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
It's Alright
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nor the moon by night
And everything that I do
Shall be up-full and right
And if it's all night
It got to be (alright)
(Talking to you) all night
I'ma not lose this one
I'm the lucky one, under the sun
If you make me move
Then you know, we got to groove
Ah, do ya like it?
Ah, do ya like it?
Do ya, do ya, do ya, do ya?
If it's all night
Got to be alright
I'm workin' all night
Got to be alright
See (all night), I work for my pay
(Alright), night and day
(All night) work for my pay (alright), night and day
(No, no, no, no, no, no, ooh, no, no, no, no, no, no, ooh)
Can't you feel it (no, no, no, no, no, ooh, no, no, no, no, no, ooh)
If it's, if it's, if it's, it's got to be (alright)
If it's (all night), if it's (alright)
Do you like it (alright)
I talk old (alright), square our fold
Break it back, tear a drop
Wipe a tears from your eyes, and don't ya cry
Wipe them lonely tears, baby
I'll tell you why
If it's all night, got to be (alright)
If it's all night, got to be (alright)
(Alright) know that I'm a stranger in your town
Bob Marley's song It’s Alright is a message of positivity, hope, and resilience. The lyrics suggest that regardless of whatever happens, be it the sun beating down on us or the moon's shadows, everything will turn up good and right. Bob Marley alludes to how he's the lucky one under the sun, and he won't lose the good thing that he has going on. The song seems to present a narrative of someone who had worked hard to make a living- "I work for my pay, night and day" but despite the difficulties, they continue to work towards something good.
The singer's conviction in the song is evident- he's confident that everything will turn out alright, and if they work hard, it'll manifest. The first verse is a depiction of the singer's optimism- he's sure nothing can bring him down, whether it's the day's intensity or the night's darkness. The chorus's repetition is a sort of encouragement to the listener, urging them on to keep up the faith and hope that things will turn out alright. The chorus also emphasizes the need for the listener to lean on someone or reach out for help, consoling them that it'll be alright.
In conclusion, It's alright is a message of hope and resilience, urging those going through a hard time to push through and to hold onto faith. It's a reminder that regardless of how difficult things may seem, everything will turn out right, and happiness and success can be attained with hard work and with the support and connections of others.
Line by Line Meaning
The sun shall not smite I by day
I will not be harmed by the sun during the day.
Nor the moon by night
I will not be harmed by the moon at night.
And everything that I do
Every action I take
Shall be up-full and right
Will be positive and morally correct.
And if it's all night
If the activity lasts all night
It got to be (alright)
It has to be OK or acceptable.
(Talking to you) all night
Communicating for a long period of time.
(It got to be) alright
The situation must be acceptable.
I'ma not lose this one
I will not fail or lose
I'm the lucky one, under the sun
I am fortunate in life.
If you make me move
If you make me dance
Then you know, we got to groove
Then we must dance together.
Ah, do ya like it?
Do you enjoy it?
Do ya, do ya, do ya, do ya?
Are you sure that you do?
See (all night), I work for my pay
I work for my pay all night long.
(Alright), night and day
OK, around the clock.
(No, no, no, no, no, no, ooh, no, no, no, no, no, no, ooh)
Vocalization without meaning.
Can't you feel it (no, no, no, no, no, ooh, no, no, no, no, no, ooh)
Can you not sense it?
If it's, if it's, if it's, it's got to be (alright)
If it is, then it must be acceptable.
Do you like it (alright)
Do you find it acceptable?
I talk old (alright), square our fold
I speak the truth.
Break it back, tear a drop
Dance in a joyful way, shedding tears of happiness.
Wipe a tears from your eyes, and don't ya cry
Wipe away your tears and do not cry.
Wipe them lonely tears, baby
Wipe away those sad tears, my dear.
I'll tell you why
I will explain.
If it's all night, got to be (alright)
If the activity lasts all night, it must be acceptable.
(Alright) know that I'm a stranger in your town
OK, understand that I am not from here.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bob Marley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gingerbreadman7915
The three thumbs down are from people who only live in the day.....Betcha all owls love this song
@uriah9559
this song got me through a whole lotta night shifts haha
@koolaid28
That's what it's doing for me currently
@hondaman991
God I wish Bob Marley was still with us!!!
@Combinia
throw up the volume... he is! :D
all night! all right!
@PedroFerreira-ze5yp
is He not?
@alexdesouza7138
It's Alright ...thank GOD !
@SeasonedDame
One of my Favorites ❤💛💚
@twonyeantonea
All Life it is All night gotta be alright if it's all Life , all mine, alright? like the full moon during the sleep tight
with some sweet light
it's good to be all mine,all the time, gotta be alright,all night,
it's a sweet dream,feels so right...and I say if it's all night it's alright and it's alright to be all night
@linuspettersson9923
Grymt