No Woman Non (in Jamaica people say “non” instead of “don’t”) Cry
Said I remember when we used to sit in the Government yard in Trench Town
Observing all the hypocrites as they would mingle with the good people meet
Good friends we had or good friends we lost along the way
In this bright future you can’t forget your past
So dry your tears I say
No woman non cry
Said I remember when we used to sit in the Government Yard in Trench Town
Then George would make a fire light as it was logwood burning through the night
And we would cook cornmeal porridge of which I’d share with you
My feet are my only carriage so I got to push on through but while I’m gone
Everything’s gonna be alright, everything’s gonna be alright
I wanted to share this song with my students and you! I taught my classes this song. Bob Marley is a great songwriter, I never really noticed before. So make sure you listen closely. This song is perfect for Mozambique and my students. The grammar is really good for Bob Marley. Bob Marley is singing to Women and the developing world in general. He is specifically talking to women in a ghetto of Trench Town called Government Yard. But the message is about the future getting better and to keep trying. Mozambique is very undeveloped and shares many of the struggles Bob Marley was singing about in Jamaice. Women are not treated equal here, unemployment is very high, and life is difficult in many ways. Mozambican’s and Jamaican’s both love cornmeal porridge, not really that important but I think it is cool. And the message in this song is very powerful. So we jammed in class. Then for homework I asked them questions about the meaning and their opinions before I gave mine. I felt like many of the students understood the song well.
Teaching is very rewarding. My classes and students are getting better and better with time. Some students I can see I am reaching out to. I am able to have good conversation with many of my students now. One of my students came by yesterday for guitar lessons and help with an extra credit assignment I gave. I also had a student teach a lesson last week and he did really good. Some of my students try hard and that makes teaching feel really cool.
Forrest and I have been jamming a bit. We are learning some blues (Old Man still waiting for that email) and had our first ukulele and guitar solos today. I am hoping to make a video of our life out here to put on youtube. We’ll see if and how that turns out. Ashley sorry the Old Man wisdom didn’t make it this time. Ask him he’ll hook you up.
Peace love and do good things
Jimmy
