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
Jailhouse
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
baton sticks get shorter [rudie gets taller]
can't fight against the youth now coz they so wrong [yout' a good good rudie]
can't fight against the youth now coz 'e is strong [yout' a good good rudie]
dem peegoo a goin' wil' [Dem a rude rude people]
shake 'er one time for me sir [she a rude rude people]
shake 'er one time for me sir [she a rude rude people]
the message, we gonna rule this land
can't fight against prediction, [wise wise rudie]
what has been hid from the wise and the polluted is how me feel ...
The lyrics of Bob Marley & The Wailers's "Jailhouse" convey a message of rebellion and revolution against the oppressive systems that exist within society. The first two lines describe how the jails are empty and the baton sticks used by the authority are getting shorter, which suggests that the power dynamic is shifting in favor of the people. The lines "can't fight against the youth now coz they so wrong" and "can't fight against the youth now coz 'e is strong" reinforce the idea that the young people are rising up and becoming a force to be reckoned with. The term "rudie" is used throughout the song to describe these young rebels.
The next lines are a prediction that the people are going wild and that they will continue to do so. The repeated refrain "Dem a rude rude people," emphasizes the message that the youth are not going to be tamed and will rebel against authority. The line "shake 'er one time for me sir" refers to the idea of shaking the establishment and causing a disruption, leading to a revolution. The lyrics end with the declaration that the people will rule the land and "wise wise rudie" will lead the way.
Overall, the lyrics of "Jailhouse" convey a message of rebellion against the oppressive systems and an inspiration for youth to rise up and take charge of their own destiny.
Line by Line Meaning
jailhouse keeps empty [rudie gets healt'y]
The jail is empty because the rude boys are no longer committing crimes and are becoming healthier individuals.
baton sticks get shorter [rudie gets taller]
The police are using their batons less frequently because the rude boys are growing taller and becoming more respectable members of society.
can't fight against the youth now coz they so wrong [yout' a good good rudie]
It's impossible to combat the youth because they're so strong and influential, especially the well-behaved rude boys.
can't fight against the youth now coz 'e is strong [yout' a good good rudie]
Even though the youth can be difficult to control, the good and strong rude boys are leading a positive movement.
prediction, them people are going wild [Dem a rude rude people]
I can see that the rude and unruly people are stirring up trouble and chaos.
dem peegoo a goin' wil' [Dem a rude rude people]
The disrespectful and ill-behaved people are causing issues and creating chaos.
shake 'er one time for me sir [she a rude rude people]
Can you dance to the music for me one time, sir? It's for the rude and disrespectful individuals.
shake 'er one time for me sir [she a rude rude people]
I'm asking you to dance to the music for me once, sir. It's for the rude and ill-behaved people.
the message, we gonna rule this land
Our message of peace and love is going to take over and lead us to rule this land.
can't fight against prediction, [wise wise rudie]
It's pointless to resist our predictions, especially when it comes to the wise and intelligent rude boys leading change.
what has been hid from the wise and the polluted is how me feel ...
It's been hard to express my real feelings, especially to those who are wise but still influenced by negativity and wrongdoing.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: WARREN WILLIAMS, JOHN HOLT, CLEMENT DODD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Alex-qt2zy
Jailhouse keeps empty
(Rudie gets healt'y)
Baton sticks get shorter, oh yeah
(Rudie gets taller)
Can't fight against the youth now 'cause they so wrong
(Yout' a good, good Rudie)
Can't fight against the youth now 'cause 'e is strong
(Yout' a good, good Rudie)
Prediction, them people are going wild
(Oh, yeah dem a rude, rude people)
Dem peegoo a goin' wil'
(Dem a rude, rude people)
Shake 'er one time for me sir, right now
(She a rude, rude people)
Shake 'er one time for me sir
(Right now, she a rude, rude people)
The message, we gonna rule this land
(Oh, yeah we gonna rule this land)
Come on children
(Right now, we gonna rule this land)
Right now, we gonna rule this land
Can't fight against prediction
(Right now, we gonna rule this land)
Can't fight against prediction
(Wise, wise)
Be a wise, wise Rudie
Jailhouse keeps empty
(Rudie gets healt'y)
Baton sticks get shorter, oh yeah
(Rudie gets taller)
Can't fight against the youth
(Yout' a good, good Rudie)
What has been hid from the wise and the prudent
Has been revealed to the babes and the suckling
(Yout' a good, good Rudie)
Oh, Rudie, Rudie, Rudie be wise
(Yout' a good, good Rudie)
Rudie, Rudie, Rudie...
@jamesgarvey8402
RIP Mr. Marley
Well done Sublime.
@alexschrotenboer8371
had no idea this was a cover until I was listening to this version today!
@xXDJllamap3tt3rXx
Sublime sucks
@Subversion_dnb
Check out Bunny's cover on "Bunny Wailer Sings the Wailers"@@alexschrotenboer8371
@TheMichaeveli
Can’t fight against the youth
@pavlock_543
Them are rude, rude people
@kurtbukowsky1872
Rudie can't fail! Walt Jabsco! 🏁🇬🇳🇯🇲🛵
@rubbersoul420
This is just one of those songs where the lyrics match the sentiment of the music and the melody to such perfection. It elevates this song's harmony and melody to an untouchable place. One of the best songs.
@surfinwax58
I have wondered how well American 60s soul would have matched with the best Jamaican ska and rock steady…
@bradenadams6351
Here on 03-02-2021 R.I.P. BUNNY BOB AND PETER 😭😭