Bob Marley and the Wailers (previously known as The Wailers, and prior to t… Read Full Bio ↴Bob Marley and the Wailers (previously known as The Wailers, and prior to that The Wailing Rudeboys, The Wailing Wailers and The Teenagers) were a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae band. The founding members, in 1963, were Bob Marley (Robert Nesta Marley), Peter Tosh (Hubert Winston McIntosh), and Bunny Wailer (Neville Livingston).

During 1970 and 1971, Wailer, Marley and Tosh worked with renowned reggae producers Leslie Kong and Lee "Scratch" Perry.

They released four albums before signing to Island Records in 1972. Two more albums were created before Tosh and Wailer left the band in 1974, citing grievances over label treatment and ideological differences. Marley carried on with a new line-up, including the I-Threes that put out seven more more albums. Marley died in 1981.

The Wailers were a groundbreaking ska and reggae group, noted for songs such as "Simmer Down", "Trenchtown Rock", "Nice Time", "War", "Stir It Up" and "Get Up, Stand Up".

Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Marley_and_the_Wailers

Studio albums
The Wailing Wailers (1965)
The Best of the Wailers (1970; released 1971)
Soul Rebels (1970)
Soul Revolution Part II (1971)
Catch a Fire (1973)
Burnin' (1973)
Natty Dread (1974)
Rastaman Vibration (1976)
Exodus (1977)
Kaya (1978)
Survival (1979)
Uprising (1980)
Confrontation (1983)

Hooligan
Bob Marley & The Wailers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Listen my brother and understand
Don′t play like a donkey if you're really a man
You don′t fool a soul when you wear sharp studs
Your mouth is dirty and you cuss a bad word
Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind
Hooligans, hooligans this is the time
Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind
Mother been weeping

We were no more strangers (yes I pray)
We were more than friends (battles came down)
Yet the battles were splintered all over the place
Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind
Hooligans, hooligans this is the time
Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind
Always come up and always rude
Smashing things and breaking rules
Man what do you think you are
A little beast for sure
Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind
Hooligans, hooligans this is the time
Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind
Can't a woman's tender care (return you now)
Change from all the child she beared
We were no more strangers (yes I pray)
We were more than friends (battles came down)
Yet the battles were splintered all over the place
Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind
Hooligans, hooligans this is the time
Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind
Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind
Hooligans, hooligans this is the time

Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind
Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind

Overall Meaning

In the song "Hooligan," Bob Marley is calling out those who act like tough guys and bullies, but are really no more than just ignorant fools. He points out that they cannot deceive anyone with their delinquency and foul language, and urges them to stop the pretence and make up their minds to be better individuals. He warns them that time is of the essence, and they should not waste it on senseless activities.

Marley also addresses the issue of conflict and violence, which he terms "battles." He acknowledges that people may have once been friends, but these battles cause a split, making the situation much worse than before. He implores them to make up their minds and resolve to end the violence, breaking this cycle of strife once and for all.

Throughout the song, Marley emphasizes that he hopes for resolution and an end to violence. He also alludes to the fact that change has to begin with the individual, and each person must decide to do better for themselves and their communities.

Overall, the song is a call to action for those who engage in negative behaviors and want to change for the better. It is a reminder that actions have consequences, and true strength lies not in violence and aggression, but in kindness, compassion, and understanding.

Line by Line Meaning

Listen my brother and understand
Pay attention and comprehend what I am about to say

Don′t play like a donkey if you're really a man
Don't act foolishly if you consider yourself a grown-up and capable individual

You don′t fool a soul when you wear sharp studs
Your flashy appearance doesn't deceive anyone

Your mouth is dirty and you cuss a bad word
You use foul language and it reflects poorly on you

Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind
Indecisive troublemakers, it's time to choose a path

Hooligans, hooligans this is the time
Hooligans, this is your opportunity to change your ways

Mother been weeping
The singer's mother has been crying

We were no more strangers (yes I pray)
The artist and his companions knew each other well

We were more than friends (battles came down)
Their relationship was deeper than mere friendship but it was tested by conflicts

Yet the battles were splintered all over the place
The fights were widespread and chaotic

Always come up and always rude
You consistently act aggressively and discourteously

Smashing things and breaking rules
You destroy property and violate regulations

Man what do you think you are
Who do you believe yourself to be?

A little beast for sure
Perhaps you're no better than an animal

Can't a woman's tender care (return you now)
Cannot the compassionate upbringing of a mother influence your behavior?

Change from all the child she beared
Can you not alter your ways despite your mother's nurturing and upbringing?

Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind
Undecided troublemakers, it's time to choose a path

Hooligans, hooligans this is the time
This is your crucial moment to reinvent yourselves

Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind
Indecisive troublemakers, it's your last chance to decide your fate

Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind
Make a decision, troublemakers

Hooligans, hooligans this is the time
Your defining moment has arrived

Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind
Hooligans, it's time to choose your destiny

Writer(s): Clement Dodd, Peter Mcintosh

Contributed by Lila Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Sickside9582

This loud lover can understand
Don't bray like a donkey if you're really a man
You don't fool a soul when you wear sharp studs
Your mouth is dirty and you cuss a bad word

[Chorus]
Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind
Hooligans, hooligans this is the time
Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind
Oh, mother been weeping
Father been preaching

[Verse 2]
We were no more strangers (Yes I pray)
We were more than friends (Battles came down)
Yet the battles were splintered all over the place

[Chorus]
Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind
Hooligans, hooligans this is the time
Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind
Oh, father been preaching
Oh, mother been moving

Verse 3]
Always come up and always rude
Breaking things and smashing rules
Man what do you think you are
A little beast for sure, let me tell you

[Outro]
Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind
Hooligans, hooligans this is the time
Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind
Can't a woman's tender care (Return you now)
Cease towards the child she beared
We were no more strangers (Yes I pray)
We were more than friends (Battles came down)
Yet the battles were splintered all over the place
Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind
Hooligans, hooligans this is the time
Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind
Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind
Hooligans, hooligans this is the time
Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind
Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind

Ale Nasution

10y↑7

Listen my brother and understand
Don't play like a donkey if you're really a man
You don't fool a soul when you wear sharp studs
Your mouth is dirty and you cuss a bad word

Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind
Hooligans, hooligans this is the time
Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind
Mother been weeping

We were no more strangers
(Yes I pray)
We were more than friends
(Battles came down)
Yet the battles were splintered all over the place

Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind
Hooligans, hooligans this is the time
Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind

Always come up and always rude
Smashing things and breaking rules
Man what do you think you are?
A little beast for sure

Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind
Hooligans, hooligans this is the time
Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind

Can't a woman's tender care
(Return you now)
Change from all the child she beared?

We were no more strangers
(Yes I pray)
We were more than friends
(Battles came down)
Yet the battles were splintered all over the place

Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind
Hooligans, hooligans this is the time
Hooligans, hooligans make up your mind

All comments from YouTube:

Stephen

9y↑15

This is one Bob Marley and The Wailers track i never heard before until today...and boy I love it.

What a wonderful piece of Ska Reggae this is.

Petar Franić

Freemλn haha i heard it for the first time too, nice tune. Cheers from Croatia!

aka Dosser

12y↑3

heard this for the first time yesterday, at a Motherwell fans' end of season Skafest. The claret & amber adidas gazelles were giving it laldy !!!!!! AWESOME TRACK