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)
duppy
Bob Marley & The Wailers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dem set me free again
Yes, me friend, me friend
Me deh 'pon street again
The bars could not hold me
Force could not control me now
They try to keep me down
Yes, I've been accused
Wrongly abused now
But through the powers of the Most High
They've got to turn me loose
Don't try to cold me up on this bridge, now
I've got to reach Mount Zion
The highest region
If you a bull-bucka
Let me tell you that
I'm a duppy conqueror, conqueror
Yes, me friend, me good friend
Dem set me free again, mm
Yes, me friend
Dem turn me loose again
Don't try to cold me up on this bridge, now
I've got to reach Mount Zion
The highest region
If you a bull-bucka
Let me tell you
I'm a duppy conqueror, conqueror
Yes, me friend, me friend, me friend, me friend
We deh a street again
Yes, me friend, me friend, me friend
Dem set me free again
Don't try to show off
Fi make you friend dem laugh, what a la-la!
For i will cut you off
And i will take the last straw
I'm crying, yes me friend
We deh a street again
Yes me friend, me friend, me friend
Dem set me free again
The bars could not hold me
Force could not control me now
Bob Marley's song Duppy Conqueror speaks to the essence of triumph, having been falsely accused and charged, imprisoned, and subsequently released, he tells the story of strength, perseverance, and resilience. The lyrics reveal how he overcomes the odds against him using the higher powers of the Most High as his guiding force. Despite having been accused and wrongfully abused, Bob Marley is undeterred and ready to take on the world once again, defying anyone who dares stand in his way. Marley speaks to the idea of overcoming the barriers that have been engineered to hold one down and relentlessly fighting until they are free.
In the song, Bob Marley uses his Jamaican dialect called patois, to convey his story and the message of the song. The song employs a lot of imagery that is typical of Bob Marley's music, mainly symbols of Rastafarianism, a religion that Marley converted to. The song also employs a lot of wordplay and puns typical of Jamaican patois. Bob Marley also uses this song to encourage and motivate his listeners to keep pushing, fighting for their freedom or liberation, despite any barriers they may face along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
Yes, me friend, me friend
The singer is rejoicing that he has been set free and has his friends back with him.
Dem set me free again
The singer has been released from captivity once again.
Me deh 'pon street again
The singer is back on the street, enjoying his freedom.
The bars could not hold me
Although imprisoned, the artist's willpower was stronger than the physical barriers of the jail cell.
Force could not control me now
The authorities attempted to overpower the artist with physical force, but they failed.
They try to keep me down
The authorities attempted to keep the singer imprisoned and oppressed.
But God put me around. Yeah!
The singer attributes his liberation to divine intervention.
Yes, I've been accused
The artist has been falsely accused of wrongdoing.
Wrongly abused now
The artist has been mistreated and oppressed unfairly.
But through the powers of the Most High
The artist's strength and liberation came from a higher power.
They've got to turn me loose
Regardless of the authorities' attempts to keep him imprisoned, the singer will eventually be liberated.
Don't try to cold me up on this bridge, now
The artist warns others not to impede his journey to the spiritual realm.
I've got to reach Mount Zion
The singer is determined to reach the ultimate spiritual destination.
The highest region
The singer's ultimate goal is to reach the highest point of spiritual enlightenment.
If you a bull-bucka
The singer is addressing those who try to bring him down or block his path.
Let me tell you that
The artist is warning those who attempt to impede him that he is unbreakable.
I'm a duppy conqueror, conqueror
The artist is a warrior who has triumphed over the spirits of the dead.
We deh a street again
The singer is back out on the street with his friends.
Don't try to show off
The singer cautions others not to try to impress or mock him.
Fi make you friend dem laugh, what a la-la!
The artist warns others not to make fun of him and his situation.
For i will cut you off
The artist will cut ties with anyone who tries to bring him down.
And i will take the last straw
The artist will not tolerate any further disrespect or mistreatment.
I'm crying, yes me friend
The singer is emotionally overwhelmed by the support of his friends.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BOB MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rachelcosgrove2048
Oh, oh, op-bo, bo, bo-bo-bo
Oh, oh, op-bo, bo, bo-bo-bo
Yes, mi friend, mi friend
Them set me free again
Yes, mi friend, mi friend
Me deh 'pon street again
The bars could not hold me
Force could not control me now
They try to keep me down
But God put me around
Yes, I've been accused
Wrongly abused, now
But through the powers of the most-high
They got to turn me loose, mm
Don't try to cold me up
On this bridge now
I've got to reach Mount Zion
The highest region
If you a bull-bucker
Let me tell you that
I'm a duppy conqueror, conqueror
Yes, mi friend, mi good friend
Them set me free again, mm
Yes, mi friend
Them turn me loose again
Don't try to cold me up
On this bridge now
I've got to reach Mount Zion
The highest region
If you a bull-bucker
Let me tell you
I'm a duppy conqueror
Hit it (conqueror)
Yes, mi friend, mi friend, mi friend, mi friend
We deh a street again
Yes, mi friend, mi friend, mi friend
Dem set me free again
Don't try to show off
Fi make you friend dem laugh, what a la-la
For I will cut you off
And I will take the last straw
I'm cryin'
Yes, mi friend
We deh a street again, yea-eah
Yes, mi friend, mi friend, mi friend
@lew8431
Most people do not know of this side of his music, but without a doubt its the best
@deanwalker6262
Yup. All the old stuff he did with dub versions, like Hypocrites and mr. brown. The best
@anthonyakatonysmiff2461
yeah, isnt that something? the worst music is what is known, and the best remains an undiscovered great mystery!
@monicacristina5956
Gimme shelter n giuliano manfrdini?
Anyone?
@JackNapier420
I'm pretty sure most people know this music 😂 it's Bob
@LGaff1974
The best Bob is whatever is on. That’s how good he was. But Duppy Conqueror — this version or the one on Burnin’— are beyond special.
@AAIdjkeino
I listen this masterpiece on repeat until it soak through me like water soaking a sponge. Leaving me with watery eyes and a irie feeling. Bob Marley live forever.
@lanaranger9770
So eloquently put. Sounds like you could have written some songs for him.
@TonyWud
I hear Bob Marley in your writing. A blessing!
@100datbitch4
Do you feel irie??? Steel pulse now in my head