Winston Rodney – aka Burning Spear – begon zijn carrière in 1969. De naam Burning Spear ontleende hij aan de Kenyaanse nationalist en vrijheidsstrijder Daniel Arap Moi. Op voorspraak van vriend en bewonderaar Bob Marley kreeg Rodney al snel een platencontract aangeboden bij Studio One Records. In 1975 stapte hij over naar Island Records. Nadat Island zonder zijn medeweten het tempo van diverse songs op zijn album Marcus Garvey versnelde (het moet swingen, nietwaar) verslechterde de relatie tussen Rodney en de platenbonzen snel. In 1980 richtte hij zijn eigen label op, wat hem volledig controle over zijn muziek verschafte. Tegenwoordig opereert hij vanuit New York.
Burning Spear’s muziek is zeer sterk politiek en sociaal geladen, sterker zelfs dan bij Marley. Love songs ontbreken in zijn oeuvre vrijwel geheel.
Do you remember the days of slav’ry?
Do you remember the days of slav’ry?
Do you remember the days of slav’ry?
(Do you remember the days of slav’ry?)
Do you remember the days of slav’ry?
(Do you remember the days of slav’ry?)
And how they beat us.. (do you remember the days of slav’ry?)
And how they worked us so hard.
(Do you remember the days of slav’ry?)
And how they used us.. (do you remember the days of slav’ry?)
Till they refuse us.. (do you remember the days of slav’ry?)
Do you remember the days of slav’ry?
(Do you remember the days of slav’ry?)
Mm.. And a big fat bull.
Mm.. We usually pull it ev’rywhere.
Mm.. We must pull it.
Mm.. With shackles around our necks.
Mm.. And I can see it all no more.
Do you remember the days of slav’ry?
(Do you remember the days of slav’ry?)
My brother feels it.. (do you remember the days of slav’ry?)
Including my sisters too.. (do you remember the days of slav’ry?)
Some of us survive. (do you remember the days of slav’ry?)
Showing them that we are still a live.
(Do you remember the days of slav’ry?)
Do you remember the days of slav’ry?
(Do you remember the days of slav’ry?)
History can recall, history can recall.
(Do you remember the days of slav’ry?)
History can recall the days of slav’ry.
(Do you remember the days of slav’ry?)
Oh slav’ry day (do you remember the days of slav’ry?)
Oh slav’ry day (do you remember the days of slav’ry?)
Cry and remember, please rembember.
(Do you remember the days of slav’ry?)
