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 The Lights Down Low
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And pull your window curtains
Oh, let Jah moon come shining in
Into our life again
Sayin' ooh, it's been a long, long (long, long, long, long) time
I kept this message for you, girl
But it seems I was never on time
Still I wanna get through to you, girlie
I want to give you some love (good, good lovin')
I want to give you some good, good lovin' (good, good lovin')
Oh I, oh I, oh I
Say, I want to give you some good, good lovin' (good, good lovin')
Turn your lights down low
Never try to resist, oh no!
Oh, let my love come tumbling in
Into our life again
Sayin' ooh, I love ya!
And I want you to know right now
I love ya!
And I want you to know right now
'Cause I that I
I want to give you some love, oh-ooh
I want to give you some good, good lovin'
Oh, I I want to give you some love
Sayin' I want to give you some good, good lovin'
Turn your lights down low, wo-oh
Never never try to resist, oh no
Ooh, let my love ooh, let my love come tumbling in
Into our life again
Oh, I want to give you some good, good lovin' (good, good lovin')
In Bob Marley's song "Turn the Lights Down Low," the artist is addressing a woman and urging her to lower her guard and allow love into her life. The first verse speaks to the act of physically setting the mood by dimming the lights and closing the curtains, a common romantic gesture. He then invites the woman to let the moon (which in Rastafarian culture represents Jah, or God) into their lives, suggesting that their love can be something divine.
The chorus repeats the desire to give the woman good, good loving, with the added declaration of his love for her. He acknowledges that he had tried to deliver this message before, but had not been successful in getting through to her. In the second verse, he pleads with her to not resist his love, as he wants to bring it into their lives once again.
Overall, the song is a simple and straightforward love song, but it also touches on themes of spirituality and the power of love to transcend the physical realm. Marley's use of Jah and the moon as symbols for these concepts adds depth to the lyrics and elevates it beyond a typical love ballad.
Line by Line Meaning
Turn your lights down low
Please lower the intensity of your lights
And pull your window curtains
Please close the curtains of your window
Oh, let Jah moon come shining in
Please let the moonlight come inside
Into our life again
To bring back happiness in our lives
Sayin' ooh, it's been a long, long (long, long, long, long) time
It's been quite a long time
I kept this message for you, girl
I have been waiting to tell something to you
But it seems I was never on time
I could never convey my message at the right time
Still I wanna get through to you, girlie
I still want to communicate with you
On time, on time
At the right moment
I want to give you some love (good, good lovin')
I have feelings for you and want to show my affection
I want to give you some good, good lovin' (good, good lovin')
I want to show my love in the best possible way
Oh I, oh I, oh I
Expressing excitement and eagerness
Say, I want to give you some good, good lovin' (good, good lovin')
Repeating the desire to show love
Never try to resist, oh no!
Please don't resist
Ooh, let my love come tumbling in
Please let my love come into your life
Sayin' ooh, I love ya!
Expressing feelings of love
And I want you to know right now
I want you to know without any delay
I love ya!
Reiterating feelings of love
I want to give you some love, oh-ooh
Expressing desire to show love
Ooh, let my love ooh, let my love come tumbling in
Please let my love enter your life
Into our life again
To bring back happiness in our lives
Oh, I want to give you some good, good lovin' (good, good lovin')
Reiterating the desire to show love
Turn your lights down low, wo-oh
Please lower the intensity of your lights
Never never try to resist, oh no
Please don't resist
Ooh, let my love ooh, let my love come tumbling in
Please let my love enter your life
Into our life again
To bring back happiness in our lives
Oh, I want to give you some good, good lovin' (good, good lovin')
Reiterating the desire to show love
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
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