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
Cloud Nine
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You see, I was born and raised in the slums of the city,
It was a one room shack that slept ten other children besides me.
We hardly had enough food or room to sleep.
It was hard times,
Needed something to ease my troubled mind.
Listen! my father didn't know the meaning of work,
He disrespected mama, and treated us like dirt.
Depressed and downhearted I took to cloud nine,
I'm doin' fine, up here on cloud nine.
Listen one more time I'm doin' fine, up here on cloud nine.
Folks down there tell me,
They say, "give yourself a chance son, don't let life pass you by".
But the world of reality is a rat race where only the strongest survive,
It's a dog eat dog world, and that ain't no lie.
Listen! it ain't even safe no more to walk the streets at night,
I'm doin' fine, on cloud nine.
Let me tell you about cloud nine.
Cloud nine, you can be what you wanna be
(cloud nine) you ain't got no responsibility,
And ev'ry man, ev'ry man is free
(cloud nine) and you're a million miles from reality.
I wanna say I love the life I live,
And I'm gonna live the life I love up here on cloud nine.
I'm riding high
On cloud nine, you're as free as a bird in flight
(cloud nine) there's no diff'rence between day and night
(cloud nine) it's a world of love and harmony
(cloud nine) you're a million miles from reality.
Cloud nine, you can be what you wanna be
Cloud nine) you ain't got no responsibility,
And ev'ry man, ev'ry man is free
(cloud nine) and you're a million miles from reality.
(cloud nine) (cloud nine) (cloud nine)
"Cloud Nine" is a song by Bob Marley that talks about the struggles of growing up in poverty and seeking happiness in hopelessness. The lyrics indicate that Marley grew up in a deprived neighborhood and had a difficult childhood. He left home looking for better opportunities but didn't find what he was seeking. He felt depression and frustration until he found comfort in his imagination on cloud nine, where he could be whoever he wanted to be without any responsibilities. It's a place where every man is free, and there's no difference between day and night. It's a world of love and harmony, where people are happy, and peace reigns.
The song can be interpreted as a message of hope and a call for freedom. It tells people that they should dream and imagine a better life and not let the hard times hinder them from happiness. It encourages people to be themselves and enjoy their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Childhood part of my life, it wasn't very pretty.
I grew up in poverty in the slums of the city, and my living conditions were far from comfortable.
You see, I was born and raised in the slums of the city,
I grew up in a neighborhood that was characterized by poverty and crime.
It was a one room shack that slept ten other children besides me.
I grew up in an overcrowded and cramped living space that had little room for privacy or comfort.
We hardly had enough food or room to sleep.
I often went hungry or had to sleep on the floor due to the limited resources available to us.
It was hard times,
I experienced a great deal of hardship and struggle growing up.
Needed something to ease my troubled mind.
I was looking for a way to escape the difficulties of my life and find some peace of mind.
Listen! my father didn't know the meaning of work,
My father was not a responsible provider for our family and did not work to support us.
He disrespected mama, and treated us like dirt.
My father was abusive to my mother and our family, and did not treat us with respect or kindness.
I left home, seekin' a job that I never did find,
I left my home in search of employment, but unfortunately was not successful in finding work.
Depressed and downhearted I took to cloud nine,
Feeling upset and discouraged, I turned to a fantasy world to escape the harsh realities of my life.
I'm doin' fine, up here on cloud nine.
I feel content and happy in my fantasy world, away from the struggles of my real life.
Folks down there tell me,
People in the real world advise me that
They say, "give yourself a chance son, don't let life pass you by".
They encourage me to take a chance on life and not let opportunities pass me by.
But the world of reality is a rat race where only the strongest survive,
The real world is a competitive and cutthroat environment where only the most resilient people are successful.
It's a dog eat dog world, and that ain't no lie.
The real world is a ruthless and unforgiving place, and this is a harsh truth.
Listen! it ain't even safe no more to walk the streets at night,
The real world is dangerous, with even basic activities like walking outside alone at night posing risks.
I'm doin' fine, on cloud nine.
Despite the harshness of reality, I continue to find comfort and happiness in my fantasy world.
Let me tell you about cloud nine.
I want to share more about the positive aspects of my fantasy world.
Cloud nine, you can be what you wanna be
In my fantasy world, you have the freedom to be whoever you want to be.
(cloud nine) you ain't got no responsibility,
In my fantasy world, there are no obligations or duties that weigh you down.
And ev'ry man, ev'ry man is free
Everyone in my fantasy world is free to pursue their own goals and desires.
(cloud nine) and you're a million miles from reality.
In my fantasy world, you are far removed from the harshness and difficulty of real life.
I wanna say I love the life I live,
I am happy and content with my fantasy world.
And I'm gonna live the life I love up here on cloud nine.
I plan to continue enjoying my fantasy world and not let the difficulties of reality bring me down.
I'm riding high
I am feeling good and happy.
On cloud nine, you're as free as a bird in flight
In my fantasy world, you have complete freedom and independence.
(cloud nine) there's no diff'rence between day and night
In my fantasy world, time is not a limiting factor and there is no significant change between different parts of the day.
(cloud nine) it's a world of love and harmony
My fantasy world is characterized by positivity, love, and understanding.
(cloud nine) you're a million miles from reality.
In my fantasy world, you are far removed from the harshness and difficulty of real life.
Cloud nine, you can be what you wanna be
In my fantasy world, you have the freedom to be whoever you want to be.
Cloud nine) you ain't got no responsibility,
In my fantasy world, there are no obligations or duties that weigh you down.
And ev'ry man, ev'ry man is free
Everyone in my fantasy world is free to pursue their own goals and desires.
(cloud nine) and you're a million miles from reality.
In my fantasy world, you are far removed from the harshness and difficulty of real life.
(cloud nine) (cloud nine) (cloud nine)
My fantasy world is a repeated source of comfort and positivity in my life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
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