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)

Riding High
Bob Marley & The Wailers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You've been riding
You've been riding quite a while, child
(Keep on riding, keep on riding)
You've been jiving
Like a peacock, that's your style
(Keep on jiving), oh (keep on jiving)

Now I remember the days in school

There wasn't a time when you didn't treat me cruel
Ooh, wait till I get my hooks on you
I'll show you what a fisherman can do

You're riding
Been riding quite a while, child
(keep on riding, keep on riding)
You've been jiving
Like a peacock, that's your style
(Keep on jiving), ooh-wee (keep on jiving)

I say now, you always try to hurt me in the end
In the presence of all our good, good friends
But the patient man always win
Now I'll just wait till you give in

You've been riding
You've been riding quite a while
(keep on riding), keep on, ride (keep on riding)
You've been jiving
Like a peacock, that's your style
(keep on jiving) oh-wee, alright (on jiving)

At Christmas, more like an Easter bunny
Just like a rabbit, you're always on the run
But wait till I get my trap on you
I'll see where you gonna run to
Wait till I get my trap on you
Then I'll see where you gonna run to

You've been riding
You've been riding quite a while
(keep on riding), keep on, ride (keep on riding)
You've been jiving
Like a peacock, that's your style
(keep on jiving), ooh-wee (keep on jiving)

(So riding on my own) I need your love tonight
(Riding on my own) A-when you hold me right

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bob Marley & The Wailers's song "Riding High" speak about a person who has been carrying on with his or her life, riding high and continuing to jive. The song seems to be directed towards a particular person who has been acting arrogantly, mistreating the singer, and hurtful at every available turn. The singer remembers the days in which he was treated cruelly by the person in question. However, the patient man, as the lyrics indicate, always wins. So, the singer intends to wait patiently until the person concedes. There are hints of a romantic connection between the singer and the person being addressed, as the lyrics "I need your love tonight" suggest.

The song's overall message seems to be one of patience and determination, qualities that are often put to the test when dealing with people who are less than kind. There is an underlying tone of defiance in the song, as the singer refuses to allow the actions of the other person to defeat him or her. The lyrics encourage perseverance in the face of adversity, and the need to remain confident even when treated badly by others.

Line by Line Meaning

You've been riding
You've been living your life and experiencing all it has to offer.

You've been riding quite a while, child (Keep on riding, keep on riding)
You've been on this journey for a long time, and you should keep persevering.

You've been jiving
You've been showing off and flaunting your unique style.

Like a peacock, that's your style (Keep on jiving), oh (keep on jiving)
You're proud of who you are and what you've accomplished, and you should keep expressing that pride.

Now I remember the days in school There wasn't a time when you didn't treat me cruel Ooh, wait till I get my hooks on you I'll show you what a fisherman can do
You used to be unkind to me, but now I have a plan to turn the tables and show you what I'm capable of.

I say now, you always try to hurt me in the end In the presence of all our good, good friends But the patient man always win Now I'll just wait till you give in
You have a habit of causing me pain, but I know that patience is key, and eventually you'll come around.

At Christmas, more like an Easter bunny Just like a rabbit, you're always on the run But wait till I get my trap on you I'll see where you gonna run to Wait till I get my trap on you Then I'll see where you gonna run to
You're always evading the consequences of your actions, but when I catch you, you won't be able to escape them anymore.

(So riding on my own) I need your love tonight (Riding on my own) A-when you hold me right
Despite everything that's happened between us, I still need your love and affection to feel complete.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COLE PORTER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS