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
Lonesome Feeling
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why must I be a teenager in love
Why must I be a teenager in love
Put me in your milling machine,
I never thought you could act so mean
Now I'm wondering what to do,
To see if you could love me too
Each night I ask, the stars up above
Why must I be a teenager in love
Each night I ask the stars up above
Why must I be a teenager in love
Why must I be a teenager in love
Though my knees are getting weak,
And my brain is getting flatter
Something is near, to tell me it's been badder
I don't know just what to do,
To see if you could love me too
Each night I ask the stars up above
Why must I be a teenager in love
Why must I be a teenager in love
The lyrics of Bob Marley's song "Lonesome Feeling" seem to describe a young person wrestling with the intense emotions of love and heartbreak. The singer begins by addressing the stars above, asking why they must be a teenager in love. The use of the word "must" suggests a sense of burden or obligation, and the repetition of the question underscores the singer's confusion and angst.
The second verse takes a darker turn as the singer describes feeling mistreated and wondering how to make the object of their affection reciprocate their love. The use of the phrase "milling machine" suggests a sense of being ground down or made into something unrecognizable, a common feeling for those who have experienced heartbreak. The final lines of the verse echo the first, with the singer again asking why they must be in this situation.
The third and final verse returns to the singer's confusion and vulnerability, as their body and mind seem to be failing them. The repeated line "something is near, to tell me it's been badder" suggests a sense of impending doom or disaster, even as the singer still longs for the other person to love them back. Overall, the lyrics paint a vivid portrait of the overwhelming emotions that can come with young love and the difficulty of navigating those feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
Each night I ask, the stars up above
Bob Marley is feeling very lonely and lost, and he looks towards the stars for guidance
Why must I be a teenager in love
He wonders why he has to feel this way at such a young age, as love can be so difficult and confusing
Why must I be a teenager in love
He repeats this line to emphasize his frustration with his situation
Put me in your milling machine,
He is saying that he is feeling stuck or trapped, and wishes he could be transformed or molded into someone else
I never thought you could act so mean
Someone he cared about has done something hurtful, and he is struggling to understand their actions
Now I'm wondering what to do,
He is feeling lost and unsure of how to proceed with his relationship
To see if you could love me too
He is hoping that the person he cares about could also feel the same way towards him
Each night I ask, the stars up above
He repeats this line to show how strongly he feels and how often he looks to the stars for answers
Why must I be a teenager in love
He repeats this line to emphasize his frustration with his situation
Why must I be a teenager in love
He repeats this line to show his ongoing struggle with understanding his emotions
Though my knees are getting weak,
He is feeling physically and emotionally drained from his situation
And my brain is getting flatter
His ability to think and reason is becoming clouded because of his emotions
Something is near, to tell me it's been badder
He senses that something is wrong, and that his situation has gotten worse
I don't know just what to do,
He is feeling confused and helpless
To see if you could love me too
He repeats this line to show how important it is to him that his feelings are reciprocated
Each night I ask, the stars up above
He repeats this line to show how strongly he feels and how often he looks to the stars for answers
Why must I be a teenager in love
He repeats this line to emphasize his frustration with his situation
Why must I be a teenager in love
He repeats this line to show his ongoing struggle with understanding his emotions
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CHRISTINE MCVIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@audleymclean610
I loved this song from day one, yes it was Bob on lead a group comprised of five people, music was by Granville Williams ang his orchestra, many Jamaicans DON'T KNOW THIS BAND AND Carlos Malcolm and his Afro Jamaican rhythm But I remembered them vividly.
@johndaniels7700
Thanks for the knowledge.
@mrjomonic
Bobs music is cure for lonesomeness. There is strength in the hope Bob Marley delivers through his music.
@panamasrose
Love early Wailers!!!
@mariomarley30091988
Have you ever had a lonesome feeling??? i've had it!!!
@angelaalbury986
What a feeling😊
@daveadam435
Pots & pans, so raw......... brilliant !!!
@AnupKumar-ru1ee
Not many will understand or more so know this song of Bob...
.back when i was young I heard this song on a tape in a ghetto..it started giving me ideas of lonely than and Bob spat real cool, real life lyrics( no swear either🙌) GOD Bless Bob( Beautiful Soul) ever👐 see you in Paradise brother...in shah ALLAH
@lekenollemoita9343
2021 and still have the lonesome feeling.
@irmhild.rosenquelle
2022