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)

My Cup In Dub
Bob Marley & The Wailers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

My cup is running over
I don't know what to do
My cup is running over
I don't know what to do
No I don't know (No I don't know)
No I don't know
(No I don't know)

Yes I've got to cry, cry, cry
People let me cry, cry, cry
Said I fell a little bit better (Cry, cry, cry)
If only I got to cry, cry, cry

Now that I, lost you
I've lost the best friend
That I ever knew
Now that I, realize

It makes me (Makes me)
It makes me (Makes me)
So mad, tell you, my cup, running over
I don't know what to do
My cup is running over
I don't know what to do
No I don't know (No I don't know)
No I don't know

(No I don't know)
Yes I've got to cry, cry, cry
People let me (cry, cry, cry)
(Cry, cry, cry)
(Cry, cry, cry)

Now that I, lost you
I've lost the best friend that I ever knew
Now that I, realize
It makes me (makes me) it makes me (makes me)
So mad, tell you my cup, cup, is running over baby
And I don't know what to, don't know what to do yeah
Tell you my cup, running over
And I don't know, don't know, don't know what to do

Eh
No I don't know (No I don't know)
No I don't know
(No I don't know)
Yes I've got to cry, cry, cry
People let me (Cry, cry, cry)
I'll feel a little bit better (Cry, cry, cry)
But I got (feel like crying) (Cry, cry, cry)
Ooh yeah (feel like crying) (Cry, cry, cry)
Ooh yeah (feel like crying) cry, cry, cry

(Feel like crying)
Cry, cry

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "My Cup in Dub" by Bob Marley & The Wailers evoke a sense of confusion and desperation over the loss of a loved one. The repeated refrain of "my cup is running over" signifies an overwhelming emotional state that the singer cannot contain. The line "I don't know what to do" further emphasizes the feeling of being lost and directionless.

The verses speak to the specific pain of losing a close friend, someone who was a vital part of the singer's life. The line "now that I realize" suggests that the singer has only just come to understand the depth of their loss. The repetition of "it makes me so mad" conveys the anger and frustration that can come from grief.

The repeated plea to "cry, cry, cry" is a recognition of the therapeutic power of tears. The singer is asking for permission to express their emotions in a way that is often considered socially unacceptable, particularly for men. Crying is often seen as a sign of weakness, but the lyrics of "My Cup in Dub" suggest that it can be a necessary step towards healing.

Line by Line Meaning

My cup is running over
I have more than enough of something, to the point where I cannot handle it

I don't know what to do
I am at a loss for how to approach the situation

Yes I've got to cry, cry, cry
Crying is the only way for me to release my emotions

People let me cry, cry, cry
I am asking others to allow me to express my emotions through crying

Now that I, lost you
Now that I no longer have you in my life

I've lost the best friend
You were the closest and most important friend that I had

That I ever knew
You were the best friend I have ever had

It makes me so mad
Losing you has made me angry and upset

Tell you, my cup, running over
I am reiterating that I have too much of something that I cannot handle

And I don't know what to, don't know what to do
I still have not figured out a solution to my problem

Ooh yeah (feel like crying) (Cry, cry, cry)
I am overwhelmed with sadness and cannot help but cry