A Long Way Gone

In the world, even if at first people don’t realize it, music has a significant impact on everyone. People’s memories are also evoked when associated with music. A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah is a memoir about his journey through adolescence as a child soldier in Sierra Leone. The theme of music had the utmost impact throughout Ishmael’s memoir.

Before the war, music provided enjoyment for Ishmael, letting him escape from everyday difficulties. “Before we parted to carry out our evening chores of fetching water and cleaning lamps, we would say ‘peace son’ or ‘I’m out’, phrases we picked up from rap lyrics.” (Beah 7) By Ishmael saying this shows how much music influenced him before the war. All of the boys listening to rap always had something to get their minds off the hardships they faced. They could always think about the lyrics on their way to get water, or while they were scrubbing lamps. Additionally, this quote shows how close Ishmael was to music. He spoke a different language and “couldn’t understand what was being said” (Beah 6-7) but was still able to pick up certain sayings. Ishmael never knew how being close to music would eventually save him physically or mentally.

During the war Ishmael was left alone, to wander from village to village, attempting not to get caught by soldiers. Eventually, Ishmael met with friends, and music saved their lives. They were walking to a village they thought was empty at the time, but they were captured, and brought to the man in charge. The boys were stripped of their belongings, when Ishmael’s tapes fell out of his pocket. The men then played said tapes. “I explained to him it was rap music and that myself, my brother, and my friends - not the ones I am with - used to listen, and perform at talent shows.” (Beah 66-67) This sentence demonstrates how music impacted Ishmael’s life for two main reasons. The first being that it saved his physical life; the men no longer