Night Hawk

If music is therapeutic, then Reggae music is particularly so. The reason for this has to do with Reggae’s inherent humility. Growing up in the slums of Kingston, Jamaica, early Reggae artists understood that life is hard. Those of us who live in more affluent countries, however, have a tendency to expect things will go our way. The key to happiness, then, is tempering our expectations.
It’s important to recognize that Reggae music is constantly looking up. This is true not in spite of, but because of Reggae’s inner city roots. In his song “Concrete Jungle,” Bob Marley talks not only about how hard life is in the inner city, but critically, about how he laughs it off. In “No Woman, No Cry,” he declares that since his feet are his carriage, he has no alternative but to keep going.
The fact that Reggae artists have realistic expectations doesn’t mean they don’t have high standards. These songs are not about whining. High standards are necessary if we want things to improve. High expectations lead to disappointment. Reggae music helps us get through tough times beacause of its clear-eyed view of the world. This has nothing to do with cynicism. It’s about wisdom.