Songs of Worship in Life and at Death

Abstract

AbstractThis article analyses and contrasts two songs that reflect on the meaning of life and death: the traditional hymn, ‘Farther Along’ and the song by late reggae icon, Peter Tosh, ‘Jah Say No’. Both songs consider how believers engage with the challenges of life; however, the comparison of these songs may be considered unusual as, while most Christians would accept ‘Farther Along’ as a religious song, there would be very few who would classify ‘Jah Say No’ in a similar fashion. Nevertheless, the lyrics of the two songs present diametrically different views of the nature of our earthly existence; hence, the comparison sheds light on diverse spiritual experiences in the Caribbean today.