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)
Stranger On The Shore
Bob Marley & The Wailers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So all alone and blue
Just dreaming dreams of you
I watched your ship as it sailed out to sea
Taking all my dreams
And taking all of me
The wailing of the wind
The tears in my eyes burn
Pleading, "My love, return"
Why, oh, why must I go on like this?
Shall I just be a lonely stranger on the shore?
The sighing of the waves
The wailing of the wind
The tears in my eyes burn
Pleading, "My love, return"
Why, oh, why must I go on like this?
Shall I just be a lonely stranger on the shore?
The lyrics of "Stranger On The Shore" by Bob Marley & The Wailers express the feelings of loneliness and longing for a lost love. The singer finds themselves standing on the shore, metaphorically watching the tide go out, a symbol for the departure of their beloved. They feel a deep sense of solitude and sadness, indicated by the words "So all alone and blue." In this state of loneliness, all they can do is dream about their lost love.
The second stanza describes the act of watching the ship carrying their dreams and hope sail away. The ship becomes a symbol of the possibilities and happiness that the singer had invested in their relationship. With the ship leaving, it feels like all their dreams and even their own self have been taken away. The imagery of the ship sailing out to sea creates a sense of finality and suggests that their love is now distant and unreachable.
The sighing of the waves and the wailing of the wind in the following lines serve as an auditory accompaniment to the singer's emotional state. It reflects the intensity of their sadness and their longing for their lover to return. The tears in their eyes burn, indicating the depth of their pain and the desperate plea for their love to come back to them.
The final stanza raises a question about the singer's future. They wonder why they must continue living in this state of loneliness and heartache. The line "Shall I just be a lonely stranger on the shore?" expresses their fear of being forever isolated and disconnected from love. It suggests that without the return of their loved one, their future remains uncertain and filled with sorrow.
Overall, "Stranger On The Shore" delves into themes of heartbreak, longing, and the profound sense of emptiness that comes with the loss of love. The lyrics capture the emotional turmoil and vulnerability experienced when someone dear departs, leaving the singer feeling like a stranger in their own world, constantly yearning for a love that may never return.
Line by Line Meaning
Here I stand, watching the tide go out
In this moment, I find myself standing alone, observing the receding tide
So all alone and blue
Feeling isolated and melancholic
Just dreaming dreams of you
Engaging in the fantasy of being with you
I watched your ship as it sailed out to sea
I witnessed the departure of your ship, setting sail towards the vast ocean
Taking all my dreams
Carrying away all my aspirations and hopes
And taking all of me
Leaving me incomplete, devoid of purpose
The sighing of the waves
The soft, melancholic sound of the waves
The wailing of the wind
The sorrowful howl of the wind
The tears in my eyes burn
The pain and longing I feel are reflected in my teary eyes
Pleading, "My love, return"
Begging and imploring for your love to come back to me
Why, oh, why must I go on like this?
Questioning the reason behind enduring such emotional torment
Shall I just be a lonely stranger on the shore?
Should I resign myself to being a desolate and unknown figure by the seaside?
The sighing of the waves
The soft, melancholic sound of the waves
The wailing of the wind
The sorrowful howl of the wind
The tears in my eyes burn
The pain and longing I feel are reflected in my teary eyes
Pleading, "My love, return"
Begging and imploring for your love to come back to me
Why, oh, why must I go on like this?
Questioning the reason behind enduring such emotional torment
Shall I just be a lonely stranger on the shore?
Should I resign myself to being a desolate and unknown figure by the seaside?
Writer(s): Robert Mellin, Acker Bilk
Contributed by Samantha F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@christophesauciat3026
Marley the best 🙏
@hudsonsizwe1924
I sing this song my lungs out 😊
@billyrovedas5687
Chant it up,get your explanation... sounds like ah Doo Woo 1954 hitz... RESPECT...guittaring YO!!!🙏🙏🙏🔥🔥🔥💯💯💯