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 Nocry
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No, woman, no cry
No, woman, no cry
No, woman, no cry
Seh, seh, seh I remember when we used to sit
In the government yard in Trenchtown
Oba observing the 'ypocrites
Good friends we have, oh, good friends we've lost
Along the way
In this great future, you can't forget your past
So dry your tears, I seh
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 lights
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
And so I've got to push on through
But while I'm gone
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, 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 lights
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
And 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', seh don't shed no tears
No, woman, no cry
Little darling, don't shed no tears
No, woman, no cry
Little sister, don't shed no tears
No, woman, no cry
The lyrics to Bob Marley's song No Woman No Cry are a reflection of the times Marley was living in Trenchtown, a large and dangerous slum in Kingston, Jamaica. The song is a message of optimism, meant to console and empower people who have experienced hardship or loss in their lives. The repeated refrain, "No woman, no cry," can be interpreted to mean that women should not cry because everything will be alright in the end. This is a message of hope, encouragement and support for the women who are struggling, and it is also a recognition of the strength and resilience of women in the face of adversity.
Marley also reflects on the past and the friendships he has lost along the way, "Good friends we have, oh, good friends we've lost, Along the way". He reminds us that we must never forget the past, as it has helped us shape the person we are today. In the second verse, Marley describes a night in Trenchtown, where he and his friends would sit together around the fire, cook cornmeal porridge to share and talk about life. No matter how hard life was, Marley and his friends always found a way to remain positive and hopeful, "Everything's gonna be all right".
In conclusion, No Woman No Cry is a powerful and uplifting song that has touched the hearts of people all over the world. It is a universal message of hope and resilience in the face of adversity, and it is a tribute to the strength and power of women. Marley's ability to capture the essence of life in Trenchtown and translate it into a song that has stood the test of time is a testament to his talent as a songwriter and his dedication to his community.
Line by Line Meaning
No, woman, no cry
Hey woman, don't cry. Things will be okay.
Seh, seh, seh I remember when we used to sit
In the government yard in Trenchtown
Oba observing the 'ypocrites
As they would mingle with the good people we meet
I remember when we used to hang out in Trenchtown and watch the hypocrites mingle with the good people we knew.
Good friends we have, oh, good friends we've lost
Along the way
In this great future, you can't forget your past
So dry your tears, I seh
We've lost some good friends along the way, but we can't forget our past in this bright future. So don't cry.
'Ere, little darlin', don't shed no tears
No, woman, no cry
Hey there, little darling, don't cry. Things will be okay.
And then Georgie would make the fire lights
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
And so I've got to push on through
Georgie used to light the fire, and we'd cook porridge together. I only have my feet to carry me forward, so I must keep moving forward in life.
But while I'm gone
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
While I'm gone, everything will be okay. Trust that everything will turn out all right.
Oh my little sister, don't shed no tears
No, woman, no cry
Hey my little sister, don't cry. Everything will be okay.
Little darling, don't shed no tears
No, woman, no cry
Little sister, don't shed no tears
No, woman, no cry
Hey little darling and little sister, don't cry. Things will be alright.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: BOB MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@doncorleone5149
No, woman, no cry
No, woman, no cry
No, woman, no cry
No, woman, no cry
'Cause, 'cause, 'cause I remember when we used to sit
In the government yard in Trenchtown
Oba observing the 'ypocrites
Mingle with the good people we meet
Good friends we have, oh, good friends we've lost
Along the way
In this great future, you can't forget your past
So dry your tears, I seh
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-a we used to sit
In the government yard in Trenchtown
And then Georgie would make the fire lights, I seh
A log wood burnin' through the night
Then we would cook cornmeal porridge, I seh
Of which I'll share with you
My feet is my only carriage
And so I've got to push on through
But while I'm gone
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 no woman, no cry
No woman, no cry
I say, oh little oh little darling, don't shed no tears
No woman, no cry
No woman, no woman, no woman, no cry
No woman, no cry, one more time I've got to say
Oh little little darling, please don't shed no tears
No woman, no cry
No woman, no woman no cry
@amoravibes
Letra:
No, woman, no cry
No, woman, no cry
No, woman, no cry
No, woman, no cry
'Cause, 'cause, 'cause I remember when we used to sit
In the government yard in Trenchtown
Oba observing the 'ypocrites
Mingle with the good people we meet
Good friends we have, oh, good friends we've lost
Along the way
In this great future, you can't forget your past
So dry your tears, I seh
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-a we used to sit
In the government yard in Trenchtown
And then Georgie would make the fire lights, I seh
A log wood burnin' through the night
Then we would cook cornmeal porridge, I seh
Of which I'll share with you
My feet is my only carriage
And so I've got to push on through
But while I'm gone
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 no woman, no cry
No woman, no cry
I say, oh little oh little darling, don't shed no tears
No woman, no cry
No woman, no woman, no woman, no cry
No woman, no cry, one more time I've got to say
Oh little little darling, please don't shed no tears
No woman, no cry
No woman, no woman no cry
@WighTShadoW
at 15 - i was taken in by a black family, the Carter-s, this song-- reminds me of every day i spent with them, that they invested in me- I miss you Grandma, Uncle Greg and Pops- Sherman Carter, you all loved me when my entire blood line never cared about me. Thank you.
@TheRealGeorgeCostanza
Just replying so you get the notification and listen to the song
@Jhoys2310
X2
@syk3035
They are your real family.
@shainamadai
Love to you man. It takes courage to hold peace and share love 💗
@theterpenater6414
At the age of 1 my mom married a jamaican and stayed with him until I was 10 and that's why I listen to reggae at all
@arthurgunn4740
Some people are so poor, all they have is money.
- Bob Marley
@binoddhital5047
Legendary saying🙏
@NutmeggTV
Everything's gonna be all right
@paranoid3195
amazing