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

My Cup
Bob Marley Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

My cup is running over
I don't know what to do
My cup is running over
I don't know what to do
No I don't know (No I don't know)
No I don't know
(No I don't know)

Yes I've got to cry, cry, cry
People let me cry, cry, cry
Said I fell a little bit better (Cry, cry, cry)
If only I got to cry, cry, cry

Now that I, lost you
I've lost the best friend
That I ever knew
Now that I, realize

It makes me (Makes me)
It makes me (Makes me)
So mad, tell you, my cup, running over
I don't know what to do
My cup is running over
I don't know what to do
No I don't know (No I don't know)
No I don't know

(No I don't know)
Yes I've got to cry, cry, cry
People let me (cry, cry, cry)
(Cry, cry, cry)
(Cry, cry, cry)

Now that I, lost you
I've lost the best friend that I ever knew
Now that I, realize
It makes me (makes me) it makes me (makes me)
So mad, tell you my cup, cup, is running over baby
And I don't know what to, don't know what to do yeah
Tell you my cup, running over
And I don't know, don't know, don't know what to do

Eh
No I don't know (No I don't know)
No I don't know
(No I don't know)
Yes I've got to cry, cry, cry
People let me (Cry, cry, cry)
I'll feel a little bit better (Cry, cry, cry)
But I got (feel like crying) (Cry, cry, cry)
Ooh yeah (feel like crying) (Cry, cry, cry)
Ooh yeah (feel like crying) cry, cry, cry

(Feel like crying)
Cry, cry

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bob Marley & The Wailers' song My Cup seem to be about the singer's overwhelming emotions in the aftermath of a breakup. The repeated statement, "My cup is running over, I don't know what to do," suggests that the singer is so filled with emotions that they are spilling over and are difficult to contain or handle. The lines "Now that I lost you, I've lost the best friend that I ever knew" is a message of heartbreak, as the singer recognizes that not only have they lost a romantic partner but also a close friend.

The lines "Yes, I've got to cry, cry, cry" and "People let me cry, cry, cry" suggest that the singer believes they need to release their emotions through tears in order to feel better. They ask the people around them to let them cry and acknowledge the power of emotional release in processing pain. Throughout the song, the singer is grappling with the emotions of sadness and anger, as expressed in the line "It makes me so mad, tell you, my cup is running over."

Throughout the song, Bob Marley & The Wailers use repetition of lyrics and rhythm to emphasize the singer's overwhelming feelings. By doing so, they create a sense of emotional catharsis, both for the singer and the listener.

Line by Line Meaning

My cup is running over
I have more than I can handle

I don't know what to do
I feel overwhelmed

No I don't know
I have no solutions

Yes I've got to cry, cry, cry
Crying is my only release

People let me cry, cry, cry
I need to be allowed to express my emotions

Said I fell a little bit better (Cry, cry, cry)
Crying will make me feel slightly better

Now that I, lost you
I have lost someone important to me

I've lost the best friend
They were my closest companion

That I ever knew
I don't think I will find another like them

Now that I, realize
It has just hit me

It makes me (Makes me)
It causes me