Griffiths has been one of the most successful female reggae artist in the world with songs like "Young, Gifted And Black" (1970), "Feel Like Jumping" (1978) and "Steppin' Out Of Babylon" (1979), and "Electric Boogie (1990) . She cooperated with Bob Marley on all his LP albums for Island Records and in all tours until his death.
Griffiths began her early career with Bob Andy in the duo Bob and Marcia, who delivered hit songs like "Young, Gifted And Black" (1970) and "The Pied Piper" (1971). She was already an international star and more known than Bob Marley in 1973 where she contributed to the group's first LP on Island Records – Catch A Fire – by running in songs like "No More Trouble". In 1974, she joined Bob Marley & The Wailers as one of the permanent members of the I-Threes – the vocal trio that also included Judy Mowatt and Rita Marley, who lifted and reinforced Bob Marley's messages on the stage and studio albums.
Solo she delivered heavy love songs like "The First Time I Saw Your Face" and "Sweet Bitter Love" (1974) on the album Play Me Sweet And Niceand immortal roots reggae classic "Steppin' Out Of Babylon" on the album Steppin'. In between, she released the album Naturally, where she sang Bunny Wailer classic rastafarian song "Dreamland", Bob Marley's "Lonesome Feeling" and her own hit songs, "Feel Like Jumping" , "Truly" and "Melody Life" - songs that are still played by radio stations worldwide.
With some help from Bunny Wailer 1990 she hit the Billboard chart with “Electric Boogie” ( Carousell) and created a world class dance, the Electric Slide. This super star has been recording and performing ceaselessly.
At a reggae concert in South Florida, Griffiths displayed, in combination with Reggae rapper Cutty Ranks, on their duet of “Fire Burning”, all the zeal and elements that go into dancehall music. Griffiths exhibited the same exuberance when performing her international crossove hit “Electric Boogie.”
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Griffiths recalls “I started singing professionally as a vocalist in 1964, for Byron Lee and the Dragonaires band.” Her recording years started soon after, at Coxsone Dodd - Studio One where she recorded her first hit “Feel Like Jumping."
It was while recording at Studio One that Griffiths teamed up with Bob Andy on ‘Really Together," the first of many duets that the two would record. “Luckily for me, Bob Andy was always a strong and wise person”, says Griffiths. “He was there for me in the early days and that gave me confidence”. Then the pair moved to the Harry J Label, hitting the British, as well as the International charts with “Young Gifted and Black” and “The Pied Piper,” recording two albums of the same titles.
Following that duet success, she went solo again on the High Note label with Reggae's sole established female producer - Sonia Pottinger - hitting with several songs including her own original “Stepping Out of Babylon.” and releasing two albums “Naturally” and “Stepping”. When asked to express her opinion on female reggae vocalists, Marcia said “Its been a rough, tough job standing up as a woman in this business, that’s why my album before “Land of Love” I chose to call “Indomitable”, which means not easily discouraged or defeated. My views on women in reggae are positive; most of the new or upcoming female singers in reggae started out singing my songs before doing their own originals. I feel very good about that; to know that I have influenced my people positively.”
In 1974, Griffiths united with Judy Mowatt and Rita Marley to form the I-Threes as an important part of the Bob Marley entourage. “Words are not enough to express my experience with the I-Threes and Bob Marley and the Wailers”, says Marcia. “What a blessing to be so privileged.....to have shared this experience”.
Griffiths gained solo international recognition with her monster hit “Electric Boogie.” This song was first recorded in 1982 and went to the #1 spot on the Jamaican charts. Sales continued over the years and in 1989, a Washington, DC Disc Jockey started playing it regularly and in no time, it caught on and hit the station’s regular rotation list.
A new dance, the Electric Slide, was created from the “Electric Boogie” song and as a result, sales soared and the “Electric Slide” became popular all over the U.S. The song and dance have been featured on the Oprah Winfrey and Phil Donahue shows, and the video has been aired many times on the Black Entertainment TV (BET) and other nationwide music networks.
