Marley fled to London two days later, where he and the band recorded the Exodus and Kaya albums. This transition from Jamaica to England influenced the song's more refined, "hi-fi" sound compared to his earlier work.
Unveiling The Natural Mystic: Decoding Bob Marley's Masterpiece Natural Mystic (1977) - Bob Marley & The Wailers
In December 1976, gunmen broke into Marley's home, shooting him, his wife Rita, and his manager. Marley fled to London two days later, where
The song was written and recorded during a period of intense personal and political turmoil for Marley. gunmen broke into Marley's home
The song urges listeners to "listen carefully" to the subtle "natural mystic" in the air—representing a spiritual awakening or the Holy Spirit.