Burning Spear

“Reggae music don't really focus on one thing, you know. If reggae music is speaking about the struggle of people, and the suffering, it don't mean black people. It mean people in general.”

“Every musician tries to blend in some reggae. It's the only music that brings all people together, different races, different religions.”

“Dig into the roots of culture, and it will grow. It's like a grass that is growing, and it cannot stop, and music is like the fertilizer for that.”

“Music is creation. In reggae the lyric, the music itself, arrangement, that vibe, such melody - everything within the music moves the people, understand?”

“People have been listening to Burning Spear for a long time now, and they know who I am and what I stand for. Yes, I do address many of the same ideas from album to album, adding only a little different flavor or coloring. Yes, the message has remained virtually the same because the issues haven't gone away yet.”

“There's more to being a musician than just making music.”

“If I walk away from music, I walk away from myself.”

“As a person, I've been in the business since 1969, and I never remember getting an honest count based upon how many records been sold for Burning Spear.”

“Music is my work, writing songs is my work, touring is my work, going into the studio is my work.”

“Music is supposed to create an associate level, wherein I and you and you and I can associate without any misunderstanding.”

“Rasta is to know. Rasta is to answer, which is the final step.”

“Having a band was part of my heart's desire, musically. Within myself, I was saying that, 'Not until you have a band for yourself can you maintain the standard of your songs,' and the sound become a foundation. You don't have to feel around for two or three weeks for the sound because the foundation is already built.”

“I feel that no one should be ashamed or have fear or doubt within themselves when they speak about the roots or Africa wherein I and I originate from. It's like an individual who tries to disown himself, and to me, it is a form of defeat by disowning yourself.”

“I believe music is like medicine. Like a good tonic, it can open your mind, strengthen and possibly even cure you. Music can work on many levels, and nothing I know of possesses the healing force that exists within music.”

“Music is more than just listening to it. People use the music for them protection at times.”

“The kind of music I'm dealing with is more a long-term music. Sometimes a little discourage runs along on your thought, but I am here to push it back. Discourage is a sign of weakness, and I don't like to be weak.”

“We don't need no more danger, we don't need no more difficulties, we don't need no more misunderstanding, and we don't need no more violence. We need the people to see each other and know of each other, feel each other, touch each other, share with each other, and change hearts with each other.”

“When Marcus Garvey spoke about self-reliance, he wasn't only talking about people of colour. It's like self-reliance in general, for anyone. Just keep moving and moving within the right direction, and everything will be all right.”

“I love what I do: there is no pressure. The music doesn't like pressure.”

“I'm in control of myself. I take yes or no from no one.”