Marcia Llyneth Griffiths was born on November 23, 1949 to Joseph and Beatrice Griffiths. The family hailed from a poor section of West Kingston, but as bad as things were, Marcia considered those days glorious, because there was always one thing in abundance - one thing that made them the wealthiest family in the world - one thing that no one could take from them... Love.
Marcia as a teenager attended Kingston Senior School, and was a zealous member of her church choir. In fact, she was always taking part in some school concert or play. She loved to hang out and sing with friends, often times sneaking out of the house after her parents had gone to bed. It was during one such nightly excursion, that the slim fifteen year old beauty managed to get herself discovered.
Philip “Boasie” James lead singer of the Blues Busters vocal duo was visiting his girlfriend, who lived next door to Marcia, and heard this lovely voice floating through the air. He could not believe his ears, and subsequently took Marcia straight away to Byron Lee and insisted that this song-bird be included on the upcoming talent show to be held at the Carib Theater in Kingston. Marcia remembers that Byron was upset with “Boasie” for coming to interrupt his well planned program schedule and insisting that this "nobody" go on his show.
Marcia remembers she performed a Carla Thomas original,“No Time To Lose” to phenomenal response from the audience. They demanded an encore, but to no avail, as she had only rehearsed one song with the band. As much as she wanted to, she could not do any more performances that day.
The attention Marcia received after this auspicious debut was overwhelming. Everyone wanted to manage her, including Byron Lee’s manager Ronnie Nasralla. That same night he took her to the studios of JBC where Marcia made her first television debut. All in one day were the ingredients of an overnight success story which no one realized was about to happen. The rest is history, for the girl who became first the queen, the matriarch of Reggae Music. Marcia L. Griffiths OD., a great contributor to Reggae Music, is most fitting for the royal, prestigious, and respectful title of Reggae Empress.
In 2004 at the dawning of the 21st century, the most influential female artist in Jamaican popular music, Marcia Griffiths OD is briskly fanning the flames of Reggae Music. Working in the studio, releasing records and touring. Marcia continues her mission of spreading the message in the music into the new millennium.
In between studio sessions, Marcia has been on the road. In the past two years she has enjoyed a successful tour of the USA with Beres Hammond and Freddie Mcgregor. Traveling to England with Beres Hammond they performed an extensive tour with the same overwhelming results. Forward on a yard, Marcia shared the stage with Boyz II Men at the massive Spring Break concert for MTV in Negril Jamaica. Returning to the US, she performed in Orlando, Florida, (Disney World) Universal Studio, at the opening of the Bob Marley Museum. Sharing the bill were the I-Threes, Ziggy Marley and Inner Circle. Moving on up to New York, Marcia displayed two memorable shows with Beres Hammond and Buju Banton at Carnegie Hall and Madison Square Garden. Going further north Marcia worked in Toronto and Montreal with John Holt and Ken Boothe. Again in the USA with Bob Andy as the Legendary duo, they performed at the Bob Marley Day Celebration in Los Angeles, before heading down south to perform at the historic Reggae meets Rocksteady showcase in Miami. Next Marcia toured with the legendary Wailers Band. Then the I-Threes were off for shows in Italy, Europe and South Africa. Returning to Jamaica, the I-Threes shared the stage for two shows with R&B legends Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle. In November 2002, along with John Holt, Ken Boothe and Mikey Spice, Marcia produced an historical performance with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra at the Wembley Arena, Birmingham and Aston Vill Leisure Centre, Middlesex. Since then Marcia has performed in New York, Toronto, Atlanta, Miami and Jamaica.
The driving force of the Reggae Empress is fueled by her inner desire to serve the people of the world with sweet reggae music. She said “ Music alone shall live, and it’s not only for the money, but the satisfaction I get from doing the work that I love, that is what really keeps me going everyday”.
