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 βExodusβ (1977) was named Album of the Century by Time Magazine and his song βOne Loveβ 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
top ranking
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All they want us to do is keep on fussing and fighting
They don't want to see us live together
All they want us to do is keep on killing one another
Top rankin', top rankin'
Are you skankin'? (skankin', skankin')
Are you skankin'? (skankin', skankin')
Oh, did you mean what you say now?
Are you, oh are you? (rankin', rankin')
Are ya, Lord, Lord, Lord (skankin', skankin')
They say the blood runs
And it runs through our line,
And our hearts, heart of hearts divine, yeah!
And John saw them comin', ooh!
A with the truth
From an ancient time
The brotherly love (brotherly love)
The sisterly love (sisterly love)
I feel this morning, I feel this morning
Brotherly love (brotherly love)
The sisterly love (sisterly love)
I feel this morning, this morning, hey!
They don't want us to unite
All they want us to do is keep on fussing and fighting
They don't want to see us live together
All they want us to do is keep on killing one another
Top rankin' (top rankin')
Did ya mean what you say now? (top rankin')
Are you skankin'? (skankin', skankin')
Are you skankin'? (skankin', skankin')
Top rankin' (top ranking)
Did you (top rankin') mean what you say? (top rankin')
Are you? (rankin', rankin)
Are you? (skankin', skankin')
Top rankin' (top rankin')
Top rankin' (top rankin')
Are you? (skankin', skankin')
Ow are you? (skankin', skankin')
The lyrics of Bob Marley's "Top Ranking" song are a call for unity among people of all races and socio-economic backgrounds. Marley is stressing that those in power actively work to keep people divided, fighting, and killing each other. He is urging people to come together in brotherly and sisterly love, regardless of their differences. Marleyβs words are a reminder that we are all human, we all bleed the same blood, and we all come from the same divine source. He's referencing ancient times to suggest this isn't a new issue but one that has been around for centuries. The repeated refrain of "Top ranking, are you skanking?" is meant to keep people engaged and energized.
Marley, as an advocate for peace and unity, often used his music to address issues of social justice, and Top Ranking is no exception. He's asserting that all races and people should be treated equally and that politicians have historically created divisions within society to maintain power. Instead of βkilling one another,β he suggests coming together in unity, creating an unstoppable movement.
Line by Line Meaning
They don't want to see us unite
There are some people who are against the idea of unity among us.
All they want us to do is keep on fussing and fighting
These people are only interested in creating conflicts among us and fanning the flames of violence.
They don't want to see us live together
For some, the idea of peaceful coexistence is a threat to their interests.
All they want us to do is keep on killing one another
The same people who are opposed to unity and coexistence see nothing wrong with encouraging us to engage in violence and kill one another.
Top rankin', top rankin'
Being at the top is important to some people, and they will stop at nothing to maintain their position.
Are you skankin'? (skankin', skankin')
The idea of dancing becomes a metaphor for living life with joy and a sense of freedom.
Wo-ho, top rankin' (top rankin')
The phrase 'Wo ho' is a celebratory cry which is used to confirm that one has achieved the top position
Did you mean what you say now?
It is important to separate those who speak the truth from those who do not genuinely mean what they say.
Are you, oh are you? (rankin', rankin')
This question is meant to confirm somebodyβs commitment to their actions or statements.
Are ya, Lord, Lord, Lord (skankin', skankin')
This repetition is a prayer-like duty to stress the importance of living life with a free spirit, over and above our mundane struggles and strife of life.
They say the blood runs
The phrase speaks of the idea that history and ancestry are important because they have shaped who we are today.
And it runs through our line,
This phrase reinforces the idea that who we are and who we will become is determined and fashioned by our ancestry.
And our hearts, heart of hearts divine, yeah!
The assumption here is that in each of our hearts, there is something that is divine and is capable of initiating positive change in society.
And John saw them comin', ooh!
This phrase is a Biblical reference to the idea that the prophet John saw a future in which people from all nations would be united against oppression.
A with the truth
The phrase speaks of the idea that only the truth can unite us and empower us against the forces that try to divide us.
The brotherly love (brotherly love)
This phrase speaks of the need to extend love to those who are not related to us by blood and treat them like family.
The sisterly love (sisterly love)
This phrase speaks of the need to look out for one another and support each other in a way that is similar to how sisters do.
I feel this morning, I feel this morning
This repetition is a celebration of a new dawn where we now realize that we can make positive change together.
Top rankin' (top rankin')
Being at the top is important to some people, and they will stop at nothing to maintain their position.
Are you skankin'? (skankin', skankin')
The idea of dancing becomes a metaphor for living life with joy and a sense of freedom.
Did ya mean what you say now? (top rankin')
It is important to separate those who speak the truth from those who do not genuinely mean what they say.
Are you skankin'? (skankin', skankin')
The idea of dancing becomes a metaphor for living life with joy and a sense of freedom.
Are you? (rankin', rankin)
This question is meant to confirm somebodyβs commitment to their actions or statements.
Are you? (skankin', skankin')
This repetition is a prayer-like duty to stress the importance of living life with a free spirit, over and above our mundane struggles and strife of life.
Top rankin' (top rankin')
Being at the top is important to some people, and they will stop at nothing to maintain their position.
Top rankin' (top rankin')
Being at the top is important to some people, and they will stop at nothing to maintain their position.
Are you? (skankin', skankin')
This repetition is a prayer-like duty to stress the importance of living life with a free spirit, over and above our mundane struggles and strife of life.
Ow are you? (skankin', skankin')
This repetition is a prayer-like duty to stress the importance of living life with a free spirit, over and above our mundane struggles and strife of life.
Lyrics Β© KOBALT MUSIC PUBLISHING LIMITED,
Written by: BOB MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@scj5314
This song becomes more and more relevant over time
@Leandrozuccarelli
King of Reggae, your words and lyrics will be forever alive.. Rip Bob Marley, .. and thanks to who posted this marvellous track here !!!
@Lovedasyouare1
The line where he says "John saw them coming with the truth from an ancient time, the brotherly love the sisterly love I feel this morning " I cried for over an hour tears snot crying and cried and cried tears of love just remembering and connecting to an ancient time where we all love each other this much
@kurtpeterson315
Jah Rastafari! Brother Bob, the Sage and Prophet and spreader of Gospel! We know now why he was silenced by a cancer virus. UNITE INSTEAD OF FIGHT!
@jasonwilliams0306
John the Baptiste, his spiritual energy or spirit double [KAA] is Eliyah or Elijah - remember it was the 6ether Muslims who did not recognise him and chopped his head off, the lov9 we always had, its the others that must learn about lov9, yes agreed the 9ethers are no better today - but that was taught to them
@judithharrison578
THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH! THIS MAN WAS/IS A GENIUS! LONG LIVE BOB MARLEY!
@rootsychick2151
The Spirit moved you! Awesome
@Christian-Roots818
They donβt want to see Us Unite !
@udohnsikak6352
The groovy nature of this song is absolutely mesmerizing.Bob marley is no doubt the king of reggae music.
@lawrencenjawe9875
The Undisputed KINGπ