“Guiltiness” is the 3rd song on Bob Marley’s 1977 album, Exodus. The bio pic, One Love, shows Marley, exiled to London after an attempt on his life, alone in his apartment strumming softly and singing “Guiltiness.” Some would call this song a prophecy and Bob Marley, a prophet. His image, holding his guitar with a spliff in his mouth, is called iconic. His image becomes an “icon” or symbol in some spiritual system. “Guiltiness,” as a prophecy in an other- worldly spiritual system, loses power in real world politics. The imagery of prophecy diminishes the complex meaning of the song.
Learning Exodus was a profound experience for me, and I read it as social and political theory rather than prophecy. Each of the first five songs on the album gives stark and honest commentary on life for black people under the yoke of “Babylon” for centuries. Guiltiness is the third song. By playing and recording this song, we create a Contrary and are compelled to ask where we fit in ‘Babylon System.” This is a vital piece of social theory.
Kathee (Regan) Downes sang “Guiltiness” and Tom Daddesio played bass and did the mix.
An interesting commentary on Exodus by classical musician, sound engineer and speaker company executive Harley Lovegrove.
Mike Opitz Song Writing and Theory Project 