Young Garvey promotes peace with ‘No War’
As he watched developments in the Middle East between the United States (US), Israel and Iran, Young Garvey found it coincidental that he mused those hostilities in No War, a song he released three years ago.
In May, when American and Israeli forces began bombing Tehran, the Iranian capital, Young Garvey and producer Leroy Sibbles agreed to re-release the song.
The roots singer finds it ironic that No War scolds the US for possessing nuclear weapons, something President Donald Trump has accused Iran of.
“Di US have nuclear weapons, suh is not a one way ting. When these tings lead to war, I have a problem with dat, ‘cause we is all about peace,” Young Garvey told Observer Online.
To get his message of peace across three years ago, Young Garvey filmed a video for No War in Trench Town, one of the many so-called garrison communities in Jamaica. It is where he spent some of his youth and experienced gang and political violence.
“Whether it’s nearby or global, war is not a good thing. Dat’s di message of di song,” said the dreadlocked artiste.
No War is one of many songs Young Garvey has recorded for Sibbles’ Bright Beam label. Others include Cool Natty and One More Sad Song. The latter was inspired by the controversial death of George Floyd, a black man, by a white police officer in Minneapolis in May 2020.
Since the start of 2026, Young Garvey has also released the songs What If and Still Going On.
— Howard Campbell