In 1980, upon the release of the single “Bad Card” from the Uprising album, the Jamaican government moves to ban the song from Jamaican airwaves because of it’s negative political connotations. Bob Marley, a Peoples National Party supporter, sees two of his songs from the Uprising album (“Bad Card”, “Coming In From The Cold”) used in political ad campaigns by both parties. For his part, Marley adorns the cover of his Uprising album with rising suns, a PNP symbol, as well as clenched fists, the Socialist party symbol that PNP is aligned with.

“BAD CARD“

You a-go tired fe see me face;
Can’t get me out of the race.
Oh, man, you said I’m in your place
And then you draw bad cyard –
A-make you draw bad cyard,
And then you draw bad cyard.

Propaganda spreading over my name;
Say you wanna bring another life to shame.
Oh, man, you just a-playing a game
And then you draw bad cyard (draw bad cyard);
A-make you draw bad cyard (draw bad cyard);
A-make you draw bad cyard.

I want to disturb my neighbour,
‘Cause I’m feelin’ so right;
I want to turn up my disco,
Blow them to full watts tonight, eh! –
In a rub-a-dub style, in a rub-a-dub style,
In a rub-a-dub style, in a rub-a-dub style.

‘Cause we guarding the palace so majestic;
Guarding the palace so realistic!

Them a-go tired to see we face (oh yeah!),
Me say them can’t get we out of the race;
Oh, man, it’s just a big disgrace.
The way you draw bad cyard (draw bad cyard);
The way you make wrong moves (make wrong moves);
The way you draw bad cyard (draw bad cyard);
A-make you draw bad cyard (draw bad cyard);
A-make you draw bad cyard –
In a rub-a-dub style, rub-a-dub style,
In a rub-a-dub style – [fadeout]

JAMAICA GLEANER AUGUST 28, 1980