Don't think of Bob Marley as a pothead songpusher. Cannabis is central for Rastafarians in their beliefs, even though it is hard for us Americans to see that because our societal moral "core" is against it. Anyway, this song is about defending oneself against pirates of evil. Bob is saying blame the people in charge when you see evil in society. What good does it do to kill the underlings (deputy) when the Sherriff will just keep hiring more deputies to replace the killed ones. People in charge shape society, Marley realized this and that's why he was so politically active and tried to help shape politics. This song is a cry to challenge leaders and not go after the "deputies" in society. The weed references serve as double entendre...as sherriff brown tells his goons not only to chop down weed, but to chop down any people who oppose him. Good song by Marley, try to see the deeper meaning though.
Don't think of Bob Marley as a pothead songpusher. Cannabis is central for Rastafarians in their beliefs, even though it is hard for us Americans to see that because our societal moral "core" is against it. Anyway, this song is about defending oneself against pirates of evil. Bob is saying blame the people in charge when you see evil in society. What good does it do to kill the underlings (deputy) when the Sherriff will just keep hiring more deputies to replace the killed ones. People in charge shape society, Marley realized this and that's why he was so politically active and tried to help shape politics. This song is a cry to challenge leaders and not go after the "deputies" in society. The weed references serve as double entendre...as sherriff brown tells his goons not only to chop down weed, but to chop down any people who oppose him. Good song by Marley, try to see the deeper meaning though.