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
Same Old Story
Julian Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To see the children die
By and by
(repeat)
Said I cry
To see the children dying
By and by
Said I cry
By and by
A cry a cry
Same old story
Not in a hurry
It's the same old story
Mi nu run down glory
Same old story
Not in a hurry
Said dem cast their wicked spell
You Harlot and Jezabel
But if you get caught
You've been bought
You pay the cost
If you get lost
Same old story
Mi nu run down glory
Same old story
Not in a hurry
It's the same old story
Mi nu run down glory
Said I love to see the people trying
Try and try
Said I love to see the people trying
Try and try
I try and try
Said I love to see the people trying
Try and try
I try you try
I'm trying, yeah
Well it's the same old story
Wi don't run down glory
Same old story not in a hurry, no
Well it's the same old story
Wi no run down glory
Same old story
Not in a hurry
Said I cry to see the children dying
By and by
A cry a cry, yeah
Said I cry
Julian Marley's "Same Old Story" is a social commentary on the state of the world, particularly the suffering of the children. The artist is expressing his frustration and sorrow at the constant cycle of death and destruction that he sees around him. The repetition of the phrase "said I cry" emphasizes the artist's deep emotional distress at the situation.
The lyrics paint a picture of a world where children are dying and people are caught in a cycle of wickedness and corruption. The lines "Said dem cast their wicked spell, You Harlot and Jezabel" suggest a moral degradation that perpetuates this cycle. However, the artist does not seem to be without hope. He also mentions his love for seeing people trying, indicating that he believes in the possibility of change.
In the end, the song highlights the need for action, not just tears. The artist is urging people to pay the cost and not be lost in the same old story. The phrase "Mi nu run down glory" (meaning "I don't run down glory") shows that the artist is committed to preserving his values and not being defeated by the negative forces around him.
Line by Line Meaning
Said I cry
I am moved to tears
To see the children die
When children die, it breaks my heart
By and by
Time goes on and the same tragedy repeats
Said I cry to see the children dying
The continuous loss of innocent lives deeply affects me
A cry a cry
My sadness persists
Same old story
It's a recurring problem
Not in a hurry
We're not making enough effort to change things
It's the same old story
We're not learning from past mistakes
Mi nu run down glory
We can't let ourselves fade away
Said dem cast their wicked spell
Some people are trying to cause harm
You Harlot and Jezabel
These people may be like the biblical figures who were associated with wickedness
But if you get caught
You may eventually face consequences for your actions
You've been bought
You've sold out and lost your morals
You pay the cost
You'll have to face the repercussions
If you get lost
People may stop following you
Said I love to see the people trying
I admire those who are putting in effort to improve
Try and try
Even if they fail, they keep trying
I try and try
I, too, am putting in effort
I try you try
We're all in this together
I'm trying, yeah
I'm not giving up
Wi don't run down glory
We won't let ourselves fade away
Said I cry to see the children dying
The loss of innocent lives is still devastating
Contributed by Hannah M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@karamilyass1462
Julian Marley
Said I cry
To see the children die
By and by
(repeat)
Said I cry
To see the children dying
By and by
Said I cry
To see the children die
By and by
A cry a cry
Same old story
Not in a hurry
It's the same old story
Mi nu run down glory
Same old story
Not in a hurry
Said dem cast their wicked spell
You Harlot and Jezabel
But if you get caught
You've been bought
You pay the cost
If you get lost
Same old story
Mi nu run down glory
Same old story
Not in a hurry
It's the same old story
Mi nu run down glory
Said I love to see the people trying
Try and try
Said I love to see the people trying
Try and try
I try and try
Said I love to see the people trying
Try…
@jalilmomo39
Marley - Same Old Story
Said I cry to see the children die, by and by
Said I cry to see the children dying, by and by
Said I cry to see the children die, by and by
A cry, a cry, a cry, same old story
Mi nu run down glory
Same old story
Not in a hurry
It's the same old story
Mi nu run down glory
Same old story
Not in a hurry
Said dem cast their wicked spells
You Harlot and Jezebel
But if you get caught
You've been bought
You pay the cost
If you get lost
It's the same old story
Mi nu run down glory
Same old story
Not in a hurry
It's the same old story
Mi nu run down glory
It's the same old story
Mi nu run down glory
Said I love to see the people trying, try and try
Said I love to see the people trying, try and try
Said I love to see the people trying, try and try
I try, you try, I'm trying, yeah
(..)
Oh, oh.. oh!
Well it's the same old story
Wi don't run down glory
Same old story
Not in a hurry, no
Well it's the same old story
Wi no run down glory
Same old story
Not in a hurry
Said I cry to see the children dying, by and by
Said I cry to see the children dying, by and by
Said I cry to see the children dying, by and by
Said a cry, a cry, a cry yeah
@rupertbillings4925
Great track
Love it
@allthatgirlcoronado
I love julian his voice is like bobs! he speaks from the heart! <3
@DonZusyaGoodman
Blessed is Our Creation!! True song of lamentation with praise embedded for the Creator of all Blessed Creation to request correct for the Human Family Condition. May it be in our days!!! With no delays!!! Hope is Eternal connecting to the Eternal One!!!
@carlos2635rs
wht a fckn sound. big up much luv
@darthgamer79
Jah bless the marley familiy, one of my life regrets is never be able to see Bob live, but i can say i almost achieve that when i see Julian live in guarulhos Brasil, it was more than awesome. Jah bless
@The3merald
hes amazing... love his beat im glad marleys legend continued on to his children
@lJulianPk
julian you and bob marley are the best
@marieclaudialafoudre8168
beautifull song i need this music
@indianamurillo8821
Pops up there in heaven. PROUD. u r the shit !! JULIAN 💃
@dikzeroner1234
still blesing yeah one love ¡¡¡