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
I'm Still Waiting
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm still waiting;
I'm still waiting;
I'm still waiting for you,
Why, oh why? Why, oh why?)
I said-a my feet won't keep me up anymore.
Well, every little beat my heart beats, girl,
I just want to love you
And I'm never gonna hurt you, girl.
So why won't you come out to me now, girl?
Oh, can't you see I'm under your spell?
But I got to - got to go.
Why, girl? Oh why, girl? Oh!
Woah, my gosh, the rain is fallin',
And I just can't stop callin'.
And I just can't tell the raindrops
From my teardrops
Falling down my face.
Mm, look at it, yeah!
It isn't really raindrops.
(I'm still waiting) Teardrops falling down my face.
(I'm still waiting)
(I'm still waiting) I'm still waitin'.
(I'm still waiting) Yes, I will.
I wait in the rain, I wait in the sun.
Please, relieve me from these pains,
Oh pains, just pains.
I love you, yes I do.
But tell me, do you really love me, too?
Mm-mm. Mm.
The lyrics to Bob Marley & The Wailers's song I'm Still Waiting are about a man who is waiting for the woman he loves to reciprocate his feelings. The singer is so deeply in love that he cannot stand being away from her. He describes how every little beat of his heart is at her door, and he just wants to love her without ever hurting her. However, the woman is not yet ready to come out to him, which makes him feel trapped under her spell. Nevertheless, he has to go and find his peace eventually.
The second stanza describes how the singer is completely devoted to the woman he loves. He is so consumed by his love that he cannot tell the raindrops from his tears. He loves her so much that he is willing to wait for her in the rain and the sun. He pleads with her to relieve him of his pains, expressing his unconditional love for her, and questions the sincerity of her love for him.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm still waiting
The singer is expressing that they are waiting for something or someone.
I said-a my feet won't keep me up anymore.
The singer's feet are tired from walking or waiting.
Well, every little beat my heart beats, girl, It's at-a your door.
The singer's heart belongs to the person they are waiting for.
I just want to love you And I'm never gonna hurt you, girl.
The artist wants to love and cherish the person they are waiting for.
So why won't you come out to me now, girl? Oh, can't you see I'm under your spell? But I got to - got to go. Why, girl? Oh why, girl? Oh!
The artist is under the spell of the person they are waiting for and is asking why they won't come out to see them.
Woah, my gosh, the rain is fallin', And I just can't stop callin'.
The singer is in the rain and can't stopcalling for the person they are waiting for.
And I just can't tell the raindrops From my teardrops Falling down my face.
The singer's tears are mixed with the raindrops from the downpour.
(I'm still waiting) Teardrops falling down my face. (I'm still waiting) (I'm still waiting) I'm still waitin'. (I'm still waiting) Yes, I will.
The artist is still waiting and crying while waiting for the person they love.
I wait in the rain, I wait in the sun. Please, relieve me from these pains, Oh pains, just pains.
The artist is willing to wait for the person they love in any kind of weather, but they are still in pain from waiting so long.
I love you, yes I do. But tell me, do you really love me, too? Mm-mm. Mm.
The artist reiterates their love for the person they are waiting for but question if they really love them too.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BOB MARLEY, LLOYD WINSTON TYRELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@himangshusarma7649
I'm still waiting;
I'm still waiting;
I'm still waiting;
I'm still waiting for you
Why, oh why? Why, oh why?)
I said-a my feet won't keep me up anymore
Well, every little beat my heart beats, girl
It's at-a your door
I just want to love you
And I'm never gonna hurt you, girl
So why won't you come out to me now, girl?
Oh, can't you see I'm under your spell?
But I got to - got to go
Why, girl? Oh why, girl? Oh!
Woah, my gosh, the rain is fallin'
And I just can't stop callin'
And I just can't tell the raindrops
From my teardrops
Falling down my face
Mm, look at it, yeah!
It isn't really raindrops
(I'm still waiting) Teardrops falling down my face
(I'm still waiting)
(I'm still waiting) I'm still waitin'
(I'm still waiting) Yes, I will
I wait in the rain, I wait in the sun
Please, relieve me from these pains
Oh pains, just pains
I love you, yes I do
But tell me, do you really love me, too?
Mm-mm. Mm
@mariadurham9052
THAT'S MY BOB GOOD AT ANYTHING
@stankadanktv8287
Jah know RASTAFARI
@celmac74
Best version. Nobody can beat Bob!
@Selmer790
The most beautiful and sweet song I've ever heard
@ruthdixon7807
doowop delight - achingly beautiful harmonies from the wailers, in their finest impressions style.
@matthewnichols5478
Wailers doing the impressions.lovely song.
@edwintroy6957
This song is incredible
@stankadanktv8287
Yes my bredren I agree !
@marleyperez-adler7718
this is a very very special song
@-Ricky_Spanish-
Delroy Wilson did a masterful cover of this.