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
Craven A
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Craven a-go choke puppy now;
Craven a-go choke puppy;
Wo!
(wow - wow - wow - wow)
So you want all for yourself alone
(wow - wow - wow - wow)
(wow - wow - wow - wow)
Let me tell you my friend if you gonna live this life
(wow - wow - wow - wow)
It's not good for you to build strife
Craven a-go choke puppy
---
/Instrumental break/
---
(wow - wow - wow - wow)
Want all lose all
(wow - wow - wow - wow)
Then I know the wicked must fall
(wow - wow - wow - wow)
I say wanty, wanty cyaan get it
(wow - wow - wow - wow) oh no,
And getty, getty no want it
(wow - wow - wow - wow) oh, that's why I say, yeah!
Craven a-go choke puppy, yeah;
Craven a-go choke puppy now;
Craven a-go choke puppy;
Ooh, can you dig it?
(wow - wow - wow - wow) Oh, yeah!
(wow - wow - wow - wow)
(wow - wow - wow - wow)
(wow - wow - wow - wow)
The craven dog will lose his bone
(wow - wow - wow - wow)
(wow - wow - wow - wow) The craven dog -
(wow - wow - wow - wow) The craven dog will (whoo) lose his bone
(whoo)
Grafting after (whoo) something (whoo) else (whoo)
Can't take it for themselves alone
(wow - wow - wow - wow) They don't think about the other man (whoo)
The old time people say (wow - wow - wow - wow),
Wanty - wanty cyaan get it, yeah!
/fadeout/
"Craven Choke Puppy" is a powerful song by Bob Marley & The Wailers that tackles the theme of greed and selfishness. The song is about people who are always seeking material wealth at the expense of others, always looking to acquire more material possessions without considering the needs of others. The song starts by saying "Craven a-go choke puppy," which can be interpreted as "greed will only lead to destruction." The lyrics suggest that people who are always seeking personal gain will ultimately end up losing everything they have, including their happiness.
The song encourages people to be more mindful of others by reminding them that the pursuit of personal wealth and property can lead to unfulfillment and destruction. The singer asks people to consider how their actions affect others and not to build conflicts. The song uses powerful imagery, such as the craven dog losing his bone, to illustrate how greed can lead to loss.
Some powerful themes of the song can be seen in several of Marley's other songs, which focus on social justice, love, and peace. The song was created during a time of deep social unrest in Jamaica, and many people were struggling with poverty and economic injustice. Marley's music has always been admired for its deeply reflective and thoughtful lyrics, and this song is no exception.
Line by Line Meaning
Craven a-go choke puppy;
You greedy person will suffer the consequences;
Craven a-go choke puppy now;
You greedy person will suffer the consequences now;
Craven a-go choke puppy;
You greedy person will suffer the consequences;
So you want all for yourself alone
You are selfish and only think about yourself;
And you don't think about the other man
You don't consider the needs of others;
Let me tell you my friend if you gonna live this life
If you want to live a good life,
It's not good for you to build strife
You should not be creating conflicts;
Want all lose all
If you want everything, you might end up with nothing;
Then I know the wicked must fall
Those with bad intentions will ultimately fail;
I say wanty, wanty cyaan get it
If you only want things for yourself, you won't always get what you want;
And getty, getty no want it
Those who have everything may not always want it;
Craven a-go choke puppy, yeah;
You greedy person will suffer the consequences;
Craven a-go choke puppy now;
You greedy person will suffer the consequences now;
Craven a-go choke puppy;
You greedy person will suffer the consequences;
The craven dog will lose his bone
The greedy person will lose what they have;
The craven dog -
The greedy person;
The craven dog will (whoo) lose his bone
The greedy person will lose what they have;
Grafting after (whoo) something (whoo) else (whoo)
Chasing after something else when you already have something;
Can't take it for themselves alone
They can't keep it all to themselves;
They don't think about the other man (whoo)
They don't consider others;
The old time people say
The elders used to say;
Wanty - wanty cyaan get it, yeah!
If you only want things for yourself, you won't always get what you want;
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BOB MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lawrencenjawe9875
One of Bob's finest early compositions 👍
@FrankieNgalauka
Best of all
@realcooking1833
I'd properly forgotten this. One of the best of all time, old time people know 👍
@alialilo6139
I forgot this beautiful song. Thank you for making me remember it again
@chrismarley8040
Porraaaaaaa... Um dos Primeiros som de Bob que escutei em 92 qndo eu tinha 12 anos. Q nostalgia Vey. Vlw 💚💛❤️
@chrisanderson1779
Want all loose all!
@All.Natural.
❤
@desmondmurdock484
Big tune from the King....always blessed
@nickjeezy6331
Old but gold..
@danielcorleone1269
[G]old