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”.
The first time ever I saw your face
Marcia Griffiths Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I thought the sun rose in your eyes
And the moon and the stars were the gifts you gave
To the night and the empty skies my love
To the night and the empty skies
The first time ever I kissed your mouth
I felt the earth turn in my hand
That was there at my command my love
That was there at my command
The first time ever I lay with you
And felt your heart beat close to mine
I thought our joy would fill the earth
And would last 'till the end of time my love
And would last 'till the end of time
The first time ever I saw your face
I thought the sun rose in your eyes
And the moon and the stars were the gifts you gave
To the night and the empty skies my love
To the night and the empty skies
In "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," Marcia Griffiths describes the overwhelming joy and wonder one feels when they meet the love of their life. The song is a tribute to a love so powerful that it feels like the universe is participating in it. The first verse describes the moment when the singer first laid eyes on her love. She describes feeling like the sun had risen in his eyes and like he had given her the moon and the stars. This imagery emphasizes the transcendental quality of the love she feels, as well as the beauty and mystery of the one she loves.
The second verse describes the intensity of their physical connection. The singer feels like the world is trembling at her touch, and that she has complete command over the one she loves. This verse emphasizes the passion and intensity of the love they share, as well as its ability to transform the world around them.
The final verse describes the joy and fulfillment they find in each other. The singer feels like their love is so powerful that it could fill the entire earth, and endure until the end of time. This verse emphasizes the timelessness and universality of their love, as well as its ability to transcend the limitations of their individual lives.
Overall, "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" is a beautiful tribute to the power of love to transform our lives and the world around us. Through its vivid imagery and heartfelt lyrics, the song captures the joy, wonder, and intensity of finding the one we love.
Line by Line Meaning
The first time ever I saw your face
Upon first seeing you, I was struck by the radiance and beauty of your eyes that shone like the sun. It was as though they brought light to the endless darkness of the sky, as a precious gift from the heavens.
And the moon and the stars were the gifts you gave
Your very being was a blessing to me, as though the stars and the moon in the night sky were my own cherished treasures, bestowed upon me by you.
To the night and the empty skies my love
With boundless love and affection, I felt as though my heart could overcome the vast emptiness of the universe and fill it with an all-encompassing joy that only our love could provide.
The first time ever I kissed your mouth
When I first kissed you, it was a wondrous and transformative moment. As if the entire world around me had shifted and gravity had taken hold of me, with your lips commanding my every desire.
I felt the earth turn in my hand
Such was the power and intensity of our love, it felt as though the very world had spun around us, as our bodies became intertwined in a passionate embrace.
Like the trembling heart of a captive bird
Just as a bird held captive might tremble in anticipation of freedom, my heart trembled with the overwhelming emotion of our love, which held me captive and enraptured in every moment.
That was there at my command my love
Despite the intensity of our passion, I knew that you were mine to command, to surrender yourself entirely to me, as I had surrendered myself to you.
The first time ever I lay with you
As we lay together, our hearts beating as one, I knew that our love would triumph over all that stood in our way, and that we would be together until the end of time.
And felt your heart beat close to mine
Feeling the rhythm of your heart beating close to mine, I knew there was no other place in the world I would rather be, and that our love was destined to last for eternity.
I thought our joy would fill the earth
In the moments we shared together, I felt as though we could conquer any obstacle and overcome any challenge. Our happiness was so great that I believed it would radiate outwards and fill the entire world with light.
And would last 'till the end of time my love
With a love so true and everlasting, I declared that nothing in the world could ever separate us, that we would remain together until the very end of time.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Wahana Musik Indonesia (WAMI)
Written by: Ewan Maccoll
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@davidford3505
Her timing is superb. No version of this tune comes close to what she can do, she sends shivers down my spine. May she reign supreme as she certainly deserves.
@damienelliott4906
Breaks my heart for personal reasons but so beautiful
@trojanhorse8865
sending love bro x
@aj7803
Love and respect bro ❤
@NiSiochainGanSaoirse
I hear you Brother man...😔
The heart hurts so much when it's broken.
I hope you are healing, Brother man.
@annissa30
Amazing as ever, the Undisputed Queen, Marcia Griffiths.
@rogerpeachey2212
This track gives me shivers down my spine.. I used to play it a lot. Glad you uploaded this.
@jafar4marva
For my girl❤
@user-dm9hn7sn5k
Lovely voice and timing. 👍🏻
@Jahbellyfull
Marcia Griffiths the only I three who can realy sing love her voice 💚💛❤