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
Do You Remember
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A that I love you
I want to tell you baby
A that I love you
How many times I told you, I love you
A that I love you
But now you want to say that we are, that we are through
What more can I do
Now you, now you are gone
Do you remember that first night we, first night we met
That was a moment I'll, never will forget
Love was at first sight, as you came walking through the paaaale, pale moon light
Do you remember that first night we, first night we met
That was a moment I'll, never will forget
Love was at first sight
As you came walking through the paaale pale moon light
In the song "Do You Remember" by Bob Marley, the singer is expressing his love and devotion to someone who seems to have already given up on the relationship. The singer laments that he has told this person how much he loves them, but now they want to end things. He is at a loss as to what else he can do or say to convince them to stay. The chorus repeats the question "do you remember that first night we met?" which seems to symbolize a time when their love was new and exciting. The singer is trying to remind the person of the connection they had at the beginning of the relationship and begs them to reconsider ending things.
The lyrics are bittersweet and nostalgic, with a sense of yearning for what used to be. The melody is soothing and comforting, which serves to emphasize the emotional weight of the words. The repetition of the phrase "pale moon light" creates a dreamy and romantic atmosphere, encapsulating the memory of that first meeting.
Overall, "Do You Remember" is a song about the fragility of love and the importance of cherishing the moments we have with the people we care about. It speaks to the universal experience of heartbreak and longing, making it a timeless and relatable piece of music.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to tell you
Expressing the desire to speak to the person he loves
A that I love you
The singer wants to make it clear that he loves the person he is speaking to
I want to tell you baby
The singer is addressing their loved one
A that I love you
The artist wants to emphasize their love for the person they are speaking to
How many times I told you, I love you
The artist has expressed their love for the person multiple times before
A that I love you
The singer wants to reiterate their love for the person they are speaking to
But now you want to say that we are, that we are through
The person the singer loves wants to end their relationship
What more can I do
The artist is at a loss for how to save their relationship
What more can I say to you-uuuu
The artist has already expressed their love multiple times and doesn't know how else to convince their loved one to stay
Now you, now you are gone
The person the artist loves has left
Do you remember that first night we, first night we met
The singer is reminiscing about their first meeting with their loved one
That was a moment I'll, never will forget
The first meeting was significant and memorable for the artist
Love was at first sight, as you came walking through the paaaale, pale moon light
The singer fell in love with their loved one at first sight while they were walking under the moonlight
Do you remember that first night we, first night we met
The singer again brings up the memorable first meeting with the person they love
That was a moment I'll, never will forget
The singer emphasizes the significance of that first meeting and how it will always be remembered
Love was at first sight
The artist fell in love with their loved one immediately upon seeing them
As you came walking through the paaale pale moon light
The loved one was walking under the moonlight, which added to the romantic atmosphere of their first meeting
Writer(s): Bob Marley
Contributed by Connor S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@lisergitek24
....Do you remember that first night we met?
That was a moment
I never will forget....
@willieluncheonette
And this is the remake of Do You Remember called How Many Times in 1968. From the cd liner notes: "In this version Bob uses a little lick of what seems like scat singing 'Wadada' In fact this is the Ethiopian Amharic equivalent of 'peace and love' --an early indication of his growing Rastafarian beliefs, folded into a plea that his lover not leave him." Peter and Rita sing background.
@0RoseRed
I’ve always loved the ‘Wadada’ part of this song! Thank you for that little bit of insight.
@coralieneporoze7520
1q
@coralieneporoze7520
1
@coralieneporoze7520
1
@0RoseRed
Yes Bob! ♥️
@DavidVideoFILMS
Can someone give me the album name please ❤️
@hugopedro4053
One Love! Is the name.
@philipcampbell5168
Fantastic tune yes bob smooth as fuk