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 βExodusβ (1977) was named Album of the Century by Time Magazine and his song βOne Loveβ 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
Rastaman Live Up
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bongoman, don't give up!
Congoman, live up! (Yeah)
Binghi-man don't give up!
Keep your culture
Don't be afraid of the vulture!
Grow your dreadlock
Don't be afraid of the wolf-pack!
Rastaman, live up!
Binghi-man, don't give up!
Congoman, live up! (Yeah)
Bongoman, don't give up!
David slew Goliath
With a sling and a stone
Samson slew the philistines
With a donkey jawbone
Iyaman, live up!
Rastaman, don't give up!
Binghi-man, live up! (Yeah)
Congoman, don't give up!
Trodding through creation
In a irie meditation
Seen many visions
Inna dis 'ya Armageddon
Rastaman, live up!
Congoman, don't give up!
Rastaman, live up! (Yeah)
Natty dread, no give up!
Saw it in the beginning
So shall it be in this iwa
And they fallen in confusion
Well ah just a step from Babel Tower
Rastaman live up!
Congoman, no give up!
Rastaman, live up! (Yeah)
Congoman, no give up!
Grow your dreadlocks
Don't be afraid of the wolf-pack!
Ah tell you, one man a-walkin'
And a billion man a-sparkin'
Rastaman, live up!
Binghi-man, don't give up!
Don't give up, don't give up, don't give up!
Bob Marley & The Wailers's song "Rastaman Live Up" is a call to action for those who follow the Rastafarian way of life. The lyrics encourage Rastafarians to embrace their culture and stay true to their beliefs. The song calls out to four different groups of people: Rastamen, Congomen, Binghi-men, and Bongomen. The repetition of "live up" and "don't give up" emphasizes the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity.
The lyrics reference several biblical stories, such as David slaying Goliath and Samson defeating the Philistines. These stories are used to encourage listeners to have faith in their abilities and trust that they can overcome any obstacle. The line "trodding through creation in a irie meditation" refers to the Rastafarian practice of meditation for spiritual enlightenment.
The song also references the Tower of Babel, a story from the Bible where God confuses the languages of the people who were building the tower as a punishment for their arrogance. Bob Marley uses this story to warn against the dangers of arrogance and encourage people to work together.
Overall, "Rastaman Live Up" is a powerful and uplifting song that celebrates the Rastafarian way of life and encourages listeners to stay true to their beliefs.
Line by Line Meaning
Rastaman, live up!
Encouraging the followers of the Rastafari movement to stay strong and true to their beliefs
Bongoman, don't give up!
Encouraging the drummers to keep the rhythms going and not lose hope
Congoman, live up! (Yeah)
Encouraging the singer to keep spreading the message and staying positive
Binghi-man don't give up!
Encouraging the percussionists to keep playing the sacred rhythms and not lose faith
Keep your culture
Urging people to maintain their cultural heritage and not be swayed by outside influences
Don't be afraid of the vulture!
Advising people not to be afraid of those who prey on them or try to exploit them
Grow your dreadlock
Encouraging people to embrace their natural hair and not be ashamed of their appearance
Don't be afraid of the wolf-pack!
Advising people not to fear those who threaten them or try to oppress them
David slew Goliath
Recalling the story of David defeating the giant Goliath and emphasizing the power of faith and determination
With a sling and a stone
Describing the way David defeated Goliath with a simple weapon
Samson slew the philistines
Recalling the story of Samson defeating the enemies of the Israelites and emphasizing the power of physical strength
With a donkey jawbone
Describing the way Samson defeated the philistines with an unconventional weapon
Iyaman, live up!
A variant of 'Rastaman, live up!' emphasizing the power of the individual
Natty dread, no give up!
Urging those with the natural dreadlocks associated with the Rastafari movement to stay strong and not lose hope
Trodding through creation
Describing the journey through life and emphasizing the importance of a peaceful and positive outlook
In a irie meditation
Emphasizing the importance of a calm and positive state of mind
Seen many visions
Referring to experiences of spiritual insight and understanding
Inna dis 'ya Armageddon
In the midst of the final battle between good and evil, referring to the present moment as a time of crisis
Rastaman, live up!
Repeating the refrain to reinforce the message
Natty dread, no give up!
Repeating the encouragement to stay strong and not lose hope
Saw it in the beginning
Referring to the origins of humanity and emphasizing the cyclical nature of history
So shall it be in this iwa
So it shall be in this age, emphasizing the idea of a repeating cycle
And they fallen in confusion
Referring to those who have been led astray or lost their way
Well ah just a step from Babel Tower
Referring to the danger of losing communication and unity among people
Grow your dreadlocks
Repeating the encouragement to embrace natural hair rather than succumbing to societal pressure to alter one's appearance
Don't be afraid of the wolf-pack!
