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
Rebel's Hop
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm in bed send me a nurse
I'm thirsty thirsty Lord o' Mercy
Ooh we, other? the bottle, sweeter the victory
I've got your love, the power of your glory
Aah, Ooh yeah, trillin' me, alright
Can't judge a mother by the ? of the father
Can't judge a book by the ? on the cover Read me read me baby
No water can quench my thirst
I'm in bed, need a nurse
Can you understand
Do you understand me baby
I've got a bottle, sweet the victory
I've got your love, the power of your glory
Aah, Ooh we, alright
You've got your love and I've got mine
Can't you ? they work fine Do you believe me, baby, get it up baby
Break it back, turn it loose
What in heaven baby it got to choose
The lyrics to Bob Marley's song Rebels Hop are full of references to thirst and desire. The singer insists that no water can quench their thirst, suggesting that they are looking for something more fulfilling than the basic necessities of life. They express a desire for someone to come take care of them, perhaps indicating a need for emotional support or guidance. The repeated refrain of "I've got your love, the power of your glory" suggests that the singer has found what they are looking for in a relationship, though the exact nature of this connection is left unclear.
Throughout the song, Marley seems to be calling for rebellion against judgment and stereotypes. He asserts that one cannot judge a mother by the actions of the father or a book by its cover, emphasizing the importance of looking beyond surface-level appearances when evaluating people and situations. The repeated plea to "read me, read me baby" underscores this theme, urging listeners to take the time to truly understand the complexities of the world around them.
Line by Line Meaning
No water can quench my thirst
Nothing can satisfy my needs as an individual
I'm in bed send me a nurse
I need someone to take care of me
I'm thirsty thirsty Lord o' Mercy
I have an insatiable desire
Ooh we, other? the bottle, sweeter the victory
The harder the battle, the sweeter the victory
I've got your love, the power of your glory
The love of someone gives me strength and power
Aah, Ooh yeah, trillin' me, alright
I am carried away with joy
Can't judge a mother by the ? of the father
One cannot assess a person's worth by their parents or ancestry
Can't judge a book by the ? on the cover
One cannot judge a person by their appearance alone
Read me read me baby
Get to know me better
I've got a bottle, sweet the victory
I have what it takes to overcome challenges
Aah, Ooh we, alright
I feel elated and satisfied
You've got your love and I've got mine
We have our own unique ways of expressing love
Can't you ? they work fine Do you believe me, baby, get it up baby
Don't you see that we are doing just fine? Trust me
Break it back, turn it loose
Be free from constraints
What in heaven baby it got to choose
Why let something determine your path?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JAN SCOTT WILKINSON, MARTIN NOBLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@espantapajaross
Why.. why.. why.. why...
¿Por qué?, ¿por qué?, ¿por qué?, ¿por qué?
Walk the proud land my friends.
Caminen la orgullosa tierra, amigos míos.
Walk the proud land my friends.
Caminen la orgullosa tierra, amigos míos.
Walk the proud land my friends.
Caminen la orgullosa tierra, amigos míos.
Walk the proud land my friends.
Caminen la orgullosa tierra, amigos míos.
Gimme little soul, oh Lord.
Dame un poco de ama, oh, Señor.
Gimme little, gimme little soul, oh Lord.
Dame un poco, dame un poco de alma, oh, Señor.
Gimme little soul, oh Lord.
Dame un poco de alma, oh, Señor.
Gimme little, gimme little soul, oh Lord.
Dame un poco, dame un poco de alma, oh, Señor.
I got to keep on moving.
Debo seguir moviéndome,
I've got to keep on moving.
debo seguir moviéndome,
I've got to keep on moving.
debo seguir moviéndome,
I've got to keep on moving.
debo seguir moviéndome.
Cloud 9, you can be what you wanna be.
Euforia... Puedes ser lo que tú quieras ser.
Cloud 9, you ain't got no responsibility.
Euforia... No tienes responsabilidad alguna.
Cloud 9, every man, every man in the street.
Euforia... Todo hombre, todo hombre en la calle.
Cloud 9, you're a million miles from reality.
Euforia... Estás a miles de kilómetros de la realidad.
Why.. why.. why.. why..
¿Por qué?, ¿por qué?, ¿por qué?, ¿por qué?
Gimme little soul, oh Lord
Dame un poco de alma, oh, Señor.
Gimme little, gimme little soul, oh Lord.
Dame un poco, dame un poco de alma, oh, Señor.
Gimme little soul, oh Lord.
Dame un poco de alma, oh, Señor.
Gimme little, gimme little soul, oh Lord.
Dame un poco, dame un poco de alma, oh, Señor.
@willschrueder9107
One of my favourite Bob Marley & The Wailers song
@jeremybarger9565
I got to keep on movin', I got to keep on movin'...cloud 9
@michaelfoy8447
CLOUD NINE!
@rbhoward1037
Always brings a smile to my face and a light to my soul.
@erikaguilar3709
No doubt brother , ALWAYS , THE FIRST TIME I HEARD BOB MARLEY I WAS 17 YEARS OLD AND EVER SINCE THAT DAY I NEVER STOPPED LISTENING TO HIM I AM NOW 42 YEARS OLD. PS. MUSIC IS LIFE
@localafh
The undisputed King of Reggae! He started the modern day Reggae Revolution. A true pioneer. ‘Love Always’ Acts 20:35
@simonontong7539
One of Marleys best songs it reminds you of the struggles we face in life
@Swaze742
This is the best version
@hernangalante5879
Desde Argentina!!!! Reggae music a pleno, Nesta not dead!!!!
@RedGoldGreen-Dub
Such a fantastic song ❤🔥