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
She's Gone
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My woman is gone (woman is gone)
She had left me a note hanging on my door
She say she couldn't take it, she couldn't take any more
The pressure around me just couldn't see
She felt like a prisoner who needs to be free
Fools have tried, yeah wisemen have failed
Still we know now we'll never see smoke without fire
And everyone you see has a heart desire
She's gone (she's gone), she's gone (she's gone)
She's gone (she's gone), she's gone, yeah
Oh, mocking bird, have you ever heard
Words that I never heard?
Oh, mocking bird, have you ever heard
Words that I never heard?
She made it through the exit (she just couldn't take it)
She made it through the exit (she just couldn't make it)
And, oh, my children, if you see me cryin'
My woman is gone
If you see me, if you see me, if you see me
If you see me cryin'
If you see me, if you see me, if you see me
If you see me cryin'
She's gone (she's gone), she's gone (she's gone), she's gone, yeah
Oh, mocking bird, have you ever heard
Words that I never heard?
Oh, mocking bird, have you ever heard
Words that I never heard?
She's gone (she's gone), she's gone (she's gone), she's gone
The lyrics of "She's Gone" by Bob Marley and the Wailers describe the pain and heartache of losing the singer's woman. The song begins with the repetition of the line, "My woman is gone," emphasizing the sense of loss and loneliness that the singer is feeling. The next lines reveal the reason behind the woman's departure - she couldn't take the pressure anymore and needed to be free. The singer acknowledges that many have tried before and have failed to understand the situation. He urges the woman to see that life is not meant to be a jail, and to find her true heart's desire.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the finality of the woman's departure by repeating the line "she's gone" multiple times. The second verse continues the theme of the singer's pain, focusing on the mockingbird's ability to hear words that he never will. This highlights a sense of separation and disconnect between him and the woman who has left him. The third verse reveals the aftermath, with the singer's children witnessing his pain and sadness as he mourns the loss of his woman.
Overall, "She's Gone" is a heartfelt and emotional depiction of lost love, with Bob Marley providing a powerful and evocative performance of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
My woman is gone (woman is gone)
The singer repeats that his woman has left him, emphasizing his loss and perhaps his confusion as to why.
She had left me a note hanging on my door
The woman left a message for the singer, explaining her reasons for leaving and making clear that she could not continue in the relationship.
She say she couldn't take it, she couldn't take any more
The woman found something about the relationship unbearable, and was overwhelmed by the need to leave for her own well-being.
The pressure around me just couldn't see
The artist was unaware of the stress or negative environment that had built up around the pair, perhaps indicating communication issues.
She felt like a prisoner who needs to be free
The woman felt trapped in the relationship, and one of her core needs was to have personal autonomy and freedom to make her own choices.
Fools have tried, yeah wisemen have failed
The singer acknowledges that even intelligent or experienced people can't prevent a relationship from falling apart sometimes.
Oh, listen to me, honey, life could never be another jail
The singer wishes to convince the woman that life is not meant to feel like a prison, that it is better to be honest about their relationship struggles rather than stay in misery.
Still we know now we'll never see smoke without fire
The artist agrees that there was likely some underlying problems or issues in the relationship, even if they couldn't tell what they were at the time.
And everyone you see has a heart desire
The artist may be contemplating that everyone has wants and needs, and it's important to listen to them in order to build successful relationships.
She made it through the exit (she just couldn't take it)
The woman managed to leave the relationship, despite any emotional difficulty or conflict that may have arisen during the process.
And, oh, my children, if you see me cryin'
The singer's emotional state is affecting those closest to him, likely indicating he is struggling to process or move on from the breakup.
If you see me, if you see me, if you see me
The artist seems to repeat the phrase to emphasize that he needs someone to acknowledge his pain and offer support.
Oh, mocking bird, have you ever heard
Words that I never heard?
The singer is wondering if there is some knowledge or wisdom he can gain from nature, or if there is something he can't see or hear in his current situation.
She's gone (she's gone), she's gone (she's gone), she's gone
Closing with the repetition of the song's title drives home the loss and finality the singer is feeling.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BOB MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MoveManado
Bob Marley
My woman is gone
(A woman is gone)
My woman is gone
(A woman is gone)
She had left me a note hanging on my door
She say she couldn't take it
She couldn't take any more
The pressure around me just couldn't see
She felt like a prisoner who needs to be free
Fools have tried, yeah
Wisemen have failed
Oh, listen to me, honey
Life could never be another jail
Still we know now
We'll never see smoke without fire
And everyone you see has a heart desire
She's gone (she's gone)
She's gone (she's gone)
She's gone (she's gone)
She's gone, ye-ah
Oh, mocking bird, have you ever heard
Words that I never heard
Oh, mocking bird, have you ever heard
Words that I never heard
She made it through the exit
(She just couldn't take it)
She made it through the exit
(She just couldn't make it)
And, oh, my children, if you see me crying
My woman is gone
If you see me
If you see me
If you see me
If you see me crying
If you see me
If you see me
If you see me
If you see me crying
She's gone (she's gone), she's gone (she's gone)
She's gone (she's gone), she's gone, ye-ah
Oh, mocking bird, have you ever heard
Words that I never heard
Oh, mocking bird, have you ever heard
Words that I never heard
She's gone
(She's gone)
She made it through the exit
She's gone
(She's gone)
She's gone
(She's gone)
She made it through the exit
She's gone
(She's gone)
And, oh, my children, if you see me crying
My woman is gone
If you see me
If you see me
If you see me
If you see me crying
She's gone
She's gone
My woman is (she's gone)
She's gone
She's gone
My woman is gone
She made it through the exit
(My couldn't take it)
She made it through the exit
(I just couldn't take it)
She's gone
She's gone
She's gone
She's gone
My woman
My woman
My woman
My woman is gone
She's gone
She made it through the exit
(I just couldn't take it)
(I just couldn't take it)
(I just couldn't take it)
(She's gone)
My woman is gone
(She's gone)
(She's gone)
@user-mz6eg2dh9p
Just lost my queen from cancer and this song just compliments her passing God bless this legend
@ceobigspoon
All well wishes to you! Sorry for your loss ❤
@Blu3..
Damn bro🕊
@suckOnThese3
To all those who were never introduced to Bob at a young age I feel bad for you. I have been rocking to Bob since I was a baby.... 42 years later I'm still rocking to Bob.
@michellesweightlossjourney6599
Yes!! 🥰🥰🥰 I'm 50.....grew up with Bob Marley in the home. My father always played his music.
@mikewilkins2030
Same 34 here! Pop is a yardie!
@bybree7764
Who still listening to the greatest artist of all times in 2023
@VegasLance
It’s been my favorite song for many years, now it’s my son’s. Timeless classic!
@roses4me451
Mine too! That bass line is the "sickest" I've ever heard. Bob Marley's music will live on many generations and centuries from now. He was truly a legend ahead of his time. Jah Rastafari. Selah
@BlueDotLife
I'm crying so hard right now.