Bob Marley (February 6, 1945 – May 11, 1981), born Nesta Robert Marley whic… Read Full Bio ↴Bob Marley (February 6, 1945 – May 11, 1981), born Nesta Robert Marley which was later to be changed by passport officials to Robert Nesta Marley, was a Jamaican singer-songwriter, guitarist, and activist. He was the most widely known writer and performer of Reggae, and more specifically Roots Reggae. He is famous for popularising the genre outside of Jamaica and the Caribbean. Much of his music dealt with the struggles of the spiritually wealthy rasta and/or spiritually powerful Jah Rastafari.

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

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Bob Marley Lyrics

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(We don't need) no, we don't need (no more trouble) no more trouble!
(We don't need no more trouble)

Wo! Oh-oh-oh!
(We don't need) we don't need no, no more trouble!
We don't need no trouble!

(We don't need no more trouble)

Make love and not war!
'Cause we don't need no trouble
What we need is love (love)
To guide and protect us on (on)
If you hope good down from above (love)
Help the weak if you are strong now (strong)

We don't need no trouble
What we need is love, oh, no!
We don't need, we don't need, no more trouble!
Lord knows, we don't need no trouble!

(We don't need) we don't need trouble (no more trouble)
No more trouble, no more trouble!
Speak happiness! (Sad enough without your woes)
Fortune, come on, you all and speak of love (sad enough without your woes) oh, yeah!

We don't need no trouble
What we need is love, now (what we need is love!)
(We don't need) oh, we don't need (no more trouble!)
We don't need, no, we don't need no trouble!
We don't (need), no, brothers and sisters (no more trouble!)

We don't need no trouble, we don't really need no trouble!
Oh! We don't need no trouble!
What we need is love!

We don't need, we don't need no more, we don't need
No more trouble, we don't need no more trouble!
Trouble we don't need, we don't need
(We don't need) Lord, knows

We don't need no more war (no more trouble)
No more trouble, we don't need no more, more trouble!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bob Marley's "No More Trouble" have a clear message of peace and love. The song emphasizes that the world is sad enough without the addition of troubles and that all we need is love to guide and protect us. Bob Marley urges us to speak happiness and love, and to lend a helping hand to those who are weak.

The song has a deep political and social significance. It reflects Marley's views on the state of the world, particularly the violence and civil unrest in Jamaica, as well as in other parts of the world. He calls for an end to war and destruction, and a new beginning of peace and love.

Marley also emphasizes the power of the people, particularly in the line "help the weak if you are strong now." In this line, he speaks to the strength of those who have the ability to make a change and urges them to use their power to help those who are less fortunate.

The song is a classic example of Marley's unique ability to fuse together different musical genres, such as reggae, ska, and rock, to create a distinctive sound. The song features Marley's signature vocal style, which blends his natural Jamaican accent with a soulful and melodic delivery.

Line by Line Meaning

(We don't need) no, we don't need (no more trouble) no more trouble!
We don't want any more conflict or problems in life.

Wo! Oh-oh-oh!
Expressing emotion in response to the idea of being free of trouble.

(We don't need) we don't need no, no more trouble!
We do not need any more difficulties or issues.

We don't need no trouble!
We do not want any conflict or issues.

(We don't need no more trouble) Make love and not war!
Do not engage in conflict but instead generate love and peace.

'Cause we don't need no trouble What we need is love (love) To guide and protect us on (on) If you hope good down from above (love) Help the weak if you are strong now (strong)
Love is what we require, it can guide and protect us better. We must assist those less fortunate if we wish to receive help from above.

We don't need no trouble What we need is love, oh, no!
Once again, peace is what we desire, not conflict. We need love in our lives.

We don't need, we don't need, no more trouble!
We don't require any further difficulties or issues.

Lord knows, we don't need no trouble!
God knows we don't desire any problems or conflicts.

(We don't need) we don't need trouble (no more trouble)
We do not require issues or complications anymore.

No more trouble, no more trouble!
We want to be free of all complications or problems.

Speak happiness! (Sad enough without your woes) Fortune, come on, you all and speak of love (sad enough without your woes) oh, yeah!
Speak positively about life to bring happiness. Life is already challenging without added complications. Therefore, let's focus on love and being happy.

We don't need no trouble What we need is love, now (what we need is love!) (We don't need) oh, we don't need (no more trouble!)
Once again, we want to be free of chaos and conflicts. What we need most is love and peace.

We don't need, no, we don't need no trouble! We don't (need), no, brothers and sisters (no more trouble!)
We do not require any further problems in our lives, we must work together to eliminate complications.

We don't need no trouble, we don't really need no trouble! Oh! We don't need no trouble! What we need is love!
Emphasizing the desire for peace to be able to experience love and happiness.

We don't need, we don't need no more, we don't need No more trouble, we don't need no more trouble! Trouble we don't need, we don't need (We don't need) Lord, knows We don't need no more war (no more trouble) No more trouble, we don't need no more, more trouble!
We need to eradicate war and conflict from our lives, by emphasizing love and peace, so as to not suffer any trauma from such situations anymore.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BOB MARLEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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