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
Rastamanchant
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Babylon, you throne gone down, gone down
Babylon, you throne gone down"
Said I hear the words of the Iyaman say
"Babylon, you throne gone down, gone down
Babylon, you throne gone down"
"Babylon throne gone down, gone down
Babylon throne gone down"
I say fly away home to Zion (fly away home)
I say fly away home to Zion (fly away home)
One bright morning when my work is over
Man will fly away home
One bright morning when my work is over
Man will fly away home
One bright morning when my work is over
Man will fly away home
Say one bright morning when my work is over
Man will fly away home
The lyrics of Bob Marley's song Rasta_Man_Chant convey a message of the downfall of Babylon, a symbol of oppression and corruption, and the ultimate freedom and redemption of the Rastafarian community. The Rastaman declares that Babylon's "throne" has fallen, implying the end of its rule and domination over the people. The repetition of the phrase "gone down" emphasizes the absolute nature of Babylon's fall, leaving no doubt about its demise. The reference to the angel with the seven seals echoes the biblical imagery of the apocalypse, suggesting that the end of Babylon is a divine judgment.
The song's chorus encourages the audience to "fly away home to Zion," a metaphor for the Promised Land and the ideal Rastafarian community, free from the chains of Babylon. The repetition of "fly away home" creates a sense of urgency and longing for this utopian destination. The final verse reiterates this message of hope and redemption, with the singer proclaiming that one day, "when my work is over," he will fly away to a better place, leaving behind the struggles and hardships of this world.
Overall, "Rasta_Man_Chant" is a powerful piece of music that celebrates the strength and resilience of the Rastafarian movement in the face of oppression and challenges. The song speaks to the universal human desire for freedom and justice and inspires listeners to stand up for what is right.
Line by Line Meaning
Hear the words of the Rastaman say
Listen to the words spoken by the Rastafarian
"Babylon, you throne gone down, gone down
Babylon, you throne gone down"
The oppressive Babylonian authority has fallen from power
Said I hear the words of the Iyaman say
I repeat the words of the Rastafarian
"Babylon, you throne gone down, gone down
Babylon, you throne gone down"
The Babylonian regime has crumbled
And I hear the angel with the seven seals say
I also hear the voice of the divine messenger with the seven seals
"Babylon throne gone down, gone down
Babylon throne gone down"
The Babylonian power structure has been destroyed
I say fly away home to Zion (fly away home)
I urge everyone to return to their spiritual home in Zion
One bright morning when my work is over
Man will fly away home
On a bright day in the future, when their work is done, people will soar towards their heavenly abode
One bright morning when my work is over
Man will fly away home
Someday, when their duties on earth are complete, people will rise to their eternal resting place
Say one bright morning when my work is over
Man will fly away home
It is certain that one day, when their earthly obligations are fulfilled, people will ascend to their divine destination
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.,
Written by: BOB MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@andreapellegrino6603
I hear the words of the Rasta Man say
Babylon you throne gone dawn, gone down
Babylon you throne gone dawn
Said, I hear the words of the Higher Man
Say
Babylon you throne gone down, gone down
Babylon you throne gone down
And I hear the angel with the seven seals
Babylon your throne’s gone down, gone dawn
Babylon you throne gone dawn
I say fly away home to Zion
Fly away home
I say fly away to Zion
Fly away home
One bright morning when my work is over
Man will fly away home
One bright marning when my work is over
Man will fly away home
One bright morning when my work is over
Man will fly away home
One bright morning when my work is over
Man will fly away home
One bright morning when my work
Is over
Man will fly away home
@primeracalledelasoledad8439
Hear the words of the Rastaman say:
"Babylon, you throne gone down, gone down;
Babylon, you throne gone down."
Said I hear the words of the Iyaman say:
"Babylon, you throne gone down, gone down;
Babylon, you throne gone down."
---
[Short instrumental break]
---
And I hear the angel with the seven seals say:
"Babylon throne gone down, gone down;
Babylon throne gone down."
---
[Short instrumental break]
---
I say fly away home to Zion (fly away home);
I say fly away home to Zion (fly away home).
One bright morning when my work is over,
Man will fly away home.
---
[Short instrumental break]
---
One bright morning when my work is over,
Man will fly away home.
One bright morning when my work is over,
Man will fly away home.
Say one bright morning when my work is over,
Man will fly away home.
@littletreasure7709
I’m mixed Jamaican English, I’m now 23 and I can actually remember this being played in my childhood to get me to sleep on a night, my mama also played this when I was a newborn it’s giving me so much good memories 🖤
@gtf5392
I’m white but my parents used to play the Legend album in the car and my brother and I really got into reggae from there. My brother ended up DJ’ing the reggae show at his college radio station and got to interview many reggae artists including Ziggy Marley.
@user-lf9im1si1y
My bro wanted me to play this song. When we layed him down to rest. He told me 2weeks before he passed away. 😢love and miss you always Daniel G. Cruz ( Dan Juan 4rm San Juan. "Native Hawk Status" Love your sis "Native Queen"❤😢
@jermaine6053
Bless You And Your Family And May Your Brother Get The Rest I'm Sure He Deserves ❤
@user-lf9im1si1y
Thank you. I appreciate your comment. May God bless you and your family
@kurstone04
Blessings from Aotearoa/New Zealand Kings and Queens! Give thanks!
@stanslausmteme8455
Let may Almighty God may rest him in peace.Rastaman chant was the great song even me once I ear the song I remembered my brother prosper who led me to love bob's song.Much respect Rastaman chant!!!
@ReggaeMusicisForYou
The world needs a Nyahbinghi drum circle all around it! 🌍
@michaelconnell7808
YESSSSSS!!!
@jonstolarski
Ameen.