All My Life
Marcia Griffiths Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Am I really here in your arms
Its just like I dreamed it would be
I feel like we're frozen in time
And you're the only one I can see
Hey, I've looked All my Life for you
And now you're here
All my Life
And I never really knew how to love
I just hoped somehow I'd see
Asked for a little help from above
Send that angel down to me
Hey, I've looked All my Life for you
And now you're here
Hey, I've spent All my Life with you
All my Life
M.G:
I never thought that I could feel a love so tender
I never thought I could let those feelings show
But now my heart is on my sleeve
and this love will never leave
I know
I know
Hey, I've looked All my Life for you
And now you're here
Hey, I've spent All my Life with you
All my Life
All my Life
Hey, I've looked All my Life for you
And now you're here
Hey, I've spent All my Life with you
All my Life
The lyrics to Marcia Griffiths's song "All My Life" tell a story of deep love and longing. The singer expresses their disbelief and elation at finally being in the arms of the one they have been searching for, "Hey, I've looked all my life for you, and now you're here" - a sentiment that many can relate to. They are overcome with emotion, feeling as though time has stood still while everything else fades away, "I feel like we're frozen in time, and you're the only one I can see".
The chorus is a testament to this long-awaited love, "Hey, I've spent all my life with you, all my life". This line not only reinforces the theme of a love that has been years in the making, but also has a deeper meaning, suggesting that the singer feels as though they are meant to be with this person for the rest of their life.
The verses also delve into the singer's doubts about their ability to love, and their desperation for help from a higher power to bring them the perfect partner. However, now that they have found this love, they realize just how tender and real it is, stating "I never thought that I could feel a love so tender, I never thought I could let those feelings show". The final verse affirms that the love they have found is true and enduring, and will never leave them.
Overall, the lyrics to "All My Life" convey a sense of joy and contentment, wrapped up in a story of a long-awaited love finally coming to fruition.
Line by Line Meaning
Am I really here in your arms
I am so happy to be in your arms and it feels like a dream come true.
Its just like I dreamed it would be
Being with you feels exactly how I imagined it would be.
I feel like we're frozen in time
When I'm with you, I forget about everything else around us and just enjoy the moment.
And you're the only one I can see
You are the only person who matters to me in this moment.
Hey, I've looked All my Life for you
I have spent my entire life searching for someone like you.
And now you're here
But now that I have found you, I feel complete.
Hey, I've spent All my Life with you
I plan on spending the rest of my life with you.
And I never really knew how to love
I never knew what true love was until I met you.
I just hoped somehow I'd see
I always had hope that one day I would find love.
Asked for a little help from above
I prayed to God for guidance and help in finding the right person.
Send that angel down to me
I was hoping that God would send someone special into my life.
I never thought that I could feel a love so tender
I never knew that love could be so soft and gentle before meeting you.
I never thought I could let those feelings show
I never thought I could be vulnerable enough to show my true feelings, but with you, I can.
But now my heart is on my sleeve
Now, I am not afraid to show my love for you to the world.
And this love will never leave
Our love will last forever.
I know
I am certain of it.
All my Life
My entire life has led me to this moment with you.
Writer(s): MELVILLE O'CONNOR, MARCIA GRIFFITHS
Contributed by Maya R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@hassankoech9823
2024 and I'm here...Awesome...what a song❤
@Playd3ad
That tiktok challenge is 🔥🔥🔥🔥
@markhall6550
Sometimes it's only when we're done being children we get to sit back and truly appreciate the beauty of music.🇹🇹
@tezzyd5643
Whenever i hear this i transport myself to my mothers living room on Saturday mornings helping her clean and shes cleaning Chicken in the kitchen. I can smell the sugar burning now
@pglanville
Great imagery
@tezzyd5643
@@pglanville thanks Mr Patrick.
@stg3576
Who's still listening this song in 2023❤
@JAY_THE_CREATOR
Yup😂❤❤
@228Iya
Every time
@lloydngari6332
I am