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
Turn Me Loose
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm floating in the sky.
Feeling so high,
I'm floating in the sky.
So come and turn me loose,
ain't got no time to lose.
Chasing a wild goose,
Let's make our home movie.
I'll be the picture,
you can be the show.
From the screen our love will glow.
You got your love, I got mine.
Put them together and they'll work fine.
Ease this pain of mine
Ease this pain of mine
Ease this pain of mine
And turn me loose.
I'll be the picture,
you can be the show.
And on the screen our love will glow.
You got your love, I got mine.
Put them together and they'll work fine.
Turn me loose, ain't got no time.
Chasing a wild goose.
Feeling so high, I wanna touch your sky...
The lyrics of Bob Marley's song Turn Me Loose describe the feeling of being so high that the singer feels like he is floating in the sky. He asks to be turned loose, declaring that he has no time to lose, and is in the mood to chase a wild goose and feel groovy. He suggests making a home movie together, with him being the picture and the partner being the show, and their love shining through the screen. The singer assures that they both have love, which, when put together, will work fine.
The lyrics suggest that the singer is in a state of euphoria, and feels like he is on cloud nine. He wants to enjoy the feeling, which is why he is in the mood for a wild ride. The song is a call to action, asking the partner to be a part of this adventure, and make a home movie of their time together. The singer believes that their love is strong enough, and if they combine their love, it will be perfect.
The lyrics, therefore, are a representation of the singer's desire to get lost in love, and the feeling that comes with it. He wants to escape from the pain that he is feeling, and be with someone who will make him feel high, and turn him loose. The lyrics are a tribute to the power of love and the feelings it brings.
Line by Line Meaning
Feeling so high, I'm floating in the sky.
I am experiencing an immense state of euphoria and feeling weightless like I am floating miles above the ground.
So come and turn me loose, ain't got no time to lose.
Please, set me free from my worries and constraints because life is too short to waste any more time.
Chasing a wild goose, feeling groovy.
I am in pursuit of something elusive and thrilling, and I am feeling extremely happy about it.
Let's make our home movie.
Let's create our own personal love story that we can cherish forever and share with the world.
I'll be the picture, you can be the show.
I will metaphorically be the backdrop to your life, and you can steal the spotlight and shine.
From the screen our love will glow.
Our love will radiate off the screen like a bright light for everyone to see and feel its warmth.
You got your love, I got mine.
We both possess different kinds of love, but together they can work in perfect unison.
Put them together and they'll work fine.
When both our loves combine, they complement each other and form a beautiful union that can withstand any challenge.
Ease this pain of mine and turn me loose.
Please help me alleviate the agony that I am feeling, and release me from my burdens.
Turn me loose, ain't got no time. Chasing a wild goose. Feeling so high, I wanna touch your sky...
I need to be free to pursue my obsessions without any constraints, and I want to bask in your love's exquisiteness like reaching for the stars.
Writer(s): Bob Marley Copyright: Cayman Music Bsi Enterprises Dba
Contributed by Alaina C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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