No Woman No Cry
Anton Robberechts Lyrics
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Said I remember when we used to sit
In a goverment yard in trenchtown
Oba-obaserving the hypocrites
As they would mingle
With the good people we met
Good friends we′ve had oh
Good friends we've lost
In this great future
You can′t forget your past
So dry your tears
I say
No woman no cry
No woman no cry
Hey little darling
Don't shed no tears
No woman no cry
Everything's gonna be alright
Everything′s gonna be alright
Everything′s gonna be alright
Everything's gonna be alright
No woman No cry
The lyrics to Bob Marley's iconic song "No Woman No Cry" are rich with meaning and emotion. The song takes us back in time to a moment in the past where the singer and his friends used to sit in a government yard in Trenchtown, a neighborhood in Kingston, Jamaica. The yard was a communal space where people from different walks of life would gather and interact with each other. There were good people and hypocrites, and the song's narrator would observe them and the way they intermingled. The song suggests that despite the presence of hypocrites, there were still good people to be found in Trenchtown.
The chorus of the song, "No woman no cry," is often misinterpreted as telling women not to cry. However, the true meaning of the phrase is "No, woman, don't cry" and is a message of comfort and reassurance to those who are experiencing hardship. The song encourages the listener to not dwell on their past losses and to dry their tears because everything is going to be alright.
Overall, "No Woman No Cry" is a powerful and inspiring song that speaks to people across generations and cultures. It's a song about resilience and the ability to overcome adversity while still remembering the past and the people who have been lost along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
Said, said
Anton Robberechts is introducing the song with this repetition of 'said'.
Said I remember when we used to sit
Anton is reminiscing about a time in the past when he used to sit with someone.
In a government yard in Trenchtown
The specific location where Anton used to sit with someone and think about life.
Oba-obaserving the hypocrites
Anton and the person he used to sit with would observe people who are saying one thing while doing another.
As they would mingle
The hypocrites would intermingle with the good people they would meet.
With the good people we met
Anton and his friend met good people during their time spent sitting in that particular area.
Good friends we've had oh
Anton is reflecting on the memories of good friends they had in the past.
Good friends we've lost
Unfortunately, Anton and the person he used to sit with have lost some of their good friends.
Along the way
Over the course of time and life experience.
In this great future
Despite the losses they've experienced, Anton remains optimistic about the future.
You can't forget your past
Anton is advising us that we should remember our past as we move towards the future.
So dry your tears
Anton is encouraging someone to stop crying or feeling sad.
I say
He is reassuring someone with what he's telling them.
No woman no cry
This repeated phrase means that if there is no woman around, there is no need to cry.
Hey little darling
Anton is speaking to someone he cares about.
Don't shed no tears
Anton doesn't want someone he cares about to cry or be sad.
No woman no cry
This repeated phrase means that if there is no woman around, there is no need to cry.
Everything's gonna be alright
Anton is assuring someone that things will turn out okay in the end.
Everything's gonna be alright
This sentence reinforces Anton's message that everything will eventually be okay.
Everything's gonna be alright
Anton is repeating his reassurance once more.
Everything's gonna be alright
He ends the song on this note of optimism and hope.
No woman no cry
This repeated phrase is the chorus that reinforces the overall message of the song - that everything will be okay.
Writer(s): Bob Marley
Contributed by Kaitlyn W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.