Bob Marley remains one of the most loved musicians of all time, with an arsenal of songs that still get played today to inspire hope even in the most profound moments of sadness. His is a voice millions have leaned on when they’ve needed propping up, and now, there’s a new song for his fans to devour.
Not only was Marley a renowned musician, but he was a spiritual figurehead and someone that people have often used as a symbol of truth and love. The Jamaican singer-songwriter’s music is layered in terms of meaning and what it can do for a listener.
Over 40 years after his death, a previously unreleased song has finally been allowed to see the light of day. ‘Selassie is the Chapel’, originally recorded in 1968, continues his run of songs that border on spiritual awakenings.
The track is an incredibly stripped-back recording with Marley inserting buckets of emotion in every word he sings, highlighted further by the minimalism of the instrumentation, which is limited to an acoustic guitar and light percussion. Despite being written decades ago, it’s a beautiful song that seems appropriate for the current landscape, as it preaches peace to the world and invites people everywhere to take solace.
The song is laced with messages of faith, which is unsurprising given how much of a devout Rastafarian Marley was. His beliefs were a significant part of his life and bled into his music, as shown on ‘Selassie is the Chapel’.
The lyrics were written by Mortimer Planno, who played a significant role in getting Marley involved in the Rastafarian religion. He continues to be the ultimate Jamaican icon, therefore, to have his words represented in this song, despite being released so late, is a wonderful addition to his legacy.
Listen to the new single ‘Selassie is the Chapel’ below.