Get Up, Stand Up

The ultimate musical evocation of the Rastafarian aesthetic, and a worthy political or social protest song as well, "Get Up, Stand Up" blasts religious hypocrites and commands listeners to start thinking for themselves. The song, composed by Marley with Peter Tosh and recorded for his excellent Burnin' LP from 1973, includes three verses dealing with what is, according to Rastas, common misconceptions about the world often accepted by religious persons. The punchy singalong chorus then proclaims, "Get up, stand up, stand up for your right/Get up, stand up, don't give up the fight." It's also been recorded by reggae artists Toots & the Maytals, Shabbar Ranks, and Spear of Destiny, and is also used as an anthem by Amnesty International.