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
Waiting In Vain
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
From the very first time I blessed my eyes on you, girl
My heart says follow t'rough
But I know, now, that I'm way down on your line
So don't treat me like a puppet on a string
'Cause I know how to do my thing
Don't talk to me as if you think I'm dumb
I wanna know when you're gonna come, see
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
'Cause if summer is here
I'm still waiting there
Winter is here
And I'm still waiting there
Like I said
It's been three years since I'm knockin' on your door
And I still can knock some more
Oh girl, ooh girl, is it feasible?
I wanna know now, for I to knock some more
Ya see, in life I know there's lots of grief
But your love is my relief
Tears in my eyes burn, tears in my eyes burn
While I'm waiting, while I'm waiting for my turn
See
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love, oh
I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna
I don't wanna wait in vain
No, I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna
I don't wanna wait in vain
No, I don't wanna (I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna
I don't wanna, I don't wanna wait in vain)
No I, no I (I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna
I don't wanna, I don't wanna wait in vain)
It's your love that I'm waiting on (I don't wanna)
It's me love that you're running from. (I don't wanna wait in vain)
It's your love that I'm waiting on (I don't wanna)
It's me love that you're running from. (I don't wanna wait in vain)
I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna
I don't wanna wait in vain
In "Waiting In Vain," Bob Marley tells a story about a man who has fallen in love with a woman who does not reciprocate his affections. The man has been waiting for three years for the woman to give him a chance, but she keeps him at arm's length. Despite the pain and heartache he feels, the man remains steadfast in his love and is willing to wait for as long as it takes for the woman to come around. The lyrics showcase the man's frustration and longing, as he pleads with the woman to give him a chance to prove himself.
Throughout the song, Marley uses metaphorical language to emphasize the man's feelings. He compares himself to a puppet on a string and the woman to the puppet master. This suggests that the man feels controlled and manipulated by the woman, and that he wants to break free and be his own person. Marley also uses imagery of the changing of seasons, with summer and winter representing the passing of time. This highlights the man's patience in waiting for the woman, even though it is taking much longer than expected.
Overall, "Waiting In Vain" is a poignant love song that explores themes of unrequited love and the pain of waiting for someone who does not feel the same way. It is a testament to Bob Marley's songwriting abilities and remains a beloved classic in his discography.
Line by Line Meaning
One, two, three
A counting sequence to emphasize the impatience of waiting
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
The singer is tired of waiting for the person they love to reciprocate their feelings
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
Reiteration of how the singer doesn't want to wait for love that may never come
From the very first time I blessed my eyes on you, girl
The moment the singer saw the person they love, they were entranced
My heart says follow t'rough
The singer's heart tells them to pursue their feelings
But I know, now, that I'm way down on your line
The singer realizes that they are not a priority for the other person
But the waitin' feel is fine
Despite the frustration, the singer is content with waiting for the person they love
So don't treat me like a puppet on a string
The singer wants to be treated with respect and not manipulated
'Cause I know how to do my thing
The singer has confidence in themselves and their abilities
Don't talk to me as if you think I'm dumb
The singer wants to be spoken to respectfully and not condescended to
I wanna know when you're gonna come, see
The singer wants to know if the person they love will ever reciprocate their feelings
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
Reiteration of how the singer doesn't want to wait for love that may never come
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
Reiteration of how the singer doesn't want to wait for love that may never come
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
Reiteration of how the singer doesn't want to wait for love that may never come
'Cause if summer is here
The passing of time is marked through the changing seasons
I'm still waiting there
The singer is still waiting for the person they love even when time has passed
Winter is here
Changing seasons confirm the passage of time
And I'm still waiting there
The singer is still waiting for the person they love even when time has passed
Like I said
The singer is reinforcing what they have previously stated
It's been three years since I'm knockin' on your door
The singer has been waiting for three years for the person they love to respond to their feelings
And I still can knock some more
The singer hasn't given up on the hope that the person they love will reciprocate their feelings
Oh girl, ooh girl, is it feasible?
The singer is questioning whether there is a chance for the person they love to love them back
I wanna know now, for I to knock some more
The singer wants clarity so that they can continue waiting or move on
Ya see, in life I know there's lots of grief
The singer acknowledges that life has its challenges and difficulties
But your love is my relief
The singer finds solace in the prospect of being loved by the person they love
Tears in my eyes burn, tears in my eyes burn
The prolonged waiting has resulted in the singer experiencing a lot of pain
While I'm waiting, while I'm waiting for my turn
The singer is still waiting for the person they love to notice them
See
The singer wants the other person to understand their feelings
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
Reiteration of how the singer doesn't want to wait for love that may never come
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
Reiteration of how the singer doesn't want to wait for love that may never come
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love
Reiteration of how the singer doesn't want to wait for love that may never come
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love, oh
Reiteration of how the singer doesn't want to wait for love that may never come
I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna
Reiteration of how the singer doesn't want to wait for love that may never come
I don't wanna wait in vain
Reiteration of how the singer doesn't want to wait for love that may never come
No, I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna
Reiteration of how the singer doesn't want to wait for love that may never come
I don't wanna wait in vain
Reiteration of how the singer doesn't want to wait for love that may never come
No, I don't wanna (I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna
Reiteration of how the singer doesn't want to wait for love that may never come
No I, no I (I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna
Reiteration of how the singer doesn't want to wait for love that may never come
It's your love that I'm waiting on (I don't wanna)
The singer is waiting for the person they love to love them back
It's me love that you're running from. (I don't wanna wait in vain)
The singer feels like the person they love is avoiding their feelings
It's your love that I'm waiting on (I don't wanna)
The singer is waiting for the person they love to love them back
It's me love that you're running from. (I don't wanna wait in vain)
The singer feels like the person they love is avoiding their feelings
I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna
Reiteration of how the singer doesn't want to wait for love that may never come
I don't wanna wait in vain
Reiteration of how the singer doesn't want to wait for love that may never come
Lyrics © DistroKid, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bob Marley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Amo esta cancion ,no es de mi epoca pero es taan fresca 😊
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It's 2024, who's still Listening to the Legendary Bob Marley .? RIP Mr. Marley 🙏😪🎶
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I am this is my favorite!
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Chur jah
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Me