The live version of the song ranked No. 37 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
As a single, it reached number 22 in the UK in 1975, and, in the wake of Marley's death, reached number 8. It was certified Gold in the UK, Italy and Brazil.
No Woman No Cry
Bob Marley & The Wailers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No, woman, no cry
No, woman, no cry
No, woman, no cry
'Cause, 'cause, 'cause I remember when we used to sit
In the government yard in Trenchtown
Oba, observing the hypocrites, yeahMingle with the good people we meet, yeah
Good friends we have, oh, good friends we've lost
Along the way, yeah
In this great future, you can't forget your past
So dry your tears, I say, yeah
No, woman, no cry
No, woman, no cry, eh, yeah
Little darlin', don't shed no tears
No, woman, no cry
Eh, said, said, said, I remember when we used to sit
In the government yard in Trenchtown, yeah
And then Georgie would make the fire lights, I say
A log wood burnin' through the night, yeah
Then we would cook cornmeal porridge, I say
Of which I'll share with you, yeah
My feet is my only carriage
And so I've got to push on through
But while I'm gone
Everything's gonna be alright
Everything's gonna be alright
Everything's gonna be alright
Everything's gonna be alright
Everything's gonna be alrightEverything's gonna be alright
Everything's gonna be alright
Everything's gonna be alright
So no, woman, no cry
No, woman, no cry
I say, oh little, oh little, darling, don't shed no tears
No, woman, no cry, eh
No, woman, no, woman, no, woman, no cry
No, woman, no cry, one more time I've got to say
Oh little, little darling, please don't shed no tears
No, woman, no cry
No, woman, no, woman no cry
Bob Marley’s “No Woman No Cry” is not only one of the most famous songs in the reggae genre, but it’s also an anthem calling for people to have hope, stay strong, and not give up on life. The song is about the memories of Marley’s formative and daily life in Trenchtown, Jamaica. The first part of the song talks about how he and his friends would sit in the government yard in Trenchtown and reflect on life. Additionally, the song speaks to the hypocrisy that exists in the world which he saw as a child.
The second part of the song recalls Marley’s memories of his family and the times when they would sit around a fire in Trenchtown talking, cooking, and laughing. However, as the song progresses, he shifts his focus to the challenging reality of living in a poor area, specifically the hardships he faced while growing up in Jamaica. The song encourages listeners to keep a positive outlook, maintain hope, and appreciate the good times with friends and family even amidst difficulty.
Overall, Marley's "No Woman, No Cry" is a testament to the resilience and fortitude that individuals must embody in the face of life's harshest circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
No, woman, no cry
Hey woman, don't cry
No, woman, no cry
Hey woman, don't cry
No, woman, no cry
Hey woman, don't cry
No, woman, no cry
Hey woman, don't cry
'Cause, 'cause, 'cause I remember when we used to sit
Because I have a memory of sitting
In the government yard in Trenchtown
In a public area in Trenchtown
Oba, observing the hypocrites, yeah
Watching people who act contrary to their beliefs
Mingle with the good people we meet, yeah
Socializing with people who share our values
Good friends we have, oh, good friends we've lost
We've had good friends we've lost along the way
Along the way, yeah
Through the journey of life
In this great future, you can't forget your past
In the future, your past is still important
So dry your tears, I say, yeah
Don't cry, be strong
Eh, said, said, said, I remember when we used to sit
I vividly remember when we used to sit
In the government yard in Trenchtown, yeah
In a public area in Trenchtown
And then Georgie would make the fire lights, I say
Then our friend Georgie would light the fire
A log wood burnin' through the night, yeah
A log burning all night long
Then we would cook cornmeal porridge, I say
And then we would make porridge
Of which I'll share with you, yeah
I'll share it with you
My feet is my only carriage
I have to travel on foot
