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
You Can't Blame the Youth
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can't fool the youths
You can't blame the youths of today
You can't fool the youths
You're teaching youths to learn in the school
And that the cow jumped over moon
Teaching youths to learn in the school
So you can't blame the youths of today
You can't fool the youths
You can't blame the youths, not at all
You can't fool the youths
You teach the youths about Christopher Columbus
And you said he was a very great man
You teach the youths about Marco Polo
And you said he was a very great man
You teach the youths about the pirate Hawkins
And you said he was a very great man
You teach the youths about the pirate Morgan
And you said he was a very great man
So, you can't blame the youths, when they don't learn
You can't fool the youths
You can't blame the youths of today
You can't fool the youths
When every Christmas come
You buy the youth a pretty toy gun
When every Christmas comes around
You buy the youth a fancy toy gun
So, you can't blame the youths when they get bad
You can't fool the youths
You can't blame the youths of today
You can't fool the youths
Said he was a very great man
Said he was a very great man
You teach the youths about Christopher Columbus
And you said he was a very great man
You teach the youths about Marco Polo
And you said he was a very great man
You teach the youths about the pirate Hawkins
And you said he was a very great man
You teach the youths about the pirate Morgan
And you said he was a very great man
So, you can't blame the youths
You can't fool the youths
You can't blame the youths of today
You can't fool the youths, yeah
And you said he was a very great man
In this song, Bob Marley is highlighting the hypocrisy and flaws in the education system, and how it is failing the youth. He points out that while children are being taught things like nursery rhymes and stories of great men, they are not being taught important life skills or about the realities of the world. The reference to Christopher Columbus and Marco Polo highlights the glorification of colonialism and imperialism within the curriculum, perpetuating a Eurocentric perspective that disregards the cultures and histories of other regions.
Marley also highlights the issue of violent toys being given to children as gifts, as it perpetuates a cycle of violence and aggression. The chorus emphasizes that the youth cannot be blamed or fooled for the way they turn out, as they are simply a product of their upbringing and surroundings.
Overall, the song is a criticism of the education system and societal norms, calling for a change in the way we raise and educate our children. Marley's use of simple and repetitive lyrics serves to emphasize the message and make it accessible to a wider audience.
Line by Line Meaning
You can't blame the youths
The youth are not responsible for their education and upbringing
You can't fool the youths
The youth are able to see through false information and propaganda
You can't blame the youths of today
The current generation of youth are not responsible for past mistakes and misinformation they have been taught
You're teaching youths to learn in the school
And that the cow jumped over moon
Education systems are teaching children meaningless and irrelevant information
And that the dish ran away with spoon
Education systems are teaching children nonsensical and fictional stories
You teach the youths about Christopher Columbus
And you said he was a very great man
Education systems teach children about flawed historical figures as if they were heroes
You teach the youths about Marco Polo
And you said he was a very great man
Education systems teach children about flawed historical figures as if they were heroes
You teach the youths about the pirate Hawkins
And you said he was a very great man
Education systems teach children about violent and criminal figures as if they were heroes
You teach the youths about the pirate Morgan
And you said he was a very great man
Education systems teach children about violent and criminal figures as if they were heroes
When every Christmas come
You buy the youth a pretty toy gun
Society encourages and glamorizes violence through toys and media marketed towards children
You can't blame the youths when they get bad
Youth who are taught misinformation and glorification of violence cannot be blamed for negative behavior
You can't fool the youths, yeah
The youth cannot be easily manipulated or misled
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Peter Tosh
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Zion Gate
Give respect to where respect is due - This clip should be rightly called "The Wailers" (before Bob was put out front for European marketing purposes). This enlightening/Radical/Prophetic song was written and is being sung by the Prophet, the great Peter Tosh. All three original Wailers were giants in their own right. Had they stayed together they'd be even bigger than how Bob became as a solo artist. These 3 brothers were true musical soldiers.
Verbum Vincet
Talkin' Blues, one of the best albums. If it had 'Small Axe' it would be perfection.
Intel Gence
This music will never die...
TheJofrica
This album had the greatest intros, like you couldn't tell if the song was gonna be in a major or a minor key. Then the beat drops and it's consistently funky and groovy. I think this is one of my favorite Marley albums. Legend of course is a given top one, but this one and also Burnin' are great albums
jefkeization
+TheJofrica and babylon by bus all time favorite :D
TheJofrica
jefkeization Yeah, right on!
Robert Card
Marley or the wailers? This is the wailers album not just Bob
David Ben-Abraham
Probably the best song that has ever been written about teaching merit and standing-up in another's defence, without excessive accusation. Children, if they do wrong, in most cases, it is because they learnt it from their elders. The song aptly mentions school children learning about the exploits of pirates (Henry Morgan and Thomas Hawkins), people that do not have exemplary conduct, and, yet, their feats are taught openly in public schools.
Adaylton Soares
PUTA QUE PARIU MANO!!! ESSA VERSÃO É FODA!!! 🔥🔥🔥
W Ghost
This is a very rare record , Thank You very much for sharing.