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
Stiff Necked Fools
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To deny me for simplicity.
Yes, you have gone for so long
With your love for vanity now.
Yes, you have got the wrong interpretation
Mixed up with vain imagination.
So take Jah Sun, and Jah Moon,
And forever, yes, erase your fantasy, yea-eah!
The lips of the righteous teach many,
But fools die for want of wisdom.
The rich man's wealth is in his city;
The righteous' wealth is in his Holy Place.
So take Jah Sun, and Jah Moon,
And Jah Rain, and Jah Stars,
And forever, yes, erase your fantasy, yeah!
Destruction of the poor is in their poverty;
Destruction of the soul is vanity, yeah!
So stiff-necked fools, you think you are cool
To deny me for simplicity, yea-ea-eah!
Yes, you have gone - gone for so long
With your love for vanity now.
But I don't want to rule ya!
I don't want to fool ya!
I don't want to school ya:
Things you - you might never know about!
Yes, you have got the wrong interpretation
Mixed up with vain - vain imagination:
Stiff-necked fools, you think you are cool
To deny me for, o-ooh, simplicity.
The lyrics of Bob Marley & The Wailers's song Stiff Necked Fools express a clear message of warning to those who live for vanity and wealth, and are resistant to simple and righteous living. The phrase "stiff-necked fools" refers to those who are stubborn and resistant to change. The song begins with Marley addressing these individuals, stating that they have been denying him for his simplicity, suggesting that those who live according to righteousness are often dismissed as being naive or out of touch with the real world.
Marley goes on to caution against the dangers of false interpretation and imagination, with the lyrics "Yes, you have got the wrong interpretation mixed up with vain imagination." He reminds listeners to seek truth within the natural world and through faith in Jah, singing "So take Jah Sun, and Jah Moon, and Jah Rain, and Jah Stars, and forever, yes, erase your fantasy, yea-eah!"
The song concludes with Marley asserting his desire to share his message without imposing on others, singing, "But I don't wanna rule ya! I don't wanna fool ya! I don't wanna school ya: things you - you might never know about!" The song ultimately serves as a call to action for listeners to live a life of simplicity, truth, and righteousness.
Line by Line Meaning
Stiff-necked fools, you think you are cool
The singer addresses those who are stubborn and refuse to listen, and sarcastically implies that they think they are impressive by denying the singer's message.
To deny me for simplicity.
The singer is stating that they are being dismissed for their simple and straightforward message.
Yes, you have gone for so long
The singer acknowledges the stubbornness of their audience, and believes that they have been entrenched in their own ways for a long time.
With your love for vanity now.
The artist states that their audience values their own appearance and status more than anything else, and this is a manifestation of their stubbornness.
Yes, you have got the wrong interpretation
The artist believes that their audience has completely misunderstood their message.
Mixed up with vain imagination.
The singer believes that their audience has created their own version of what the message should be, ignoring the singer's original meaning.
So take Jah Sun, and Jah Moon, And Jah Rain, and Jah Stars, And forever, yes, erase your fantasy, yea-eah!
The singer is suggesting that the audience focus on what they deem important i.e., connections and associations with nature, and cease their self-serving behaviors.
The lips of the righteous teach many,
The artist acknowledges the power of righteous people's words that can positively influence others.
But fools die for want of wisdom.
The artist remarks that foolish people are doomed due to their lack of knowledge.
The rich man's wealth is in his city;
The artist points out that rich people focus on their wealth, and they have a narrow-minded perspective that is limited to their physical possessions.
The righteous' wealth is in his Holy Place.
The singer believes that the truly wealthy people are those who prioritize their spirituality and faith in a higher power.
Destruction of the poor is in their poverty;
The artist emphasizes that poverty is a devastating situation that can lead to destruction and ruin for those who experience it.
Destruction of the soul is vanity, yeah!
The singer suggests that focusing too much on superficial things leads to a loss of self-awareness and ultimately destroys the soul.
But I don't want to rule ya!
The singer asserts that they do not have any intention to impose their ideas on their audience.
I don't want to fool ya!
The singer declares that they have no intention to deceive their audience or project a false image.
I don't want to school ya:
The artist asserts that it is not their role to force their audience to learn and follow their ideas.
Things you - you might never know about!
The artist suggests that there are things that the audience might never get, no matter how hard they try to comprehend the artist's message.
Stiff-necked fools, you think you are cool
The singer reiterates that their audience's stubbornness has become a defining trait and sarcastically implies that they believe that it makes them impressive or cool.
To deny me for, o-ooh, simplicity.
The singer reiterates that they are being dismissed for their simple message, and they use the abbreviation to emphasize the kind of simplicity they talk about.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BOB MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alexkodwiw2640
this song brings me to tears ad goose bumps each time! this was no insult to any race. bob was quoting
Proverbs 29 International Standard Version (ISV)
Advice on Life and Justice
1 After many rebukes, the stiff-necked man will be broken incurably, without any warning.
2 As the righteous grow powerful,[a] people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, people groan.
3 The man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but anyone who consorts with immoral women squanders his wealth.
@lotusmountain6145
Wisdom for the ages!
@yahwehspiritualawakening9380
Very true
@francismarufu2299
@@yahwehspiritualawakening9380 Like he said , It's like that inner voice that tells you right from wrong. Choose your choices well my fellow people
@abasindi7410
@@yahwehspiritualawakening9380 love 💕 too 😂 lol
@private-doctor
Great Man
@mubihebyanyuma
All lyrics are from Bible Proverbs
@dianelenard3800
All those that gave a thumbs down are the One's he's talking about.."STIFFNECKED FOOLS!!
@jasoneksteen7447
True! 💥
And I wonder why they bother being on this platform if they gonna be hatin’ on Marley.
@mesgoodin2889
yes hey are...
@charleswilliamsjr2133
TRUE