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 Need You
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
i just can't face the world
i'm kind of feeling kind of small
i let you go one day
but now i'm ashamed to say
i said oh baby i need you
i need your loving
well i need, said i need
i lost my day
i kow i must have said
a lot of things to make you cry
i made myself a lonely man
but now i have come to understand
i said oh baby i need you
i never need no one
like i need you girl
Bob Marley & The Wailers’s song I Need You is a melancholic ballad of lost love and regrets. The song begins with a confession from the singer that he can't face the world without his lover by his side. The loss of his love has left him feeling small and defeated. He regrets letting her go and now he is left with nothing but a deep yearning for her.
The second verse of the song expresses that the singer has come to realize the many mistakes he made in the relationship. He admits to having hurt her with his words and actions and acknowledges that it has left him as a lonely man. But now, he has come to understand the true value of his lover and how much he really needs her.
The chorus of the song is an echo to the title “I Need You”, repeating it several times. The lyrics reveal the intensity of the singer’s love for his companion and how much he has come to depend on her. He cannot thrive without her, and the song’s message is clear - he wants her back.
Line by Line Meaning
since the day i lost you girl
Since the day I lost you, my world has turned upside down.
i just can't face the world
I feel defeated by the world and I'm struggling to cope.
i'm kind of feeling kind of small
I feel weak and powerless, unable to stand up for myself.
i let you go one day
I foolishly let you slip away without fighting for our love.
but now i'm ashamed to say
I'm filled with regret and shame for not realizing your value earlier.
i said oh baby i need you
I have come to realize that I cannot go on without your love.
i need your loving
Your love is the only thing that can make me whole and happy again.
well i need, said i need
I am emphasizing how much I truly need you in my life.
i need you right by my side
I need you to be with me every step of the way, to get through this tough time together.
i lost my day
I have lost my purpose and direction without you.
i kow i must have said
I realize now that I must have hurt you with my words and actions.
a lot of things to make you cry
I said things that caused you pain and suffering, and I am deeply sorry.
i made myself a lonely man
My own actions have led me to feeling isolated and alone without you.
but now i have come to understand
I have realized that my life is incomplete without you and that I need you by my side.
i said oh baby i need you
I am pleading with you to forgive me and to take me back into your heart and life.
i never need no one
I have never truly needed anyone in my life until I met you.
like i need you girl
I need you in my life more than anything else, and I will do anything to make it right.
Lyrics © Roba Music Verlag GMBH, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, CTM Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Gerry Beckley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
jay the truth teller
Real music that never gets old
Blue Zodiac
The incomparable Mr Bunny Wailer on lead vocal. It is always a pleasure to hear Mr Livingstone on lead vocal.
k A
This is amazing
Elyse Connolly
Damn barely finding this and I thought I knew the old wailers stuff 😍 made my day.
Cícero Batista da Silva
The Temptations
Ralston Newman
My humble opinion I like the wailers version better