Repeating the advice not to fear those who seek to oppress or exploit you
Ah tell you, one man a-walkin'
Emphasizing the power of the individual and the potential for change that comes with collective action
And a billion man a-sparkin'
The collective efforts of many people have the potential to bring about positive change
Don't give up, don't give up, don't give up!
Repeating the encouragement to stay strong and not give up in the face of adversity
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bob Marley, Lee Perry
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@suzannefernandes4486
Rastaman, live up!
Bongoman, don't give up!
Congoman, live up! (Yeah)
Binghi-man don't give up!
Keep your culture
Don't be afraid of the vulture!
Grow your dreadlock
Don't be afraid of the wolf-pack!
Rastaman, live up!
Binghi-man, don't give up!
Congoman, live up! (Yeah)
Bongoman, don't give up!
David slew Goliath
With a sling and a stone
Samson slew the philistines
With a donkey jawbone
Iyaman, live up!
Rastaman, don't give up!
Binghi-man, live up! (Yeah)
Congoman, don't give up!
Trodding through creation
In a irie meditation
Seen many visions
Inna dis 'ya Armageddon
Rastaman, live up!
Congoman, don't give up!
Rastaman, live up! (Yeah)
Natty dread, no give up!
Saw it in the beginning
So shall it be in this iwa
And they fallen in confusion
Wellβ¦
@thomjunior9947
Rastaman, live up!
Bongoman, don't give up!
Congoman, live up, yeah!
Binghi-man don't give up!
Keep your culture:
Don't be afraid of the vulture!
Grow your dreadlock:
Don't be afraid of the wolf-pack!
Rastaman, live up!
Binghi-man, don't give up!
Congoman, live up, yeah!
Bongoman, don't give up!
David slew Goliath with a sling and a stone;
Samson slew the Philistines with a donkey jawbone:
Iyaman, live up!
Rastaman, don't give up!
Binghi-man, live up!
Congoman, don't give up!
Trodding through creation in a irie meditation;
Seen many visions in-a this yah Armagiddyon:
Rastaman, live up!
Congoman, don't give up!
Rastaman, live up, yeah!
Natty Dread, no give up!
Saw it in the beginning, so shall it be in this iwa;
And they fallen in confusion, well-a just a step from Babel Tower
Rastaman live up!
Congoman, no give up!
Rastaman live up, yeah!
Congoman, no give up!
Grow your dreadlocks;
Don't be afraid of the wolf-pack!
A-tell you, one man a-walkin';
And a billion man a-sparkin'.
Rastaman, live up!
Binghi-man, don't give up!
Don't give up, don't give up, don't give up!
@iriemusic8642
Love that song..Gives a lot of strength, confidence and perseverance... One of my all time favorites. Thanks for Upload!
@moscomx
La sensaciΓ³n de paz, serenidad y confort al alma que estΓ‘ leyenda genera con su musica. Por siempre Bob Marley
@thewolf81lobo86
Asi mismo,no otro artista tiene esa capacidad de impactar la humanidad como el maestraso Jamaicano..
@suzannefernandes4486
Rastaman, live up!
Bongoman, don't give up!
Congoman, live up! (Yeah)
Binghi-man don't give up!
Keep your culture
Don't be afraid of the vulture!
Grow your dreadlock
Don't be afraid of the wolf-pack!
Rastaman, live up!
Binghi-man, don't give up!
Congoman, live up! (Yeah)
Bongoman, don't give up!
David slew Goliath
With a sling and a stone
Samson slew the philistines
With a donkey jawbone
Iyaman, live up!
Rastaman, don't give up!
Binghi-man, live up! (Yeah)
Congoman, don't give up!
Trodding through creation
In a irie meditation
Seen many visions
Inna dis 'ya Armageddon
Rastaman, live up!
Congoman, don't give up!
Rastaman, live up! (Yeah)
Natty dread, no give up!
Saw it in the beginning
So shall it be in this iwa
And they fallen in confusion
Wellβ¦
@NattyBix
...a just one step form babel towa! a seh yuh 1 man a walkin' and a billion men are sparkin' Rastaman Live up!
@tinawaqa1031
πβ€ lovely lyrics ππ
@jamiesimms7084
The depth and craft of this song is amazing, the references, the overall story and message are astounding
@westyraviz
Word!
@tealohatint6749
Legend never dies....
@stevejunor2737
The distinguished Bob Marley whose
message in his music was incomparable