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
No Woman No Cry
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No woman, no cry
No woman, no cry
No woman, no cry
Said, said, said I remember when we used to sit
In the government yard in Trenchtown
Oba observing the hypocrites
Good friends we have, oh, good friends we've lost
Along the way (way)
In this great future, you can't forget your past
So dry your tears, I say and
No woman, no cry
No woman, no cry
'Ere, little darlin', don't shed no tears
No, woman, no cry
Said, said, said, I remember when we used to sit
In the government yard in Trenchtown
And then Georgie would make the fire light
As it was log wood burnin' through the night
Then we would cook cornmeal porridge
Of which I'll share with you
My feet is my only carriage
So I've got to push on through
But while I'm gone, I mean
Everything's gonna be all right
Everything's gonna be all right
Everything's gonna be all right
Everything's gonna be all right
Everything's gonna be all right
Everything's gonna be all right
Everything's gonna be all right
Everything's gonna be all right
So woman, no cry
No no woman, no woman, no cry
Oh my little sister, don't shed no tears
No woman, no cry
I remember when we used to sit
In the government yard in Trenchtown
And then Georgie would make the fire light
As it was log wood burnin' through the night
Then we would cook cornmeal porridge
Of which I'll share with you
My feet is my only carriage
So I've got to push on through
But while I'm gone
No woman, no cry
No woman, no cry
Oh my little darlin', say don't shed no tears
No woman, no cry, ay
Little darling, don't shed no tears
No, woman, no cry
Little sister, don't shed no tears
No, woman, no cry
The song "No Woman No Cry" by Bob Marley is often considered an anthem of hope and resilience for the Jamaican people. The refrain "No woman, no cry" might seem like a simple command to not cry to a woman, but in fact, Marley meant something deeper. The phrase "No woman, no cry" is meant to convey a message of encouragement to the women in the world who are struggling with their day-to-day lives. Essentially, the refrain is a call to action for men to treat women better, and also an assertion that women don't need men to survive.
The lyric "In this great future, you can't forget your past" highlights that Marley wants people to remember their pasts, while not allowing them to cloud their present or future lives. The song is further personified through vivid imagery of sitting in the government yard in Trenchtown, reminiscing about good friends lost and watching the hypocrites, yet nothing seems to break the spirit or determination of the singer, as he advises his friend “don’t shed no tears”.
Overall, the song encourages people to be strong and to have courage, even in the face of adversity. Marley's words are a reflection of his deep love for his country and the struggles that the Jamaican people have gone through, but remain hopeful for a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
No, woman, no cry
Don't cry, my darling, everything is going to be okay, so please don't shed any tears.
'Cause, 'cause, 'cause I remember when we used to sit
In the government yard in Trenchtown
Because I remember the times we spent together in the government yard in Trenchtown.
Oba, observing the hypocrites, yeah
Observing the hypocritical behavior of others.
Mingle with the good people we meet, yeah
Meeting and interacting with good people we came across.
Good friends we have, oh, good friends we've lost
Along the way, yeah
We've had good friends, but we've lost some of them along the way.
In this great future, you can't forget your past
In order to move forward in life, one should not forget the past.
So dry your tears, I say, yeah
I advise you to stop crying and cheer up.
Little darlin', don't shed no tears
My sweetheart, please don't cry anymore.
Eh, said, said, said, I remember when we used to sit
In the government yard in Trenchtown, yeah
I've told you before, I remember when we spent time together in the government yard in Trenchtown.
And then Georgie would make the fire lights, I say
A log wood burnin' through the night, yeah
Then we would cook cornmeal porridge, I say
Of which I'll share with you, yeah
We used to build fires and cook cornmeal porridge, and I wish to share those moments with you.
My feet is my only carriage
And so I've got to push on through
My feet are my only mode of transportation, so I must continue moving forward.
But while I'm gone
Everything's gonna be alright
Everything will be alright even in my absence.
No, woman, no, woman, no, woman, no cry
No, my dear, don't cry, don't cry, don't cry.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Vincent Ford
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@LaLa-qp2co
My husband and I went to Jamaica on our honeymoon in 89. We brought this "tape" back with us. My husband used to sing this to me when I was sad. He passed away last month. <3
@suekomas1304
Respect.they are poor.but the happiest people I've ever met
@joshushue
Skechers Beach Casuals
@kerrynealon7580
😢☯️💟
@davideriva2914
may he Rest in peace 🙏🏻
@Ray-dj6rt
May he rest in peace
@katherineobrien4216
My mum used to absolutely love this song, she passed away in 2018, but I will forever remember her singing this when times were tough for us ♥️ my dad did wrong; and left, and we had to live in woman’s refuges, but my mum saved and saved and worked and bought us a house, I will never forget , no woman no cry!!! 🎶
@willowfiler4510
Wow omg I hope your OK now, your mum is a legend
@animatedmovie7266
Be strong like your mum, i lost my mom in 2018, she was everything in this world, now i have nothing but a memorie of her still make me want to keep going.
@TheTony70504
Be strong for your Mam Kathle3n.I lost my Mum a few years ago, 😢 it's like apart of me has been ripped apart, I know she wants me to be strong for her, and the same for you..God Bless you x