Starting out in 1963 with the group Bob Marley & The Wailers, he forged a distinctive song-writing and vocal style that would later resonate with audiences worldwide.
The Wailers would go on to release some of the earliest reggae records with producer Lee Scratch Perry.
After The Wailers disbanded in 1974, Marley pursued a solo career which culminated in the release of the album Exodus in 1977 which established his worldwide reputation and became one of the world's best-selling artists of all time, with sales of more than 75 million albums and singles.
Bob Marley was a member of this Rastafari movement, whose culture was a key element in the development of reggae. Bob Marley became the leading proponent of the Rastafari, taking their music out of socially deprived areas of Jamaica and onto the international music scene.
Now considered a "Rasta" prophet, Marley's adoption of the characteristic Rastafarian dreadlocks and famous use of marijuana as a sacred sacrament in the late sixties were an integral part of his persona. He is said to have entered every performance proclaiming the divinity of Jah Rastafari.
A few months before his death, Marley was baptised into the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and took the name Berhane Selassie (meaning the Light of the Holy Trinity in Amharic).
His best known songs are a mixture of reggae, Roots Reggae, and rhythm and blues, which include:
I Shot the Sheriff
Exodus
Could You Be Loved
Redemption Song
No Woman, No Cry
Three Little Birds
Buffalo Soldier
Is This Love
One Love
Stir It Up
Jammin'
Get Up, Stand Up
His posthumous album Legend (1984) became the best-selling reggae album ever, with sales of more than 12 million copies.
Bob Marley was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994; in December 1999, his album “Exodus” (1977) was named Album of the Century by Time Magazine and his song “One Love” was designated Song of the Millennium by the BBC.
Awards and Honors:
1976 - Rolling Stone Magazine's "Band of the Year"
1978 - United Nations' Peace Medal of the Third World
1981 - Jamaican Order of Merit
1994 - The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
1999 - Time Magazine's Best Album of the Century
2001 - Star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame
2001- GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award
2004 - Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time (#11)
2006 - The United Kingdom's "Blue Plaque"
2006 - Bob Marley Boulevard named in Brooklyn, New York
2010 - GRAMMY Hall Of Fame (Catch A Fire)
2012 - August the 7th, proclamed Bob Marley Day (Los Angeles)
2013 - GRAMMY Tribute Performance
Marley tragically died of cancer at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Miami, Florida on May 11, 1981.
Religion:
Bob Marley was a member of the Rastafari movement, (not rastafaranism as that is seen as a derogortory term as Rasta's don't like being refered to as an ism) whose culture was a key element in the development of reggae music in Jamaica. Rastas belive they are outcast from their native Zion and looked on Ethiopia as their real home and Tafarai Makonnen, who took the title Haile Sellasie I(Power of the Holy Trinity in Amharic), after he became the emperor of Ethiopia, as their leader. Rastas belive H.I.M. is Jesus in flesh. Rastas are considered to be black Jews.
Rastas claim their root from King Solomon and Abbysinian queen of Sheba, through lineage of their son Menelik, emperor of Abbysinia. H.I.M. is said to be a direct decendant of Menelik. 'Ras' means Head and 'Tafarai" means Creator. 'Jah' is the shortened form of the Hebrew word Jehovah. Rastas belive in one truth and that is the truth of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Sellasie I, King of kings, Lord of lords, conquering Lion of the tribe of Judah, two hundred and twenty-fifth ruler of the three thousand year old Ethiopian empire, elect of Jah, Light of the world. Jah Rastafari live out. Rastas preach a non-materialistic, egalitarian way of life. Bob Marley became a leading proponent of the Rastafari, taking their music out of the socially deprived areas of Jamaica and onto the international music scene. Bob Marley was baptized by the Archbishop of the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian Church in Kingston, Jamaica on November 4, 1980.
Diet:
Marley's diet was ital; fruit, vegetables and fish; which is food approved by the Rastafari movement.
Family:
Bob Marley had 13 children: three with his wife Rita Marley, two adopted from Rita's previous relationships, and the remaining eight with separate women.
His children are, in order of birth:
Imani Carole, born May 22, 1963, to Cheryl Murray;
Sharon, born November 23, 1964, to Rita in previous relationship;
Cedella born August 23, 1967, to Rita;
David "Ziggy Marley", born October 17, 1968, to Rita;
Stephen Marley, born April 20, 1972, to Rita;
Robert "Robbie", born May 16, 1972, to Pat Williams;
Rohan, born May 19, 1972, to Janet Hunt;
Karen, born 1973 to Janet Bowen;
Stephanie, born August 17, 1974; according to Cedella Booker she was the daughter of Rita and a man called Ital with whom Rita had an affair; nonetheless she was acknowledged as Bob's daughter;
Julian Marley, born June 4, 1975, to Lucy Pounder;
Ky-Mani Marley, born February 26, 1976, to Anita Belnavis;
Damian Marley, born July 21, 1978, to Cindy Breakspeare;
Makeda, born May 30, 1981, to Yvette Crichton.
See here for comedian Bob Marley the comedian: Comedian Bob Marley
400 Years
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it's the same, the same (wo-o-o-o) philosophy
I've said it's four hundred years (four hundred years, four hundred years, wo oh oh oh)
Look, how long (wo oh oh oh)
And the people they (wo oh oh oh) still can't see
Why do they fight against the poor youth of today?
