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)

soul rebel version 4
Bob Marley & The Wailers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm a rebel, soul rebel
I'm a capturer, soul adventurer
I'm a rebel, soul rebel
I'm a capturer, soul adventurer

See the morning sun (ah-ah-ah-ah-ah)
On the hillside (ooh)
Not living good, yeah, travel wide

Said, I'm a living man, said, I'm a living man
I've got work to do (oh)
If you're not happy, children
Then you must be blue
(Must be blue, must be blue) people say

I'm a rebel, let them talk
Soul rebel, talk won't bother me
I'm a capturer, that's what they say
(Soul adventurer) night and day
(I'm a rebel) I'm a rebel soul rebel
Do you hear them, Lippy?
I'm a capturer
Soul adventurer

See the morning sun (ah-ah-ah-ah-ah)
On the hill side (oh)
If you are not living good, travel wide
Said, I'm a living man (ah-ah-ah-ah-ah)
I've got work to do
If you're not happy
You must be blue

I'm a rebel (ooh-ooh)

Soul rebel
I'm a capturer (ooh-ooh)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Soul Rebel by Bob Marley & The Wailers, Peter Tosh, and Rita Marley depict rebellion against societal norms and expectation. The song opens with the singer introducing themselves as a soul rebel and capturer, indicating their desire to explore and discover new aspects of life while challenging the existing system. These lines are delivered with a sense of pride and confidence, indicating that the singer is unapologetic about their unconventional life choices and is not afraid of the judgments and criticisms of others.

The chorus of the song highlights the singer's determination to live life on their terms, despite what others might say or think about them. The use of repetition in lines "I'm a rebel, soul rebel" and "I'm a capturer, soul adventurer" further emphasizes the singer's self-assurance and their determination to continue their journey of self-discovery and exploration, even in the face of adversity.

The second verse continues the theme of the singer being a living man with work to do highlighting the importance of living life meaningfully and purposefully. The closing lines "If you're not happy, you must be blue" reiterate that one should pursue happiness above everything else.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm a rebel, soul rebel
I'm a nonconformist, I go against the norm in society and I embrace my individuality

I'm a capturer, soul adventurer
I'm someone who seizes opportunities and experiences new things, always looking for adventure and growth

See the morning sun (ah-ah-ah-ah-ah), On the hillside (ooh)
I appreciate the beauty of nature and take the time to observe it, like the sunrise over the mountains

Not living good, yeah, travel wide, Said, I'm a living man, said, I'm a living man
I may not have all the material things in life, but I am alive and I have a purpose to fulfill. I will travel far and wide to fulfill that purpose

I've got work to do (oh), If you're not happy, children, Then you must be blue
I have responsibilities to fulfill and goals to achieve. If you're not happy with your life, it's because you're not fulfilling your purpose

I'm a rebel, let them talk, Soul rebel, talk won't bother me
I don't let other people's opinions and judgments affect me. I do what I believe is right, and I stay true to myself

I'm a capturer, that's what they say, (Soul adventurer) night and day
People see me as someone who seizes opportunities and experiences new things all the time, living life fully and without fear

Do you hear them, Lippy? I'm a capturer, Soul adventurer
I'm proud of who I am, and I will declare it to the world. I'm someone who seizes opportunities and experiences new things, always looking for adventure and growth

If you are not living good, travel wide, Said, I'm a living man (ah-ah-ah-ah-ah), I've got work to do
If you're not satisfied with your life, you should travel and explore the world. I am alive and I have a purpose to fulfill, and I will work hard to achieve it

I'm a rebel (ooh-ooh), Soul rebel, I'm a capturer (ooh-ooh)
I'm not afraid to go against the norm and be myself. I will seize opportunities and experiences to grow and fulfill my purpose

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.,
Written by: ROSS ANDERSON, SIMON LAW, BOB MARLEY, MIKE WEST

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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