And so I've got to push on through
I have to keep going
But while I'm gone
While I'm away
Everything's gonna be alright
Everything will be okay
Everything's gonna be alright
Everything will be okay
Everything's gonna be alright
Everything will be okay
Everything's gonna be alright
Everything will be okay
Everything's gonna be alright
Everything will be okay
Everything's gonna be alright
Everything will be okay
Everything's gonna be alright
Everything will be okay
Everything's gonna be alright
Everything will be okay
So no, woman, no cry
So no, woman, don't cry
No, woman, no cry
No, woman, don't cry
I say, oh little, oh little, darling, don't shed no tears
I say, oh dear, don't cry
No, woman, no cry, eh
No, woman, don't cry
No, woman, no, woman, no, woman, no cry
No, woman, don't cry
No, woman, no cry, one more time I've got to say
I have to say it one more time, no woman, don't cry
Oh little, little darling, please don't shed no tears
Oh dear, please don't cry
No, woman, no cry
No, woman, don't cry
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Vincent Ford
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nooch Le
NO WOMEN NO CRY
Moustapha Mbow
moustapha mbow
@md.rayhankabirmd.rayhankab1174
No, woman, no cry
No, woman, no cry
No, woman, no cry
No, woman, no cry
'Cause, 'cause, 'cause I remember when we used to sit
In the government yard in Trenchtown
Oba observing the 'ypocrites
Mingle with the good people we meet
Good friends we have, oh, good friends we've lost
Along the way
In this great future, you can't forget your past
So dry your tears, I seh
No, woman, no cry
No, woman, no cry
'Ere, little darlin', don't shed no tears
No, woman, no cry
Said, said, said, I remember when-a we used to sit
In the government yard in Trenchtown
And then Georgie would make the fire lights, I seh
A log wood burnin' through the night
Then we would cook cornmeal porridge, I seh
Of which I'll share with you
My feet is my only carriage
And so I've got to push on through
But while I'm gone
Everything's gonna be all right
Everything's gonna be all right
Everything's gonna be all right
Everything's gonna be all right
Everything's gonna be all right
Everything's gonna be all right
Everything's gonna be all right
Everything's gonna be all right
So no woman, no cry
No woman, no cry
I say, oh little oh little darling, don't shed no tears
No woman, no cry
No woman, no woman, no woman, no cry
No woman, no cry, one more time I've got to say
Oh little little darling, please don't shed no tears
No woman, no cry
No woman, no woman no cry
@ismaaiylazziz951
EL Baraaka
Divine Blessings
EL Salaam
Divine Peace
My Good Moor Nubian Indigenous Melanited Benevolent Brother Bob Marley👑💚
Your Music Is A Spiritual Blessing And A Healing For His Time And For All Times Too Come....
I Am Blessed To Share The Same Birthday I Came Into Physical Form In February 6, 1964 A.C.E. And The Late Bob Nesta Marley👑💚 Was Born February 6, 1946 A.C.E.
We Are Truly In A New Golden Age Of Aquarius💚 That Started In The Year 1970 A.C.E. And Will Continue For 2,160 Earth/Gaia Originally Called Ki/Tiamat Meaning Maiden Of Life💚
With That Being Said The Legend
Bob Nesta Marley👑💚 Has Given Me A Divine Spiritual Blessing This EL Dinya Divine Life And The EL Ahkri To Come....
EL Baraaka
EL Salamm
To The Lefend
Bob Nesta Marley👑💚
My Aquarian💚 Brother👑
Peace King👑
Ismaaiyl Melchior Annutu Abdullah Muhammad Azziz EL👑💚
A Muslim💚 ( One Of Peace ) A Moor Nubian Indigenous Melanited American💚Amoorican💚 Amexemian💚 Atlantean💚
@candidephyfer4635
I saw this man in Rotterdam 1976. One of my most treasured memories. I am a 64 year woman. I am so grateful
@rafero420
I dont know if its even true but I love U
@andyc80
If that’s true WOW you so lucky
@kkk-bc6xo
Great experience, no doubt about it!
@jimmyjimmy1527
One love
@parthapratimnath5827
Love you grandma❤❤
@donnysarian
It's hard to believe it's been 50 years since I first saw Bob Marley and the Wailers at the Roxy Theater in Los Angeles. I was 15 in 1975 and now I'm 65. But in many ways it seems like just yesterday. They were so amazing.
@BobbyGeneric145
I was just searching for a first hand experience of a person who saw him live. What was it like? Transcendent?