Re: Rivers of Babylon

[Owen Davidson <owend...>]

I'd welcome anyone's correction of what I'm about to say: I have the information
at third hand if not more removed.  My understanding of the mystical use of the
pronoun "I" in Rastafarian culture is that it signifies a complete identity of
the individual to the community and to the deity.  Thus, "I and I" means "we,"
referring both to the individual's complete identification with the community
and to his identity with Jah.  The choice of the nominative pronoun "I" in
preference to the accusative "me" usually found in West Indian creole languages
seems a telling one.  "I" represents the active principle, or, as William James
termed it, the "pure ego," rather than the passive principle of "me" or the
"empirical ego."  That "I" is represented in English as a standing line is also
significant, given our perhaps mistaken identification of linearly-applied force
with the masculine principle.  (Gershom Scholem writes, "...the line is the
willed form that is directed toward the figure of a man.").  In insisting on the
pronoun "I," the Rastafarian takes control over his life, and rises up from
subjugation, becoming man rather than some chattel.

Owen

Robert Cohen wrote:

> Well, this winds up addressing a question I just alluded to in my posting on
> the same subject:  "Over I" may well be the words at the end of some of my
> versions, including Delaware Water Gap's.  But what do they mean? -- rlc
>
> >From: Owen Davidson <owend (at) tp(dot)net>
> >Reply-To: jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org
> >To: World music from a Jewish slant <jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org>
> >Subject: Re: Rivers of Babylon
> >Date: Sun, 07 May 2000 23:25:11 -0400
>
> >Rather than proffer this shocking vision, the gentle song cleaves away to
> >remind us of the closing verse of Psalm 19 "The Heavens Declare the Glory
> >of
> >God:"
> >
> >"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable
> >in
> >thy sight, (O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.)
> >
> >"Over I."  Amen.
> >
> >The translation here is from the King James version of the bible.  Some
> >Rastafarian lore teaches that James was a wicked king who adulterated and
> >corrupted the holy scripture in order to mislead and subjugate the people.
> >
> >
> >
> >Dan Peck wrote:
> >
> > > Rivers of Babylon was recorded in 1979 by the Delaware Water Gap
>
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--
Owen Davidson
Amherst  Mass
The Wholesale Klezmer Band

The Angel that presided oer my birth
Said Little creature formd of Joy & Mirth
Go Love without the help of any King on Earth

Wm. Blake


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