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
Talkin'
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can't fool the youths
You can't blame the youths of today
You can't fool the youths
You're teaching youths to learn in the school
And that the cow jumped over moon
Teaching youths to learn in the school
So you can't blame the youths of today
You can't fool the youths
You can't blame the youths, not at all
You can't fool the youths
You teach the youths about Christopher Columbus
And you said he was a very great man
You teach the youths about Marco Polo
And you said he was a very great man
You teach the youths about the pirate Hawkins
And you said he was a very great man
You teach the youths about the pirate Morgan
And you said he was a very great man
So, you can't blame the youths, when they don't learn
You can't fool the youths
You can't blame the youths of today
You can't fool the youths
When every Christmas come
You buy the youth a pretty toy gun
When every Christmas comes around
You buy the youth a fancy toy gun
So, you can't blame the youths when they get bad
You can't fool the youths
You can't blame the youths of today
You can't fool the youths
Said he was a very great man
Said he was a very great man
You teach the youths about Christopher Columbus
And you said he was a very great man
You teach the youths about Marco Polo
And you said he was a very great man
You teach the youths about the pirate Hawkins
And you said he was a very great man
You teach the youths about the pirate Morgan
And you said he was a very great man
So, you can't blame the youths
You can't fool the youths
You can't blame the youths of today
You can't fool the youths, yeah
And you said he was a very great man
The song "Can't Blame The Youth" by Bob Marley & The Wailers speaks about the damaging effects of the education system and societal norms on the younger generation, and how these factors can lead to misguided attitudes and behaviors. Marley sings about how young people are taught to believe in things that are not true, such as the cow jumping over the moon and the dish running away with the spoon. He also points out how historical figures such as Christopher Columbus and pirates like Hawkins and Morgan were presented as "great" despite their involvement in atrocities like genocide and theft.
The chorus of the song, "You can't blame the youths, you can't fool the youths," asserts that the younger generation should not be solely held responsible for their actions, as the society they grow up in has a significant impact on their attitudes and beliefs. The line, "When every Christmas come, you buy the youth a pretty toy gun," highlights how the glamorization of violence through media and consumerism can lead to aggressive behavior among young people.
In conclusion, "Can't Blame The Youth" is a powerful song that encourages us to critically examine the messages we send to young people and the impact they have on the formation of their attitudes and values.
Line by Line Meaning
You can't blame the youths
It's unfair to hold the younger generation responsible for societal issues
You can't fool the youths
It's impossible to deceive young, impressionable minds
You can't blame the youths of today
Once again, it's unjust to blame young people for problems they didn't create
You're teaching youths to learn in the school
And that the cow jumped over moon
Teaching youths to learn in the school
And that the dish ran away with spoon
Teaching children nonsensical things doesn't help them learn what they need to know
You teach the youths about Christopher Columbus
And you said he was a very great man
You teach the youths about Marco Polo
And you said he was a very great man
You teach the youths about the pirate Hawkins
And you said he was a very great man
You teach the youths about the pirate Morgan
And you said he was a very great man
Society glorifies problematic historical figures without acknowledging their wrongdoing
So, you can't blame the youths, when they don't learn
When kids are being taught falsehoods, it's not their fault for not knowing the truth
When every Christmas come
You buy the youth a pretty toy gun
When every Christmas comes around
You buy the youth a fancy toy gun
Encouraging kids to play with weapons promotes a culture of violence
So, you can't blame the youths when they get bad
Once again, it's unfair to blame young people for the negative consequences of society's actions
Said he was a very great man
Said he was a very great man
Reiterating that society glorifies destructive figures and encourages falsified views of history
You can't fool the youths, yeah
The younger generation is not easily fooled or manipulated
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PETER TOSH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@valerieboynton53
BOB MARLEY - TALKING BLUES 🇯🇲 📻🔉🎼
🎛🔊🎼🎹🎵🎶🎧
⚰🔩 👞👞
R. I. P🌹
BOB ' NESTA ' MARLEY
KING OF REGGAE
CULTURUAL
CONSCIENCE MUSIC
QUEENS NY
WE LOVE🌹YOU
BOB NESTA MARLEY
MISS YOU MUCH
YOUR MUSIC COME
ONCE IN A LIFETIME
THE TRUTH
WHICH SUMS IT
ALL UP !
ACTUAL; FACTUAL
HOPEFULLY ,
TODAY WILL GET
ANOTHER SUPERSTAR
CONSCIENCE
MUSICIAN AS SUCH
INTERNATIONAL
GLOBAL🌐
ONE LOVE 💖
@naturallybless2060
Who listening to this song in 2024 and feeling the words in their bones.
@stephenhodges1856
This song just meant so much to me. After being victimized by the police because I was trying to defend myself from being robbed, while being basically homeless, then finally let go from incarceration after multiple judicial orders to release me, only to find myself far from home, money stolen, cold ground and rock stone for real. But you know what, in a hyper racially tense environment Jah guided me to a prison unit where all races treated each other with kindness and respect, where brothers treated me with respect, kindness and generosity. Sharing their little food and more importantly stories and hard truth vulnerable stories. Looked out for me and demanded the guards give me a mat to sleep on finally. Prayed for guidance and strength, and gave Jah praise and thanks for what we did have. I just listened to this song and felt such a weight lift. Blessings Bob, thank you and may peace be upon you.
@douglasbrown672
Who's gonna stay at home when the freedom fighters are fighting, my favorite line.
@Erykrockmusic
Very applicable to present day
@alntr2872
yep
@antoniomercedes4686
The best artist that ever lived in this planet.
@fernandolobo9218
Para mi tambien,for me he's the best of all time.
@chrisnatale460
No doubt
@ClemencePn
For real , 16 years old and my vision of life have aldready changed by him
@metafisicacibernetica
not the best artist but the ever lived in this planet