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
ganja gun
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know I smoke'a de ganja all a de time.
Smoke'a de ganja when I'm with friends.
We gonna smoke'a de ganja until the very end.
Whoo-oo Ganja ganja
Whoo-oo Ganja gun
Whoo-oo Ganja ganja
Whoo-oo Ganja ganja
Whoo-oo Ganja gun
Whoo-oo Ganja ganja
Whoo-oo Ganja gun
Smoke'a de ganja every day
Ya you gonn' smoke'a de ganja in many different ways
You can smoke'a de ganja in a big fat bowl or you can smoke'a de ganja in a bong
N' keep ya' very lucky you can smoke it in a bong
When you smoke it in a bong, you are baked all night long Mista...
Whoo-oo Ganja ganja
Whoo-oo Ganja gun
Whoo-oo Ganja ganja
Whoo-oo Ganja gun
The lyrics of Bob Marley's "Ganja Gun" might seem to glorify the recreational use of the drug. However, a closer look at the words reveals that the song is more about the healing properties of cannabis and the cultural significance of its use in Jamaica. The lyrical content states the repetition of the phrase "smoke'a de ganja", meaning that the act of smoking cannabis is not just for recreational purposes, but is an essential part of their cultural identity.
The song is a reflection of the Rastafarian belief in the use of cannabis as a sacrament that can be used to enhance one's spiritual and mental perception. The opening line of the song, ‘I’m gonna smoke a de ganja until I go blind’, is not a desire to literally go blind from smoking too much, but rather a metaphor for the intense spiritual experience that the Rastafari believe can be achieved through the use of the plant.
The chorus of the song, "Whoo-oo Ganja ganja / Whoo-oo Ganja gun", can be interpreted as a reference to the metaphorical weapon that ganja can be used as in the fight against societal oppression. The song was likely written in a time when the Jamaican government was cracking down on cannabis use, and Rastafarians were viewed with suspicion by the authorities. For this reason, the song's lyrics can be seen as a call to arms for Rastafarians to defend their cultural practices against government repression.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna smoke'a de ganja until I go blind.
I will continue to smoke marijuana until I am blind.
You know I smoke'a de ganja all a de time.
I am always smoking marijuana.
Smoke'a de ganja when I'm with friends.
I smoke marijuana with my friends.
We gonna smoke'a de ganja until the very end.
We will continue smoking marijuana forever.
Whoo-oo Ganja ganja
Ganja, marijuana.
Whoo-oo Ganja gun
Marijuana is like a weapon, it can change your mental state.
Smoke'a de ganja every day
I smoke marijuana every day.
Ya you gonn' smoke'a de ganja in many different ways
There are many different ways to smoke marijuana.
You can smoke'a de ganja in a big fat bowl or you can smoke'a de ganja in a bong
You can smoke marijuana in a bowl or bong.
N' keep ya' very lucky you can smoke it in a bong
It is lucky to be able to smoke marijuana in a bong.
When you smoke it in a bong, you are baked all night long Mista...
When smoking marijuana in a bong, the effects last a long time.
Contributed by Harper L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@thehammeringbiceps
posting a comment here as I'm stoned right now. everytime someone will like this comment - I'll smoke again
@ugchYaswanth
Hearing this master piece after so many years feels good
@novanferdiansyah6277
GANJA BROW ,, GANJA ENAK
@maximesimon5809
Its a french singer from rasta bigoud not bob marley
@MARLOTO_FF.
L
@varaha0078
@@maximesimon5809 Mate your clearly High
@BabaDontHurtMe
@@novanferdiansyah6277😮 my
@sakshampal9653
Played this song in school... Now it's a High School🤞🏻😈
@asifinzamam7725
This made my day
@venenumcultus2132
Everyone is so high that they didnt notice the fact, that he is singing more then just whoo whoo ganja ganja 😂