For Julian Marley, music is life, life is music, and both are blessings from above. "From a small age music has been there in my life. It's just natural. And it is with the inspiration of the Most High that I create my songs," he explains. Julian's development as a singer/songwriter began when, at age five, he recorded his first demo tape, a version of his father's classic composition, "Slave Driver," at the Marley family's Tuff Gong studio in Kingston. Since that auspicious beginning, Julian has devoted himself to a life in music, mastering a variety of instruments and writing songs that reflects his dedication to spiritual boost and social change.
The 90s were a watershed period for the young artist. During these years, Julian formed his own band (the Uprising band), released a critically acclaimed album (1996's Lion in the Morning, on which he wrote or co-wrote all the songs) and toured the world, both as a solo performer backed by Uprising and as a member of Ghetto Youths International, a musical collective whose core members are Julian and his brothers, Stephen and Damian Marley. Together, Julian and Damian were the opening act for Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers' 1995 US tour and featured artists in 1997 on the rock-oriented Lollapalooza festival tour. Julian also assisted his brother Stephen with production on 1999's platinum selling Chant Down Babylon and, along with Spragga Benz and Marley siblings Stephen, Cedella, Damian and Ky-Mani Marley , contributed an inspired version of "Master Blaster" to the 2003 Stevie Wonder tribute album, Conception.
Julian's newest offering, A Time and Place, is an organic fusion of rootical reggae and breezy jazz sounds that represent the next milestone in his artistic path. "Coming from Lion in the Morning," Julian explains, "I have more knowledge and I'm growing. And this is a very personal album. A lot of it came from reasoning with bredren. We would converse about a situation and just start writing from there." The thirteen tracks are, as the artist himself says, "very much of the time. If you check it out right now, most of the music out there is about bling blings and crazy things. My songs are to be taken as wake up calls." Each is built on a solid foundation of traditional reggae but contain a wide range of influences, showcasing Julian's natural love of music
Rosehall
Julian Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
VS 1
There once was a woman who lived on the other side of town
Where she would make prey of anyone that comes around
Her plastic world invites darkness chains and pearls
If you lay in her arms she'll bite you like a serpent of hurt
CHORUS 1
Cos yeh no kiss from no one, has no love under the sun
Don't play like a clown, she will weaken you down
She's like a... Hey witch of Rosehall
No kiss from no one, has no love under the sun
She's like a... Hey witch of Rosehall
Don't play like a clown, she will hunt ya down
Hey witch of Rosehall
VS 2
Now who was to know, you'd reap what you sow Jezebel
Her eyes entice many brave men who fell to her spell
Her heart so hard and cold its a bottomless well
To foresee her own judgement she could not foretell
CHORUS 2
Cos yeh no kiss from no one, has no love under the sun
She's like a... Hey witch of Rosehall
Don't play like a clown, she will shoot ya down
She's like a... Hey witch of Rosehall
Ooo - oooh
Rosehall
Ooo - oooh
Rosehall
GTR solo
Repeat CHORUS 2 and extend ooo-oohs until end
In the song "Rosehall" by Julian Marley, the lyrics depict a story of a woman living on the "other side of town" who preys on anyone that comes around. This woman's "plastic world invites darkness chains and pearls" and those who are not careful may find themselves bitten "like a serpent of hurt" if they lay in her arms. The chorus portrays this woman to be like a witch, who gives "no kiss from no one" and "has no love under the sun." Her heart is described as "so hard and cold it's a bottomless well," and she cannot foresee her own judgment. Simply put, the lyrics are a warning to those who may fall into the clutches of this cruel woman, the witch of Rosehall.
The song "Rosehall" is actually based on a true story of the same name that is well-known in Jamaican folklore. The story goes that in the 18th century, a woman named Annie Palmer lived on a sugar plantation in Rosehall, Jamaica. She gained a reputation for being a cruel mistress, who would torture her slaves and kill her husbands. Eventually, she was killed under mysterious circumstances, and her spirit is said to haunt the plantation to this day.
Line by Line Meaning
There once was a woman who lived on the other side of town
In another town, there was a woman living who was a subject of discussion
Where she would make prey of anyone that comes around
She would trap anyone who comes closer
Her plastic world invites darkness chains and pearls
Her superficial lifestyle welcomes negative influences, power and wealth
If you lay in her arms she'll bite you like a serpent of hurt
If you become fond of her, she'll hurt you like a poisonous snake
Cos yeh no kiss from no one, has no love under the sun
She has no affection for anyone, nor receives one herself
She's like a... Hey witch of Rosehall
The woman is similar to the notorious witch of Rosehall
Don't play like a clown, she will weaken you down
Don't underestimate her, she'll break you down
Now who was to know, you'd reap what you sow Jezebel
Who would've thought that Jezebel would face her own consequences
Her eyes entice many brave men who fell to her spell
Her attractive looks tempt many men who fall for her charm
Her heart so hard and cold its a bottomless well
Her heart is cold and ruthless, devoid of compassion and unleashes endless pain
To foresee her own judgement she could not foretell
She never thought that her own fate would catch up to her
Don't play like a clown, she will shoot ya down
Don't act foolishly, she'll bring you down with a shot
Ooo - oooh Rosehall
Repeating the name of Rosehall with a tone of melancholy
Contributed by London P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.