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
Chant down babylon
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Come we go burn down Babylon one more time)
Come we go chant down Babylon one more time
(Come we go chant down Babylon)
For them soft! Yes, them soft! (ah-yoy!)
Them soft! Yes, them soft! (ah-yoy!)
So come we go chant down Babylon one more time
(Come we go chant down Babylon)!
Men see their dreams and aspiration-a
Crumble in front of their face,
And all of their wicked intention
To how I know: A Reggae Music, mek we chant down Babylon
With music, mek we chant down Babylon
This music, mek we chant down Babylon
This music, come we chant down Babylon
Come we go chant down Babylon one more time
(Come we go chant down Babylon one more time)
Come we go chant down Babylon one more time
(Come we go chant down Babylon)
For them soft! Yes, them soft! (ah-yoy!)
Them soft! Me say, them soft! (ah-yoy!)
So come we go chant down Babylon one more time
(Come we go chant down Babylon)!
Me say, Music you're - music you're the key
Talk to who? Please talk to me, bring the voice of the Rastaman
Communicating to - 'cating to everyone
How I (know) - how I know, how I (know) - how I know
And that's how I know
A Reggae Music, chant down - chant down - chant down Babylon
Chant down Babylon, chant down Babylon, chant down Babylon!
Reggae Music, chant down Babylon!
Reggae Music, chant down Babylon!
Reggae Music, chant down Babylon!
Reggae Music, chant down Babylon!
Reggae Music! (chant down Babylon) /fadeout/
The song "Chant down Babylon" by Bob Marley is a call to action against the oppressive Babylonian system. The chorus "Come we go burn down Babylon one more time" and "Come we go chant down Babylon one more time" urges people to rebel and dismantle the Babylonian system that has caused their dreams and aspirations to crumble in front of their face. The use of the word "soft" in the song describes the Babylonian system as weak and vulnerable to attack.
Marley's use of music as a tool for resistance is highlighted in the lyrics, "With music, mek we chant down Babylon. This music, mek we chant down Babylon." He sees music as the key to communication, with the voice of the Rastaman communicating to everyone. The lyrics show Marley's belief that Reggae music is a powerful tool for social change and can help to bring about the downfall of Babylon.
Overall, "Chant down Babylon" is a powerful call to action to rebel against the oppressive system and use music as a tool to bring about change. Marley's lyrics emphasize the need to resist the Babylonian system and show that music can be a powerful tool for social justice and change.
Line by Line Meaning
Come we go burn down Babylon one more time
Let us destroy Babylon again
Come we go chant down Babylon one more time
Let us use music to bring down Babylon
For them soft! Yes, them soft! (ah-yoy!)
Them soft! Yes, them soft! (ah-yoy!)
Babylonians are weak and easily defeated
Men see their dreams and aspiration-a
Crumble in front of their face,
And all of their wicked intention
Babylonians' dreams and evil intentions will fail
To how I know: A Reggae Music, mek we chant down Babylon
With music, mek we chant down Babylon
This music, mek we chant down Babylon
This music, come we chant down Babylon
Reggae music can bring down Babylon and we should use it for that purpose
Me say, Music you're - music you're the key
Talk to who? Please talk to me, bring the voice of the Rastaman
Communicating to - 'cating to everyone
How I (know) - how I know, how I (know) - how I know
And that's how I know
Music is the key to communicating the voice of the Rastaman to everyone and bringing down Babylon
Reggae Music, chant down Babylon!
Reggae music can bring down Babylon
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BOB MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Luzia Fidelis
Come we go burn down Babylon
One more time, Come we go chant down
Babylon one more time
For them soft, yes them soft
Them soft, yes them soft
So come we go chant down Babylon one more time
Men see their dreams and aspirations
Crumble in front of their face
And all their wicked intentions to destroy the
Human race.
And how I know, and that's how I know
A Reggae Music, mek we chant down Babylon
With music, mek we chant down Babylon
This music, mek we chant down Babylon
This music, come we chant down Babylon
Come we go chant down Babylon one more time
(Repeat)
For them soft, yes them soft
Them soft, mi say them soft
So come we go chant down Babylon one more time
Music you're, music you're the key
Talk to who, please talk to me
Bring the voice of the Rastaman
Communicating to everyone
How I, How I know, How I, How I know
And that's how I know
A Reggae Music, chant down, Chant down Babylon
Chant down Babylon
Reggae Music, Chant down Babylon
Reggae Music, Chant down Babylon
Reggae Music, Chant down Babylon
Reggae Music
Mamie Ploumploum
Come we go burn down Babylon one more time
(Come we go burn down Babylon one more time);
Come we go chant down Babylon one more time
(Come we go chant down Babylon);
For them soft! Yes, them soft! (ah-yoy!)
