Ambush in the Night

“Ambush in the Night” is one of the tracks on the album “Survival”, published in

1979.

Personal experience

, “If I have survived an assassination attack, you all can also survive anything.

He sees himself as the

symbolism of the entire black race and his survival a symbolic survival of the

black race

Bob Marley refers to two political parties in Jamaica the JLP and the PNP. By

that time, they were fighting for control and people were becoming very anxious.

Jamaican people were divided because of the parties’ arguments. Everyone

was trying to understand which party could bring more benefits, including more

jobs, given that people were very poor, and passing through economic

struggles. However, arguments and rivalry between those got violent and street

gangs started to be against each other tragically everyone had guns (tiroteios

diarios - normal). Bob Marley was feeling pressure to pick a side, because of his

huge influence, but Bob did not want to buy that war. That was when he got

shot (in the upper arm) in his own home but survived. Political tension was one

of the main concerns of the singer so he wrote “Ambush in the night”. The lyrics

mention that there was a fight for power and money. There were guns

circulating to promote violence between the citizens. Bob Marley says politics

were trying to belittle people’s integrity turning them against each other. In Bob

Marley’s mind, the political strategy is a scheme to reach ignorant people the

poorer, because who has the power to keep people hungry, and make them
believe that their brothers are the enemy. Ambush in the night is not only about

what happened to Bob Marley, but also about the open fire against Jamaican

poor people and fighting for dominating and manipulating society.

This song reveals Bob Marley’s way of thinking. As in many other songs, he

refers to the problem in this particular case, political problems that improve

social problems, but after that, he shows the solution. The singers thought there

is only one solution, which is the Lord. In his opinion, political strategy cannot

touch those who believe in Rastafari. He believes they are protected by Lord

and they will survive despite society’s plan to destroy them. This song tells

about hope and justice even if they are only in God.

[Verse 1]

“(Ooh-wee, ooh-wee, ooh-wa!)

See them fighting for power (ooh-wee, ooh-wee, ooh-wa!)

But they know not the hour (ooh-wee, ooh-wee, ooh-wa!)

So they bribing with their guns, spare-parts and money

Trying to belittle our

Integrity now

They say what we know

Is just what they teach us

And we're so ignorant

Because every time they can reach us (shoobe, doo-wa)

Through political strategy (shoo-be, doo-wa)

They keep us hungry (shoobe, doo-wa)

And when you gonna get some food (shoobe, doo-wa)

Your brother got to be your enemy, we-e-ell!

[Bridge]

Ambush in the night

All guns aiming at me

Ambush in the night

They opened fire on me now

Ambush in the night

Protected by His Majesty

Ooh-wee, ooh-wee, Ooh-wa-ooh

(Ooh-wee) Ooh-wee, ooh-wee (ooh-wa), Ooh-wa

Ooh-wee, ooh-wee, ooh wa-ooh

Ooh-wee, ooh-wee, ooh wa-ah

[Verse 2]

Well, what we know

Is not what they tell us

We're not ignorant, I mean it

And they just cannot touch us

Through the powers of the Most-High (shoobe, doo-wa)

We keep on surfacing (shoobe, doo-wa)

Through the powers of the Most-High (shoobe, doo-wa)

We keep on surviving

Yeah, this ambush in the night

Planned by society

Ambush in the night

They trying to conquer me

Ambush in the night

Anything money can bring

Ambush in the night

Planned by society

Ambush in the night”