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
African Herbman
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't see the right rose when the streams abate
The old slave men might grind slow
But it grinds fine, yeah
African herbsman, why linger on?
Just concentrate, 'cause heaven lives on
Greet-I-eth slave men will look with a scorn
(how quick they had to part)
The remembrance of today
Is the sad feelin' of tomorrow
(how quick) Oh (part), oh yeah
African herbsman, seize your time
I'm takin' illusion on the edge of my mind
I'm takin' losers down thru my life
Down thru my life, yeah (yes, how quick they had to part)
(how quick they had to part)
Dideh part, yes, they part
In remembrance of today
(how quick they had to part)
African herbsman, why linger on?
Just concentrate, 'cause your heaven lives on
Greet-I-eth slave men will look with a scorn
With a transplanted heart, yes, how (quick they have to part)
(.how quick they have to part)
In remembrance of today
Brings sad feelings of tomorrow
(Yes, how quick they have to)
Lead me on, oh, Lord, I pray to you
(African herbsman) (African herbsman)
African, African herbsman...
The song "African Herbman" by Bob Marley is a call to action and a celebration of the power of African culture and spirituality. The opening lines, "All twinklin' Lee, can't see the right rose when the streams abate," suggest that in times of confusion and chaos, it can be difficult to see the way forward. The reference to "old slave men" grinding slowly but finely hints at the idea that change might come slowly, but it will come. The song goes on to celebrate the power of African spirituality, urging the listener to concentrate and embrace the idea that "heaven lives on" in the present moment.
The chorus of the song is a call to action, urging the African "herbsman" (someone who works with traditional African herbal remedies) to "seize your time" and not linger in the past. The references to "transplanted hearts" suggest the idea of displacement and the pain of separation from one's homeland and heritage. The song brings these themes together, suggesting that by embracing African culture and spirituality in the present, one can overcome the pain of the past and build a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
All twinklin' lee
The glittering water, due to its brightness, conceals what is truly beneath it
Can't see the right rose when the streams abate
When the streams dry up, it becomes difficult to find a particular rose in the garden
The old slave men might grind slow
The elderly slaves may move slowly
But it grinds fine, yeah
But they still perform their tasks perfectly
African herbsman, why linger on?
Why stay idle, African herbman?
Just concentrate, 'cause heaven lives on
Focus on your goal, because your reward awaits you in the afterlife
Greet-I-eth slave men will look with a scorn
Other slaves will judge you harshly
With a transplanted heart (yes, how quick they had to part)
Even though they were forcibly removed from their homeland, they still carry their culture and traditions with them
(how quick they had to part)
It was a sudden and painful experience for them
The remembrance of today
The present moment that we live in now
Is the sad feelin' of tomorrow
It may bring about negative consequences in the future
(how quick) Oh (part), oh yeah
It happened so suddenly that it still causes distress
African herbsman, seize your time
Take advantage of the opportunities that come your way
I'm takin' illusion on the edge of my mind
I am embracing imagination that borders reality
I'm takin' losers down thru my life
I am leaving behind those who hinder my growth
Down thru my life, yeah (yes, how quick they had to part)
Throughout life, I am reminded of the harsh reality of the past
(how quick they had to part)
It was a sudden and painful experience for them
Dideh part, yes, they part
They have to leave their homeland behind
In remembrance of today
The present moment that we live in now
(how quick they had to part)
It was a sudden and painful experience for them
African herbsman, why linger on?
Why stay idle, African herbman?
Just concentrate, 'cause your heaven lives on
Focus on your goal, because your reward awaits you in the afterlife
Brings sad feelings of tomorrow
It may bring about negative consequences in the future
(Yes, how quick they have to)
It was a sudden and painful experience for them
Lead me on, oh, Lord, I pray to you
I ask for the guidance of the Lord
(African herbsman) (African herbsman)
Reiteration of the call to action
African, African herbsman...
Empowerment of the African herbman
Writer(s): Bob Marley
Contributed by Reagan O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@TestTest-ft9xh
"In this age of technological inhumanity
Scientific atrocity
Atomic misphilosophy
Nuclear misenergy
It's a world that forces lifelong insecurity
We're the survivors, yeah!
We're the survivors!
Yes, the Black survivors!
We got to survive, y'all!"
Prophet Bob Marley
@TestTest-ft9xh
@Moon Glare That life a what represents the Garden of Eden (hunter gather life). Freud said civilization is madness and he would know.
It amuses when aid workers go to Africa to teach them sustainability. African have been living sustainably from the earth & nature for thousands of years like the San bushmen have been for 100,000 years straight.
Nature provides everything for free! Shelter (mud & thatched huts), food, homemade ceramics, gourd jugs, etc.
...And then someone came along and convinced us to pay money to buy everything to survive. Remember doing increasingly complex tasks is the sign of an incoming bipolar episode and advanced meth addiction. We need to simply to using nature directly and symbiotically for our needs.
Lastly, it was scientists who came to Africa and culled 40,000 elephants says they were trampling grass and causing desertification. Turns out after the elephants were killed desertification occured. They were keeping vegetation going. Colonialism "intelligence" at its finest.
@TestTest-ft9xh
"In this age of technological inhumanity
Scientific atrocity
Atomic misphilosophy
Nuclear misenergy
It's a world that forces lifelong insecurity
We're the survivors, yeah!
We're the survivors!
Yes, the Black survivors!
We got to survive, y'all!"
Prophet Bob Marley
@MarceloHenkin
this is my favorite Bob Marley song. just a simple and beautiful melody
@elijahflynt3217
same here
@cherrybelle7956
Me too,💞💞not many people can say that either 😃👑
@antoniodean9171
Me too
@HulkyBoomBulky
this track an kaya ✊🏼❤
@Mike-ky6jc
The original is called Indian Rope Man
This is my favorite rendition of the song and the first song I heard that got me into Bob Marley.
@oleboyblue6845
Peter Tosh's backing vocals are truly sublime.
@richardmlouis
+Ole Boy Blue Yes, they are. The Wailers have the best backup vocals. Thumbs up for noticing.
@TheLovemarley
+Ole Boy Blue you're sooo right... I got chills everytime I hear his voice
@sahulianhooligan7046
I can't distinguish Bunny Wailer's voice from Tosh since both could switch from falsetto and low.