
'Nail Pon Cross' is a song by Damian Marley, the youngest son of reggae artist and cannabis enthusiast Bob Marley. The song and its accompanying music video address the issue of people being too quick to judge others without taking a look at themselves and their own flaws. Marley challenges us to reflect on ourselves rather than judge the behaviours of others. The song's message is summarised by its video, in which a young black man, a Muslim man, a police officer, and Marley himself are crucified on utility poles in the streets of Los Angeles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Theme | Judgement |
| Message | Be open-minded |
| Message | Be wary of who you pass judgement on |
| Message | Reflect on yourself rather than judging the behaviours of others |
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'Nail Pon Cross' is a song by Damian Marley
Nail Pon Cross is a song by Damian Marley, the youngest son of legendary reggae artist and cannabis enthusiast Bob Marley. The song and its accompanying music video address the issue of people being too quick to judge others based on stereotypes and appearances, without taking the time to get to know them or reflect on their own flaws.
In the song, Marley challenges listeners to be careful who they "nail pon cross", urging them to understand that "a man is just a man" and that no one is without flaws. He encourages people to "speak of love" and work towards a greater cause, rather than passing judgement on others.
The music video for Nail Pon Cross further emphasizes this message by depicting a young black man, a Muslim man, a police officer, and Marley himself crucified on utility poles in the streets of Los Angeles. This powerful imagery serves as a metaphor for the ways in which society crucifies individuals based on stereotypes and preconceived notions, without truly understanding their experiences or perspectives.
Through this song and its visual representation, Marley invites listeners to reflect on their own biases and judgements, encouraging a more open-minded and empathetic approach to interacting with others. He highlights the importance of recognizing our shared humanity and the potential for positive change through understanding and love.
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The song's message is about being open-minded
Damian Marley's song 'Nail Pon Cross' is about being open-minded. The song's message is about not judging people based on stereotypes, their appearance, ethnicity or culture. Instead of passing judgement on others, Marley challenges us to reflect on ourselves.
In the song, Marley sings: 'World must understand / Yo a man is just a man / Don't you judge him for his ways and flaws'. He goes on to say: 'Speak of love tomorrow / You'll be doing good my brother / You're working for the greatest cause'. The song encourages people to be careful about who they 'nail pon cross' – in other words, who they judge.
The song's music video features a young black man, a Muslim man, a police officer, and Marley himself crucified on utility poles in the streets of Los Angeles. The video's polarising imagery has been praised by some and criticised by others. Speaking to *Billboard* magazine, Marley said that the scene at the end of the video summarises the song's message about being open-minded:
> It was basically trying to say that you're judging someone based upon a stereotype. You're judging them based on appearance, whether it's their ethnicity or their culture, without really getting to know the person. That's really what that scene signifies, you know? That's really what the song was about. This kind of passing judgement without really knowing or without judging yourself or even having a right to judge.
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It challenges listeners to reflect on themselves rather than judge others
In his song 'Nail Pon Cross', Damian Marley challenges listeners to reflect on themselves rather than judge others. The song's message is about being open-minded and not judging people based on stereotypes or appearances. Marley encourages listeners to be wary of passing judgement on others without really knowing them or judging themselves first.
The song's lyrics speak about how people are quick to condemn and judge others without taking a look at their own flaws. Marley challenges listeners to reflect on their own behaviours and flaws rather than pointing fingers at others.
The song's music video further emphasizes this message by depicting a young black man, a Muslim man, a police officer, and Marley himself crucified on utility poles in the streets of Los Angeles. This polarizing imagery has received both praise and criticism, with some interpreting it as a powerful statement about race relations and police brutality.
Overall, 'Nail Pon Cross' serves as a reminder to listeners to be mindful of their own biases and judgements and to reflect on their own actions before passing judgement on others.
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The song's video features polarising imagery
The song 'Nail Pon Cross' by Damian Marley features polarising imagery in its music video. The video depicts a young black man, a Muslim man, a police officer, a gang member and Marley himself crucified on utility poles in the streets of Los Angeles. This powerful and controversial imagery serves as a visual representation of the song's message about being open-minded and wary of passing judgement on others.
Marley explained to Billboard magazine that the scene of the diverse group of individuals hanging from crosses symbolises the act of judging someone based on stereotypes and appearances without truly knowing them. The song challenges listeners to reflect on their own biases and flaws rather than hastily condemning others.
The lyrics of 'Nail Pon Cross' reinforce this message, with lines such as "Don't you judge him for his ways and flaws" and "Be careful who you nail pon cross". The song encourages people to understand and embrace their shared humanity, as expressed in the line "World must understand / Yo a man is just a man".
By using polarising imagery, Marley draws attention to the issues of race relations and police brutality, highlighting the consequences of passing judgement without critical thought. The video's depiction of individuals from different backgrounds and identities crucified together serves as a powerful metaphor for the impact of prejudice and stereotyping.
The polarising nature of the video's imagery has sparked a range of reactions from viewers, with some praising Marley for his bold statement and others expressing discomfort or criticism. However, the underlying message of the song and its accompanying visuals is a call for self-reflection and a more compassionate understanding of others, challenging listeners to question their own biases and assumptions.
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The song's lyrics include 'World must understand'
Damian Marley's song 'Nail Pon Cross' is about being open-minded and not judging people based on stereotypes, their appearance, ethnicity or culture. The song's message is about how people are quick to condemn and judge others without reflecting on themselves and their own flaws.
The lyrics include: 'World must understand / Yo a man is just a man / Don't you judge him for his ways and flaws / No / Speak of love tomorrow / You'll be doing good my brother / You're working for the greatest cause'.
Marley challenges listeners to reflect on themselves rather than judge the behaviours of others. In the song, he sings: 'He without sin / May he throw the first stone / And not even a pebble can cast'. This is a reference to the biblical story of Jesus and the adulteress, in which Jesus says: 'Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her'.
The song's title, 'Nail Pon Cross', is a reference to crucifixion and the imagery in the music video reflects this. In the video, Marley, an African-American boy, a Muslim woman, a cop and a gang member are all hanging from crosses or utility poles. This imagery has been interpreted as a warning to be careful who you judge or condemn.
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Frequently asked questions
The song by Damian Marley is about being open-minded and not judging people based on stereotypes or appearances.
The title is a play on the phrase 'be careful who you nail on the cross', which is a reference to the crucifixion of Jesus and a warning to be wary of who you pass judgement on.
In the video, a young black man, a Muslim man, a police officer, and Marley himself are crucified on utility poles in the streets of Los Angeles.











































