No Woman No Cry
MARLEY (Bob) Lyrics

No woman, no cry
If there are no women around, you don't have to cry. It is likely that women cause the singer some emotional pain if they are around.

Said, said, said I remember when we used to sit in the government yard in Trenchtown
The singer is reminiscing about fond memories of sitting with friends in a specific area of Trenchtown, possibly a place where people gathered to discuss politics and social issues.

Oba observing the hypocrites
The singer and his friends would watch people who pretended to be good but were actually hypocritical, and spoke out against their actions.

As they would mingle with the good people we meet
The hypocrites would try to blend with the good people at the gathering, but the singer and his friends would be able to tell who was genuine and who was not.

Good friends we have, oh, good friends we've lost along the way
The singer has lost friends over time, but he and his current friends remember them fondly.

In this great future, you can't forget your past
Looking forward to a better future, the singer acknowledges that it is important to remember one's past experiences and learnings.

So dry your tears, I say and No woman, no cry
The singer is urging the listener to stop crying because there is no woman around to cause emotional pain.

'Ere, little darlin', don't shed no tears
Addressing someone he cares for, the singer wants to console them and prevent them from crying.

And then Georgie would make the fire light, as it was log wood burnin' through the night
Georgie, possibly another friend, would make the fire and they would sit by it all night.

Then we would cook cornmeal porridge, of which I'll share with you
The singer and his friends would make and eat a simple, comforting meal together.

My feet is my only carriage, so I've got to push on through
The singer is reminding himself that he must keep moving forward, and that his feet are his only means of transportation or escape.

Everything's gonna be all right
The singer is optimistic about the future and believes that things will work out in the end.

So woman, no cry
The singer takes back the previous line about not crying and assures the woman that everything will be alright and she does not need to cry.

Oh my little sister, don't shed no tears
The singer is addressing someone he cares for, encouraging them not to cry.

Little darling, say don't shed no tears, No woman, no cry, ay
The singer is addressing a loved one, possibly a romantic partner, and telling them not to cry because there are no women around.

Little sister, don't shed no tears, No woman, no cry
The singer is consoling his younger sister and telling her not to cry because there are no women around.