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Buffalo Soldier (song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Buffalo Soldier
| cover = BuffaloSoldier(Marley).jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Bob Marley and the Wailers
| album = Confrontation
| released = 1983
| format =
| recorded = 1978
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Reggae
| length = 4:17
| label =
| writer = Bob Marley & King Sporty
| producer =
| prev_title = Reggae on Broadway
| prev_year = 1981
| next_title = One Love/People Get Ready
| next_year = 1984
| misc =
}}
"'Buffalo Soldier'" is a reggae song written by Bob Marley and Noel "King Sporty" Williams, and recorded by Jamaican band Bob Marley and the Wailers. It did not appear on record until the 1983 posthumous release of 'Confrontation', when it became one of Marley's best-known songs. The title and lyrics refer to the black US cavalry regiments, known as "Buffalo Soldiers", that fought in the American Indian Wars after 1866. Marley linked their fight to a fight for survival, and recasts it as a symbol of black resistance.'[https://books.google.com/books?id=kX7oSejCWnQC&pg=PA198&lpg=PA198 Black Heretics, Black Prophets: Radical Political Intellectuals]' - Bogues, Anthony, Page 198, via Google Books. Accessed 28 June 2008.
Background
The origin of the term "Buffalo Soldier" is theorized as given to black troops by Native Americans. The name was embraced by the troops, who were well acquainted with "the buffalo's fierce bravery and fighting spirit". The Buffalo Soldier's duties were settling railroad disputes, building telegraph lines, repairing and building forts, and otherwise helping settlers colonize lands taken from Native Americans. They were also tasked with protecting the colonizing settlers from Native Americans.
The song's bridge, with the lyrics 'woe! yoe! yo!', was rumored to be inspired by the chorus from The Banana Splits' "The Tra-La-La Song", the 1968 theme from their TV show, written by Mark Barkan and Ritchie Adams. There has been no proof of this, and an August 2008 story by the BBC seems to cast doubts on this origin story.
Reception
'Cash Box' said that the song's "socio-political theme, steady rhythmic stream and strong but sweet vocals re-emphasize what Marley's magic was all about."
Music video
A music video was produced for "Buffalo Soldier" to promote the single.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/uMUQMSXLlHM Ghostarchive] and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20100928120505/http://www.youtube.com//watch?v=uMUQMSXLlHM Wayback Machine]:
Charts
Certifications
See also
* List of anti-war songs
References
Category:Songs about soldiers
Category:Songs about the military
Category:1983 songs
Category:Bob Marley songs
Category:Songs written by Bob Marley
Category:Reggae songs
Category:1983 singles
Category:Island Records singles
Category:Buffalo Soldiers
Category:Songs released posthumously
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