(Do do do do-do do do!
Do do do do-do do do!
I rebel music
I rebel music.)
Why can’t we roam (oh-oh-oh-oh) this open country? (open country)
Oh, why can’t we be what we wanna be? (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
We want to be free. (wanna be free)
3 o’clock roadblock – curfew
And I’ve got to throw away –
Yes, I’ve got to throw away –
A yes-a, but I’ve got to throw away
My little herb stalk!
I (rebel music) – yeah, I’m tellin’ you! –
(I) I rebel music (rebel music). Oh-ooh!
Take my soul (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
And suss – and suss me out (suss me out). Oh-ooh!
Check my life (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
If I am in doubt (I’m in doubt); I’m tellin’:
3 o’clock roadblock – roadblock – roadblock
And “Hey, Mr. Cop! Ain’t got no – (hey) hey! (hey, Mr Cop) –
(What ya sayin’ down there?) – (hey) hey! (hey, Mr Cop) –
Ain’t got no birth certificate on me now.”
(I rebel music)
(I rebel music)
(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
(Open country)
(Oh-oh-oh)
(Do do do!)
I (rebel music) – yeah, I’m tellin’ you! –
(I) I rebel music (rebel music)
Oh-ooh! Take my soul (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
And suss – and suss me out (suss me out). Oh-ooh!
Check my life (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
If I am in doubt (I’m in doubt); I’m tellin’:
3 o’clock roadblock – roadblock – roadblock
And “Hey, Mr. Cop! Ain’t got no – (hey) hey! (hey, Mr Cop) –
(What ya sayin’ down there?) – (hey) hey! (hey, Mr Cop) –
Ain’t got no birth certificate on me now.”
Defiance and Freedom: Unpacking the Message
“Rebel Music (3 O’Clock Roadblock)” by Bob Marley is a powerful anthem that captures the spirit of resistance against oppression. The lyrics depict a world where freedom is restricted by curfews and roadblocks, creating a tense atmosphere where personal identity and liberty are questioned. Marley’s repetition of “I rebel music” asserts music as both a form of protest and a means of personal expression. The song’s plea to “roam this open country” and the frustration of having to discard “my little herb stalk” point to the everyday struggles faced by those who live under constant surveillance and control. The roadblock serves as a metaphor for the barriers—both literal and systemic—that limit personal freedom and self-determination.
Song Credits
- Songwriters: Bob Marley, Aston Barrett, Allan Cole
- Release Year: 1974
- Label: Island Records