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
Brain Washing
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Old Mr. Joe, he build a house away
On top of some hill
Old Mr. Joe knew he had to go, so
He got right down and wrote bank will
He say now, here's to mother hen
And her chicken, Lord have mercy now
Master, will you take a roll in the mud
The old barnyard, the old barnyard
Birds and the chick, ooh-wee
Who's got to watch out for brother mongoose
With his top hap and walking-stick?
It's just the poor's brain washing
(Poor's) They told me a long time ago
It's just the poor's brain washing, ooh-wee
(Poor's brain washing) Now look at a thing like this
Cinderella and her long lost fellow
In the midnight hour, she lost her silver slipper
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
While Jack and Jill had themselves a fall
It's just the poor's (brain washing)
And I don't need it no longer (washing)
It's just the poor's brain washing
Coming through to a poor man's child, ooh-wee, look at this
Little Miss Muffet she sat on a tuffet
While Little Red Riding Hood delivered her grandmom's food
Ooh-wee ooh-wee
Ooh-wee, look at one more thing like this
The cow jumping over the moon
While the dish got jealous, he grabbed the handy spoon
It's just the poor's brain washing
And I don't need it no longer, I don't want it no longer
I don't need it no longer (washing)
And I don't care for no more brain washing (washing)
The lyrics to Bob Marley's "Brain Washing" paint a picture of a society whose people have been indoctrinated into a certain way of thinking. The song starts with a story of Old Mr. Joe, who builds a house on top of a hill and leaves his possessions to Mother Hen and her chicken. This can be interpreted as a metaphor for those in power, who have hoarded wealth and resources for themselves, leaving little for the rest of society. The line "Master, will you take a roll in the mud like you know you should?" can be seen as a call to those in power to humble themselves and serve the greater good.
The chorus "It's just the poor's brain washing" sheds light on the idea that those in power can manipulate the thoughts and beliefs of those in poverty in order to maintain their position of power. The following verses reference classic children's stories and nursery rhymes, which can be seen as a commentary on how society perpetuates certain narratives and ideologies from a young age.
Line by Line Meaning
Old Mr. Joe, he build a house away
Old Mr. Joe built his house far from society
On top of some hill
His house was built on a hill
Old Mr. Joe knew he had to go, so
Old Mr. Joe knew he had to leave the world soon
He got right down and wrote bank will
He wrote his will before dying
He say now, here's to mother hen
He gave his blessings to mother hen
And her chicken, Lord have mercy now
And her chicken too, God bless them
Master, will you take a roll in the mud
He wondered if the wealthy master would be humble
Like you know you should?
As one should if he wants to live modestly
The old barnyard, the old barnyard
The setting of the next few stories is the barnyard
Birds and the chick, ooh-wee
The variety of animals in the barnyard included birds and chicks
Who's got to watch out for brother mongoose
One needs to be careful of the mongoose in the barnyard
With his top hap and walking-stick?
The mongoose carries a hat and a stick
It's just the poor's brain washing
The non-realistic stories people tell kids is nothing but the effect of poverty
(Poor's) They told me a long time ago
He was taught these stories when he was poor, long ago
Now look at a thing like this
Now see the impact of these unrealistic stories
Cinderella and her long lost fellow
The story of Cinderella and her lost love
In the midnight hour, she lost her silver slipper
Cinderella lost her silver slipper at night
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
The story of Humpty Dumpty sitting on a wall
While Jack and Jill had themselves a fall
The story of Jack and Jill falling down
And I don't need it no longer (washing)
He doesn't need these stories anymore
Coming through to a poor man's child, ooh-wee, look at this
These stories are passed on to poor children, and that is a problem
Little Miss Muffet she sat on a tuffet
The story of Little Miss Muffet sitting on a stool
While Little Red Riding Hood delivered her grandmom's food
Little Red Riding Hood taking food to her grandmother's house
Ooh-wee ooh-wee
Exclamation of surprise and wonder
Ooh-wee, look at one more thing like this
Another example of these kinds of stories
The cow jumping over the moon
The story of the cow jumping over the moon
While the dish got jealous, he grabbed the handy spoon
The story of the dish getting jealous and grabbing a spoon
And I don't care for no more brain washing (washing)
He doesn't want any more unrealistic stories for children
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: NEVILLE LIVINGSTON, BOB MARLEY
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