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
Trench Town
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Scoop, scoop wa-doo)
Up a cane river to wash my dread;
Upon a rock I rest my head
There I vision through the seas of oppression, oh
Don't make my life a prison
Most of them come from Trench Town
We free the people with music (sweet music);
Can we free the people with music? (sweet music)
Can we free our people with music? With music,
With music, oh music
Oh why, my head,
In desolate places we'll find our bread,
And everyone see what's taking place, oh
Another page in history
We come from Trench Town,
Come from Trench Town;
We come from Trench Town
Lord, we free the people with music (sweet music);
We free the people with music (sweet music);
We free our people with music,
With music, oh music (oh music)
They say it's hard to speak;
They feel so strong to say we are weak;
But through the eyes the love of our people, oh
They've got to repay
We come from (Trenchtown) Trench Town;
We come from (Trenchtown) Trench Town;
Trench, Trench Town (Trenchtown)
They say, "Can anything good come out of Trench Town?"
(Trench, Trenchtown)
That's what they say, (Trenchtown);
Say (Trench, Trenchtown) we're the underprivileged people,
So (Trenchtown) they keep us in chains:
"Pay (Trench, Trenchtown), pay, pay tribute to," (Trenchtown)
We come from (Trench, Trenchtown);
We come from (Trench, Trenchtown));
Just because we come from (Trenchtown)
Not because we come from (Trenchtown)
Just because we come from (Trenchtown)
The lyrics to Bob Marley & The Wailers' song Trench Town depict the struggles faced by the people of Trench Town, a poverty-stricken neighborhood in Kingston, Jamaica. The song begins with the singer journeying up a cane river to wash his dreadlocks, where he rests his head on a rock and envisions breaking free from the oppression that surrounds him. The lyrics question whether music, specifically "sweet music", has the power to free people from their struggles and make them feel alive again.
The chorus contains the repetition of the phrase "We come from Trench Town" and emphasizes the collective identity and pride of the people from the neighborhood. The lyrics also address the prejudices faced by the residents of Trench Town, who are often viewed as underprivileged and weak. The singer asserts that despite their difficult circumstances, the people of Trench Town are strong and resilient, pointing to the love and unity within their community.
Overall, the lyrics to Trench Town showcase the resilience and strength of a marginalized community, while also highlighting the power of music to bring people together and inspire change.
Line by Line Meaning
(Scoop, scoop, scoop, scoo-doo;
Scoop, scoop wa-doo)
The song starts with an upbeat rhythm, setting the tone for positivity and hope.
Up a cane river to wash my dread;
The singer describes himself going to a river to wash his dreadlocks, which makes him think about the oppression his people face.
Upon a rock I rest my head
The singer takes a break from his journey and rests his head on a rock, contemplating the struggles he and his people face.
There I vision through the seas of oppression, oh
The singer envisions a better future for his people despite the oppression they face every day.
Don't make my life a prison
The singer pleads for freedom from the chains that keep him and his people oppressed.
We come from Trench Town, Trench Town (Trenchtown)
The singer proudly declares that he and his fellow musicians come from Trench Town, a poor area in Jamaica with a significant cultural impact.
Most of them come from Trench Town
The singer highlights that many of the people who suffer oppression come from Trench Town, where poverty and corruption are prevalent.
We free the people with music (sweet music);
The singer believes that music can help his people achieve freedom from oppression and injustice.
Can we free the people with music? (sweet music)
The singer poses a question, wondering if music can indeed be a vehicle of change for his people.
Can we free our people with music? With music,
With music, oh music
The singer reiterates his belief in the power of music to liberate his people from oppression and hardship.
Oh why, my head,
The singer expresses his confusion and distress about the state of his people and their struggle for freedom.
In desolate places we'll find our bread,
The singer draws attention to the reality his people face, where they must strive to survive in harsh conditions.
And everyone see what's taking place, oh
The singer reminds us that everyone should take responsibility for what is happening and work towards effecting positive change.
Another page in history
The singer sees the oppression of his people as another part of their collective history, which they must overcome.
They say it's hard to speak;
The singer acknowledges that speaking up against oppression is difficult but also vital.
They feel so strong to say we are weak;
The singer highlights the tendency of the oppressors to view the oppressed as weak and powerless.
But through the eyes the love of our people, oh
The singer counters this perception by highlighting the love, strength, and resilience of his people.
They've got to repay
The singer demands that the oppressors must repay the debt they owe to his people for the injustices they have suffered.
They say, "Can anything good come out of Trench Town?"
The singer is aware of the prevalent stereotypes about Trench Town as a place of poverty and desperation from which nothing good could come out.
(Trench, Trenchtown)
That's what they say, (Trenchtown);
The singer repeats the derogatory words, highlighting the need to challenge and overcome such negative perceptions.
Say (Trench, Trenchtown) we're the underprivileged people,
The singer acknowledges that his people are underprivileged and challenges those who benefit from this status quo to assume their responsibilities.
So (Trenchtown) they keep us in chains:
The singer points out that the oppressors use various tactics to keep his people oppressed, whether political or economic.
"Pay (Trench, Trenchtown), pay, pay tribute to," (Trenchtown)
The singer demands that those in power pay attention to the plight of his people and pay tribute to their dignity and worth.
We come from (Trench, Trenchtown);
We come from (Trench, Trenchtown));
The singer repeats the declaration of his roots in a show of pride and solidarity with others from Trench Town.
Just because we come from (Trenchtown)
Not because we come from (Trenchtown)
Just because we come from (Trenchtown)
The singer emphasizes the pride in his heritage but also insists that his people's worth should not be measured solely by that identity, as they are individuals with their own talents and aspirations.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BOB MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nazım Yılmaz
on No Woman No Cry
el hombre de mundo
JANGLA WISE
on Three Little Birds
Give thanks and Praise's
Juan Carlos Garcia
on Stir It Up
muy buena musica
Shaft Abdou
on One Love
on love
Felix CM
on Ganjah Gun
:)
Felix CM
on Stir It Up
ganjah gan
Assamoi Junior
on One Love
One love Bob marley
Assamoi Junior
on Waiting In Vain
Cool man
Faisal Alowais
on Stir It Up
best song owwwwwwwwwwwwwwww owy
Ca Sperez
on Stir It Up
muy buena rola