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
We & Them
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A hungry mob is an angry mob
A rain a fall but the dirt it tough
A pot a cook but the food no 'nough
You're gonna dance to Jah music, dance,
We're gonna dance to Jah music, dance,
Forget your sorrows and dance,
Forget your sickness and dance,
Forget your weakness and dance
Cost of livin' gets so high
Rich and poor they start to cry
Now the weak must get strong
They say oh, what a tribulation
Them belly full but we hungry
A hungry mob is an angry mob
A rain a fall but the dirt it tough
A pot a cook but you no 'nough
We're gonna chuck to Jah music chuckin'
We're chuckin' to Jah music, we're chuckin'
Belly full but them hungry.
A hungry mob is an angry mob
A rain a fall but the dirt it tough
A pot a cook but the food no 'nough
A hungry mob is an angry mob
Bob Marley's song We & Them is a powerful commentary on social and economic inequality. The lyrics paint a stark picture of a world where some have more than enough to eat, while others go hungry. The repetition of the lines "Them belly full but we hungry" and "A hungry mob is an angry mob" emphasizes the anger and frustration of those who are struggling to survive in a world that seems stacked against them.
The first stanza of the song speaks to the contradiction of a world where there is plenty of food, but it is not being distributed fairly. The second stanza takes a more positive turn, with Marley urging listeners to forget their troubles and dance to Jah music. However, the third stanza brings us back to the harsh realities of poverty, with Marley singing about the high cost of living and the need for the weak to become strong in the face of tribulation.
Overall, We & Them's lyrics are a powerful condemnation of the economic and social forces that keep some people down while others thrive. Through music and poetry, Marley calls on listeners to stand up against injustice and fight for a better world.
Line by Line Meaning
Them belly full but we hungry
They have more than enough but we are still in need
A hungry mob is an angry mob
A group of people who are starved and unfulfilled will eventually become violent and uncontrollable
A rain a fall but the dirt it tough
In times of plenty, there are often obstacles that make it difficult to thrive
A pot a cook but the food no 'nough
Even when there are resources available, there may still be scarcity
You're gonna dance to Jah music, dance
You will find joy and release in the music of the divine
We're gonna dance to Jah music, dance,
Together, we will celebrate and find solace in the spiritual melodies
Forget your troubles and dance,
Allow the music to carry you away and leave your worries behind
Forget your sorrows and dance,
Let the rhythm of the music heal your pain
Forget your sickness and dance,
Allow yourself to be lifted up and overcome your physical ailments through movement
Forget your weakness and dance
Embrace your strength and power through the act of dancing
Cost of livin' gets so high
The basic necessities of life are becoming more and more costly
Rich and poor they start to cry
Both the wealthy and the impoverished are feeling the pain of financial strain
Now the weak must get strong
Those who are vulnerable must become resilient in order to survive
They say oh, what a tribulation
This situation is a great challenge and difficulty for everyone involved
We're gonna chuck to Jah music chuckin'
We will express our emotions and release our frustrations through dance
Belly full but them hungry.
Others may appear to have plenty, but they too are in need
A hungry mob is an angry mob
Desperation and lack can lead to unrest and hostility
A rain a fall but the dirt it tough
Even during times of abundance, there may be obstacles in the way of progress
A pot a cook but the food no 'nough
There may be resources available, but they are not sufficient for everyone's needs
A hungry mob is an angry mob
Severe deprivation can lead to aggression and chaos
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Zion91
In the beginning.. Jah created everything. He gave man dominion over all things! But now it's too late.. you see man has lost their faith! Eating up all the flesh from off the Earth..
@joshstanton267
@Joe Bloggs you might just be a moron
@blitheringrando1410
Today I play this and think of the people at war in ukraine
@shaunstewart7834
Too late for what?? Redemption??? Jahova is waiting for us not the other way around!!!
@dereknankivell1604
@@blitheringrando1410 ukraine is the devil's headquarters
@cherylwilliams5810
Serious music 🎶
@ajn8110
Bob is up there with the father looking down at us and usual, praying for us. We have lost the biggest thing God gave us. We should know by now. I cry anytime I listen to his songs. Such is wisdom. Rest in perfect peace, Bob.
@edortega7671
He's music was so strongly anointed by the Lord. Nothing else comes close.
@zelmixsg9000
excuse me what is the message of his song please
@FC-xc3zy
@@zelmixsg9000 Bob is saying that evil leaders have destroyed the earth. God had given man the earth to protect, love and cherish, but our leaders murder, divide , steal and pollute