And without these youths, they would be gone
All gone astray
Come on, let's make a move (make a move, make a move, wo oh oh oh)
I can see time (wo oh oh oh), time has come
And if-a fools don't see (fools don't see, fools don't see, wo oh oh oh)
I can't save the youth
The youth is gonna be strong
So, won't you come with me (come with me)
I'll take you to a land of liberty
Where we can live (we can live), live a good, good life and be free
Look how long, four hundred years (four hundred years, four hundred years)
Way too long! (Wo oh oh oh)
That's the reason my people (wo oh oh oh), my people can't see
Said, it's four hundred long years (four hundred years, four hundred years, wo oh oh oh)
Give me patience (wo-o-o-o), same philosophy
It's been four hundred years (four hundred years, four hundred years)
Wait so long! Wo oh oh oh, wo oh oh oh
How long, four hundred (four hundred years, four hundred years) long, long years
People hiding from reality
The lyrics to Bob Marley's "400 Years" express a deep sense of pain and frustration at the continued oppression and injustice suffered by black people over four hundred years. The repetition of the phrase "four hundred years" emphasizes the long history of this struggle and the continued existence of the same oppressive system. Marley calls attention to the fact that despite the passage of time, the same philosophy of domination and control persists.
The lyrics also point to the youth as a crucial part of the struggle for liberation. Marley questions why people fight against young people, and acknowledges their strength and importance to the cause. He invites the listener to join him in the pursuit of a land of liberty, where they can live a good life and be free. However, he also acknowledges the difficulty of this task, and the need for patience and persistence.
The final line, "People hiding from reality," speaks to the idea that many people are blind to the truth of the situation and are content to go along with the status quo, rather than fighting for change.
Overall, the lyrics to "400 Years" are a powerful call to action, urging listeners to recognize the persistence of oppression and to work towards a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
Four hundred years (four hundred years, four hundred years, wo oh oh oh)
The song talks about the awful duration of slavery, which lasted even longer than four centuries.
And it's the same, the same (wo-o-o-o) philosophy
Despite the length of this enslavement, the same philosophy of oppressing the black people continues till date.
I've said it's four hundred years (four hundred years, four hundred years, wo oh oh oh)
The song reiterates the fact that the amount of time that has passed since slavery started is over 400 years.
Look, how long (wo oh oh oh)
This is an emphasis on how long the Africans have been oppressed and enslaved.
And the people they (wo oh oh oh) still can't see
Even after all these years, some people still can't see the damage and injustice that was done to black people.
Why do they fight against the poor youth of today?
The song addresses the oppression that young black people still face today.
And without these youths, they would be gone
Without the hope and spirit of young black people working towards liberating themselves, their oppressors would be forgotten and gone.
Come on, let's make a move (make a move, make a move, wo oh oh oh)
The song calls for action, urging its listeners to make a move towards change.
I can see time (wo oh oh oh), time has come
The songwriter sees that it's time for change, and there is a visible shift towards progress.
And if-a fools don't see (fools don't see, fools don't see, wo oh oh oh)
If some people do not realize the need for change and the problems with the status quo, they will not be advocates for progress.
I can't save the youth
The songwriter is not solely responsible for saving the youth--it's everyone's duty to ensure a better future.
The youth is gonna be strong
The young black people have the courage and strength to push for change and make a difference.
So, won't you come with me (come with me)
The songwriter invites his listeners to join him in his path towards activism and change.
I'll take you to a land of liberty
The songwriter promises a future where freedom and equality will be experienced by all.
Where we can live (we can live), live a good, good life and be free
This is the ultimate goal of the struggle--for black people to live their lives as they please, free from oppression and mistreatment.
Look how long, four hundred years (four hundred years, four hundred years)
The song emphasizes once again the devastating impact of 400 years of enslavement on black people.
Way too long! (Wo oh oh oh)
The songwriter expresses his indignation that an immoral institution could last for such a long time.
That's the reason my people (wo oh oh oh), my people can't see
The extensive period of enslavement is responsible for the lack of sight and the inability for black people to see the mistreatment they still face today.
Said, it's four hundred long years (four hundred years, four hundred years, wo oh oh oh)
The song repeats the fact that slavery lasted for four centuries.
Give me patience (wo-o-o-o), same philosophy
The songwriter asks for patience, as change is a slow process that requires perseverance, the same philosophy that black people have been forced to adhere to for over four centuries.
How long, four hundred (four hundred years, four hundred years) long, long years
The songwriter once again laments the length of time black people have been oppressed and how much damage it has caused them.
People hiding from reality
The last line of the song points out that many people refuse to acknowledge the lingering issues from slavery and are therefore not working towards solving them.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Peter Tosh
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nazım Yılmaz
on No Woman No Cry
el hombre de mundo
JANGLA WISE
on Three Little Birds
Give thanks and Praise's
Juan Carlos Garcia
on Stir It Up
muy buena musica
Shaft Abdou
on One Love
on love
Felix CM
on Ganjah Gun
:)
Felix CM
on Stir It Up
ganjah gan
Assamoi Junior
on One Love
One love Bob marley
Assamoi Junior
on Waiting In Vain
Cool man
Faisal Alowais
on Stir It Up
best song owwwwwwwwwwwwwwww owy
Ca Sperez
on Stir It Up
muy buena rola