,

so very, very -They got so much things to say right now;

yeah, they got so much things to say.

Hey, but I'n'I - I'n'I nah come to fight flesh and blood,

But spiritual wickedness in 'igh and low places.

So while, so while, so while they fight you down,

Stand firm and give Jah thanks and praises.

I'n'I no expect to be justifiedby the laws of men - by the laws of men.

Oh, hey through Jah to prove my innocency,

I told you wicked think they found me guilty.

They got la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la;

la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la;

la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la;

la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la- they "la" very much all the time.

So much things to say, rumour about,

they got so much without humour,

they don't know what they're doin', yeah.