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)

Lively Up Your Dub
Bob Marley & The Wailers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You′re gonna lively up yourself, and don't be no drag
You lively up yourself ′cause reggae is another bag

You skank so, you skank so, be alive today

What you got that I don't know?
I'm a-trying to wonder, wonder, wonder why you
Wonder, wonder why you act so, yeah

Hey, do you hear what the man say?
Lively up your(self), your woman in the morning time, y′all

Overall Meaning

In the first two lines of the song, “Lively Up Your Dub,” Bob Marley is encouraging people to bring life and energy into their lives. He specifically mentions reggae, a music genre that originated in Jamaica and is known for its upbeat rhythm and positive message. Marley is suggesting that by experiencing and engaging with this type of music, people can uplift themselves and get rid of any negative feelings – “don’t be no drag.”

The lyrics “You skank so, you skank so, be alive today” further encourages people to enjoy themselves and live in the present moment. “Skanking” refers to a style of dancing popular in Jamaican reggae culture, which is characterized by a bouncy step and rhythmic body movements. The lyrics are essentially telling individuals that they need to be active and fully engage with the world around them to get the most out of life.

The third and fourth lines of the song, “What you got that I don’t know? / I’m a-trying to wonder, wonder, wonder why you / Wonder, wonder why you act so, yeah” suggest that Marley is reflecting on the behavior of others. He is attempting to understand why someone is acting strange or unusual, and wonders what it is that they have that he does not. Overall, “Lively Up Your Dub” is a song that encourages people to embrace life and live it to the fullest.

Line by Line Meaning

You're gonna lively up yourself, and don't be no drag
Encourages the listener to enliven their spirit and enjoy life without hesitation.

You lively up yourself 'cause reggae is another bag
Reggae music has its own unique style and energy that can lift one's mood.

You skank so, you skank so, be alive today
The act of skanking (a dance move) can be a way to express oneself and live in the present moment.

What you got that I don't know?
Asks the question of what the listener possesses that the artist may not.

I'm a-trying to wonder, wonder, wonder why you
The artist is curious and wants to understand the listener's behavior.

Wonder, wonder why you act so, yeah
The singer is still questioning why the listener behaves in a certain way.

Hey, do you hear what the man say?
Asks the listener if they are paying attention to the words being spoken.

Lively up your(self), your woman in the morning time, y'all
Encourages the listener to enliven and uplift themselves and those around them, especially in the morning.

Writer(s): Bob Marley

Contributed by Leah B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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