This Is No Time To Fight Each Other

Whenever a Black Uhuru song pops up, there's a pang of guilt that I don't feature them here more often.

Solidarity was the random shuffle song this time around, and there's a story to tell, going all the way back to 1983.

At this point, Black Uhuru had established themselves as one of reggae's prominent acts. The video introduces them in turn: Michael Rose, Puma aka Sandra Jones, Derrick 'Duckie' Simpson, and the formidable rhythm partnership of Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare. the group had developed a distinctive, powerful sound. 

Three solid albums - Sinsemilla (1980), Red (1981) and Chill Out (1982) - established Black Uhuru as a powerful presence on the international stage. Fourth album Anthem was their bid to cement that reputation.

Initially released in Jamaica and the UK in 1983, Anthem was subsequently remixed, resequenced and reissued internationally the following year. The revised edition replaced the original Sly & Robbie production with reproduced versions by Paul 'Groucho' Smykle, Steven Stanley and Eric 'ET' Thorngren. 

The rejigged running order also replaced one cover version with another: out went Somebody's Watching You, originally by Sly & The Family Stone; in came Solidarity, written by Steven Van Zandt for a 1983 single by his band Little Steven And The Disciples Of Soul. 

Black Uhuru's interpretation isn't far removed from the original, which was pretty much a rock/reggae hybrid to begin with. However, Black Uhuru, aided and abetted by Sly & Robbie, completely own the song and it resonates with their established themes of social injustice, equality and human dignity.

Solidarity wasn't released as a single in it's own right outside of Jamaica, appearing in the UK as a B-side on the 12" single of What Is Life? single, alongside Party Next Door.

Sadly, Puma passed in 1990, aged just 36, Robbie in 2021 and Sly in January this year. Michael and Duckie are still going strong, and the legacy of Black Uhuru continues to grow.

What's the matter people?

Solidarity

Solidarity

Everybody wants the same thing, don't they?

Everybody wants a happy end

They wanna see the game on Saturday

They wanna be somebody's friend

Everybody wanna work for a living

Everybody want their children warm

Everybody wants to be forgiven

They wanna shelter from the storm

Look at me, I ain't your enemy

We walk on common ground

We don't need to fight each other

What we need, what we need

Solidarity

Solidarity

Solidarity

Solidarity

Nobody likes to ask for money

Nobody likes to play the clown

Nobody likes to wait in a long line

Nobody likes being pushed around

Everybody wants their family protected

They wanna express themselves

Everybody wants to live forever

Look at me, I ain't your enemy

Don't believe everything you hear

This is no time to fight each other

What we need, what we need

Solidarity (repeat to end)