Them soft! Yes, them soft! (ah-yoy!)
So come we go chant down Babylon one more time
(Come we go chant down Babylon)!
Men see their dreams and aspiration-a
Crumble in front of their face,
And all of their wicked intention
To destroy the human race.
And how I know - and how I know - and that's how I know:
A Reggae Music, mek we chant down Babylon;
With music, mek we chant down Babylon;
This music, mek we chant down Babylon;
This music, come we chant down Babylon.
Come we go chant down Babylon one more time
(Come we go chant down Babylon one more time);
Come we go chant down Babylon one more time
(Come we go chant down Babylon);
For them soft! Yes, them soft! (ah-yoy!)
Them soft! Me say, Them soft! (ah-yoy!)
So come we go chant down Babylon one more time
(Come we go chant down Babylon)!
Me say, Music you're - music you're the key,
Talk to who? Please talk to me,
Bring the voice of - of the Rastaman,
Communicating to - 'cating to everyone.
How I (know) - how I know, how I (know) - how I know -
And that's how I know:
A Reggae Music, chant down - chant down - chant down Babylon,
Chant down Babylon, chant down Babylon,
Chant down Babylon!
Reggae Music, chant down Babylon!
Reggae Music, chant down Babylon!
Reggae Music, chant down Babylon!
Reggae Music! (chant down Babylon) /fadeout/
Thom Junior
ome we go burn down Babylon one more time
(Come we go burn down Babylon one more time)
Come we go chant down Babylon one more time
(Come we go chant down Babylon)
For them soft! Yes, them soft! (ah-yoy!)
Them soft! Yes, them soft! (ah-yoy!)
So come we go chant down Babylon one more time
(Come we go chant down Babylon)!
Men see their dreams and aspiration-a
Crumble in front of their face,
And all of their wicked intention
To how I know: A Reggae Music, mek we chant down Babylon
With music, mek we chant down Babylon
This music, mek we chant down Babylon
This music, come we chant down Babylon
Come we go chant down Babylon one more time
(Come we go chant down Babylon one more time)
Come we go chant down Babylon one more time
(Come we go chant down Babylon)
For them soft! Yes, them soft! (ah-yoy!)
Them soft! Me say, them soft! (ah-yoy!)
So come we go chant down Babylon one more time
(Come we go chant down Babylon)!
Me say, Music you're - music you're the key
Talk to who? Please talk to me, bring the voice of the Rastaman
Communicating to - 'cating to everyone
How I (know) - how I know, how I (know) - how I know
And that's how I know
A Reggae Music, chant down - chant down - chant down Babylon
Chant down Babylon, chant down Babylon, chant down Babylon!
Reggae Music, chant down Babylon!
Reggae Music, chant down Babylon!
Reggae Music, chant down Babylon!
Reggae Music, chant down Babylon!
Reggae Music! (chant down Babylon)
Vincent Amanor-Boadu
Nearly 40 years after his departure home, Mr. Marley still is influencing people. All those with ears to hear, let them hear the prophet. All those with dancing feet, let them dance with joy.
MacDonald Muyabalo
No other Musician will ever have the influence Bob Marley had and still has even after his death. Marley is the GREATEST.
Bob Marley is LEGEND.
Philip Mcmahon
Bob Dylan will :)
justbenice72
I and I second dat 🇬🇳🇬🇳JAH LIVE
Nutmeg
Philip Mcmahon look at the impact of Bob Marley's music in such a short lifetime when will anyone surpass that never
Nutmeg
MacDonald Muyabalo you are absolutely correct the best there was and will ever be
John Morides
Absolutely!
Those who have ears let them hear!
p247
One of his most fantastic songs imo. His voice is so incredibly soulful.
Lawrence Njawe
Bob Marley's legacy can't be restricted to the conventional description of a mere "hero" a term used to describe many Rockstars. With his mix of deep spirituality, socio-political, and cultural commentary, hes way beyond that.. 🎶😇
axel fahandy
My very first Bob Marley album. 30 years ago, and I never could stop listening this Reggae Vibes. My music, my heartbeat, my passion.