From the playful indulgence of Bach’s Coffee Cantata to the socially conscious rhythms of Bob Marley’s reggae, music has long accompanied our encounters with abundance, scarcity, justice, and family. Below are a few of the overarching themes that run through this month’s playlist.
Abundance
Coffee Cantata – J.S. Bach
Bach’s Coffee Cantata can be heard as a playful ode to the irresistible ritual of drinking coffee – warm, fragrant, stimulating, and delightfully unnecessary for basic survival.
In this mini comic oratorio, coffee becomes a symbol of abundance: the pleasure of having just a little more than you need, and the luxury of choosing indulgence. Yet beneath its light-hearted charm lies a distinctly 18th-century anxiety, as men worried that women’s growing love of coffee might tempt them away from their domestic duties.
In the cantata, a father laments his daughter’s devotion to the drink, fearful that it might disrupt the proper social order. Today, the joke lands differently—coffee “over-indulgence” feels relatable, a habit almost universally shared, and far from the threat it once seemed to pose.
Tafelmusik Part I–II – Georg Philipp Telemann
Telemann’s Tafelmusik Parts I–II were conceived as musical complements to the lavish banquets and ceremonial meals that defined upper-class life in early-18th-century Europe.
Performed during aristocratic feasts, the music mirrored the elegance, variety, and sophistication of the dishes served, functioning almost like a sonic extension of the table’s luxury. In this setting, Tafelmusik became a cultural marker of status, transforming dining into an experience where music, food, and etiquette worked together to showcase wealth, refinement, and cosmopolitan identity.
Scarcity
Food for Thought – UB40
UB40’s ‘Food for Thought’ uses the upbeat rhythms of reggae to deliver a sharp social critique, contrasting its catchy sound with lyrics that highlight global hunger, poverty, and the hypocrisy of celebrating abundance during holidays while others suffer.
Released in 1980, the song calls attention to the moral responsibility of wealthier nations, urging listeners to confront the inequalities that make famine and deprivation ongoing realities. UB40 turns the idea of “food for thought” into a challenge for audiences to reflect on their own roles within systems of privilege and to recognise the human cost of global injustice.
Them Belly Full (But We Hungry) – Bob Marley & The Wailers
Bob Marley & The Wailers’ ‘Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)’ turns a driving reggae anthem into a powerful statement about inequality, reminding listeners that while the rich may live in comfort (“them belly full”), the poor continue to struggle for basic survival.
Marley highlights how economic hardship fuels social tension, yet the song also celebrates music and collective resilience as sources of strength in the face of deprivation. It’s music that understands hunger as more than bodily need—it’s a social fire, a collective demand for dignity.
Social justice
Bread and Roses – Judy Collins
Judy Collins’ version of Bread and Roses turns the struggle for fairness into a gentle but firm hymn. With her clear, expressive vocals, Collins emphasises the song’s central message: that people deserve not only “bread” in the form of economic survival, but also “roses”—beauty, rest, respect, and a fulfilling quality of life.
Often associated with women’s labour movements, her version underscores solidarity and the fight for justice, turning a historical protest anthem into a timeless plea for both material well-being and the enrichment of the human spirit.
Family and gathering
Family Reunion – Jill Scott
Jill Scott’s Family Reunion brings us home—to folding chairs, kids running underfoot, uncles tending grills, and the familiar comfort of people who share roots, insider jokes and anecdotes.
Scott sings with warmth and affection, capturing the sensory overload of a house full of relatives and dishes. It’s food as connection, seasoned by stories, shaped by tradition, and enriched by successive generations.
Whether celebrating the simple pleasures of a family meal or confronting the harsh realities of hunger and inequality, these musical works remind us that food is never just food—it is a lens through which we understand community, culture, and conscience.
Hey Jukebox!
Listen to a playlist of the songs discussed in this blog on Spotify, or in the Museum on Tuesday afternoons from 2.30pm.
Lead image: Photo by Stefan Vladimirov on Unsplash