REST IN POWER ROY AYERS – A SOTD

A goat has passed.

Somehow, it took his passing to realize I should explore the legendary Roy Ayers’ discography beyond Coffy– his blaxploitation soundtrack I recently discovered on a cold half-block walk- and a handful of other songs. It always takes tragedy, doesn’t it?

Even without Everybody Loves the Sunshine, a song as iconic as it is steeped in magic, he’s been immortalized for his contributions to hip-hop alone. Early hip-hop wouldn’t be what it is without the magic he drew from his marimba; citations include Bonita Applebum by ATCQ, Get Money ft The Notorious B.I.G., and the nearly 200 songs that sample Everybody Loves the Sunshine.

But on this overcast morning, I offer this sunny Roy Ayers track (and a genius J Dilla chop as a little treat) as an incantation to will the clouds away and usher spring in a little early.

Now, in Roy’s honor, let’s heed his words and

Listen
We ain’t got time to be tired
We got a long, long way to go
That’s right
A long, long, long way to go

We ain’t got time to be tired
‘Cause the tired move too slow
They move too slow
We ain’t got time to be tired
There’s a fight that must be won
It must be won
You know something
You ain’t got time to be tired
‘Cause the war has just begun
That’s right, the war has just begun
Now listen, I say the war
The war has just begun
You say “What war?”
The war for freedom
For freedom and equality
That’s right, I s- I say the war has just begun
“What war?”
The war for freedom!
That’s right
Freedom
Oh yes, the war, the war, the war, the war for freedom
You know we ain’t got time to be tired
We got a long, long way to go
We ain’t got time to be tired ’cause the tired move too slow
Yes, the war, the war for freedom and equality
The war has just begun