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”.
Carousel
Marcia Griffiths Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Marry and be happy till you’re old and gray
There will be no clouds
Maybe if you’re lucky you will rock one day
Up, down, round and round
Life is a carousel
With every turn
When you grow up you will have a lifetime of money
You won’t ever have to worry about the rent
There will be no clouds
Maybe you’ll grow up to be the president
Up, down, round and round
Life is a carousel
With every turn
Try for the brass ring
Up, down, round and round
Life is a carousel
With every turn
Try for the brass ring
There is always something that is ‘bout to happen
Praying all the time and things will be okay
If there is a cloud
And you feel it’s that, just have to sing this way
The song "Carousel" by Marcia Griffiths is a song that speaks to the aspirations and hopes of children. The lyrics tell a story about growing up, marrying, having kids and achieving great things. When the singer speaks to the listener about being older and having no problems, she is offering hope for a better future. She explains that as one grows older, there will be no clouds and that one may be lucky enough to rock one day. This implies that the listener will be able to enjoy life to the fullest if they take the right step.
As the song progresses, the lyrics encourage the listener to try for the brass ring. This is an idiomatic expression from the old circus days where a prize could be won by reaching out from a moving carousel to grab it. In this context, it suggests that the listener should strive for a goal or aim high. The chorus repeats the metaphor of life as a carousel, with every turn representing new opportunities.
The final verse of the song brings home the central message that no matter what life throws at you, there is always something that is about to happen, and you should never lose hope. In times of uncertainty, you can always pray and sing your way through life's difficulties. Therefore, "Carousel" is a song that encourages its listeners to dream big, work hard, and never give up.
Line by Line Meaning
When you’re older maybe you will have no problem
As you grow up, you'll gain the confidence to handle life's challenges
Marry and be happy till you’re old and gray
You'll find love and companionship that will last a lifetime
There will be no clouds
Your life will be free of worry and sadness
Maybe if you’re lucky you will rock one day
You may achieve great success and fame in life
Up, down, round and round
Life is full of ups and downs, twists and turns
Life is a carousel
Life is like a carnival ride that never stops
With every turn
With every passing moment or experience
Try for the brass ring
Try to achieve your biggest and best goals
When you grow up you will have a lifetime of money
As you become successful, you'll have financial security for life
You won’t ever have to worry about the rent
You won't have to worry about the basic necessities of life
Maybe you’ll grow up to be the president
You may have the opportunity to achieve the highest levels of power and influence
There is always something that is 'bout to happen
Life is always full of possibilities and opportunities
Praying all the time and things will be okay
Believing in a higher power can bring comfort and assurance
If there is a cloud
If there is trouble or difficulty
And you feel it’s that, just have to sing this way
Express yourself and your feelings through music and song
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOE GALDO, LAWRENCE DERMER, RAFAEL VIGIL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mrsm222
Most people who love this song still don't know Marcia Griffiths is a Jamaican reggae artist and original member of Bob Marley's I-Threes. ❤💛💚
@Rebelnightwolfe
I love this woman. She dresses like the cool aunt who always throws the family gatherings and always has a smile on her face.
@AddictionRecoveryandTapering
My friend, that's because she IS the cool aunt that throws the family gatherings 😅😅
@NicholasAlessi
@@AddictionRecoveryandTaperinga 1:42
@zillogullu33
Her name is Marcia Griffiths, the most iconic female Reggae singer
@anothergamingchannel2656
And you know she bringing the best home-cooked meal to the potluck. She got them cheesy garlic mashed potatoes that nobody else can do the same as she does
@ronskullie9380
This woman is one of the most talented and accomplished singers of all time a real song bird her catalogue is amazing.
@pollyw164
Big up our reggae queen Marcia Griffith and Bunny Wailer for making this song. Jamaica 🇯🇲 to the world
@michellehayes7618
Little boy in the pink shirt is jamming.🥰 This song popped in my head today....such great memories💕
@kelseyreed6543
Ok