She grew up in Jamaica, and was singing with a trio named The Soulettes in the mid sixties recording for Studio One when she met Bob Marley. She married him in 1966, and then became a singer in his backing vocals group, the I Threes. She had three children with him and two outside of the marriage. She converted to the Rastafari movement after witnessing Haile Selassie on his visit to Kingston, Jamaica on 21 April 1966. She convinced Bob Marley to convert as well. She wrote many of the songs recorded by Bob while backing him.[citation needed] After Marley's death, she recorded few albums under her name with some success in the United Kingdom. She took care of Marley's estate and mentored her son, Ziggy Marley.
In January 2005 it was claimed that she wished Bob Marley's body be reburied in Ethiopia, but she denied that there were any such plans. Rita currently lives in Ghana and spends a lot of time in Florida, and sometimes her home in Jamaica. Some of her family reside in Canada.
Rita appears on Fergie's new album The Dutchess
Who Feels It Knows It
Rita Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who feels it knows it, God
Who feels it knows it, God
Who feels it knows it, God
I said I feel it, and I know it
And I feel it, and I know it
And if u feel it, then u know it
Well every man thinketh his burden is the heaviest
But (ooh, yea, come on) they know because they feel the pain...
Who feels it knows it, God
Who feels it knows it, God
Who feels it knows it, God
Who feels it knows it, God
Now don't sit by your window gazing at the moon
Get right up and move (brothers)
Get right in the groove (sisters)
For linger you linger, die you must die
Now don't point your fingers and you'll get by
No, no, no, don't lie, don't lie, no don't lie
Don't lie, no don't lie
(.)
Who feels it knows it, Lord
Said who feels it knows it, Lord
Who feels it knows it, Lord
Said who feels it knows it, Lord
I said I feel it, and I know it
Coz I feel it, and I know it
And if u feel it, then u know it
And wen u feel it, then u'll know it
The lyrics to Rita Marley's "Who Feels It Knows It" are a reminder that unless one has experienced a particular pain or burden, they cannot truly understand it. The repetition of "who feels it knows it" emphasizes this point, suggesting that only those who have felt a certain pain, grief, or struggle can truly comprehend it. The phrase "God" is also repeated throughout the song, perhaps referencing a higher power or comfort in times of hardship.
Rita Marley goes on to acknowledge that every person thinks their own burdens are the heaviest, but that they only know because they feel the pain. She encourages listeners to not simply sit and dwell on their struggles, but to get up and move, find the groove, and not linger. The lyrics suggest that there is a level of personal responsibility in acknowledging and dealing with one's struggles, as opposed to pointing fingers or lying about them.
Overall, "Who Feels It Knows It" is a powerful reminder that empathy can only take us so far, and that true understanding comes from personal experience. The lyrics encourage listeners to acknowledge their struggles, but not to let them define them or hold them back.
Line by Line Meaning
Who feels it knows it, God
God knows that only by truly feeling a particular pain or burden can one fully understand and relate to that experience.
I said I feel it, and I know it
The singer acknowledges that she has experienced the weight of the burden being referred to and therefore understands it intimately.
And if u feel it, then u know it
The singer acknowledges that unless you have experienced the burden in question, you cannot understand the depth of this burden.
Coz I feel it, and I know it
The singer reiterates that she has experienced the burden herself and is certain of its impact.
Well every man thinketh his burden is the heaviest
Everyone assumes that their own problems are more severe than anyone else's.
But (ooh, yea, come on) they know because they feel the pain...
However, this is not necessarily true, as one can only truly understand another's pain through experiencing it themselves.
Now don't sit by your window gazing at the moon
The singer is urging people not to sit and dwell on their problems, but to take action.
Get right up and move (brothers)
The artist is urging her fellow men to take action and move ahead with life.
Get right in the groove (sisters)
The artist is urging her fellow women to take action and move ahead with life.
For linger you linger, die you must die
If you spend all your time dwelling on your problems, your time will eventually come to an end and you will have wasted your life.
Now don't point your fingers and you'll get by
The singer is urging people to stop blaming others for their problems and take responsibility for their own lives.
No, no, no, don't lie, don't lie, no don't lie
The artist is emphasizing the importance of being truthful, especially with oneself.
Who feels it knows it, Lord
The singer reiterates that only those who feel the pain can truly understand it, and appeals to a higher power to validate this truth.
Said who feels it knows it, Lord
The singer repeats her earlier point, further emphasizing the importance of experiencing something in order to truly understand it.
And wen u feel it, then u'll know it
The singer is urging people to go out and experience life for themselves in order to gain true understanding.
Contributed by Colton K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Jhonny483
This one is fi all a di hard working people
Jamaican people
Some nuh know what it feels like
Fi a work from six inna the morning straight up to midnight (midnight)
A me fi tell yuh
You think it easy fi Barba stand up inna di shop whole day
And nuttin nah gwaan
You think it easy fi farma stay up inna di sun whole day
A plough the farm
It no easy being offender nor a taxi man noo
You think it easy fi stand up and watch di youth a cry fi food fi nyam
But a Who Feels It Knows It
We a feel it from we likkle and a grow
A Who Feels It Knows It
Sometimes you feel like fi let go
A Who Feels It Knows It
We a feel it from we likkle and a grow
A Who Feels It Knows It
A only Jah Jah know (only Jah Jah know)
You think it easy fi know seh early a morning that you a come fi the rent
When deep dung inna yourself you know seh
You dont have a cent
You know mi feel it fi di youths dem wey haffi sleep on the street
Dem no care fi di youths dem
And a long time mi seet
So a Who Feels It Knows It
We a feel it from we likkle and a grow
A Who Feels It Knows It
Sometimes you feel like fi let go
A Who Feels It Knows It
We a feel it from we likkle and a grow
A Who Feels It Knows It
A only Jah Jah know (only Jah Jah know)
Yeah
The way di system set up
No help poor people no way
But poor people nah go give up(nooo)
No matter how it stay
We still hustle and fight it (hustle and fight it)
All when we no like it (when we no like it)
Still working on an on
From dust till dawn
Sooo
But a Who Feels It Knows It
We a feel it from we likkle and a grow
A Who Feels It Knows It
Sometimes you feel like fi let go
A Who Feels It Knows It
We a feel it from we likkle and a grow
A Who Feels It Knows It
A only Jah Jah know (only Jah Jah know)
Yeah
You think it easy fi know seh early a morning that you a come fi the rent
When deep dung inna yourself you know seh
You dont have a cent
You know mi feel it fi di youths dem wey haffi sleep on the street
Dem no care fi di youths dem
And a long time mi seet
But a Who Feels It Knows It
We a feel it from we likkle and a grow
A Who Feels It Knows It
Sometimes you feel like fi let go
A Who Feels It Knows It
We a feel it from we likkle and a grow
A Who Feels It Knows It
A only Jah Jah know (only Jah Jah know)
Yeah.
@tafimutekwe2855
Mrs. Marley nailed it on this one. Soul food; music meant to be enjoyed.
@lorrainesingers6576
Mighty Rita Marley jah jah bless 💖
@christineWatene-rg2bz
Aww ,Love this Waiata ,Song ✨❄️
@albertofori8849
Rita Marley well done. I will never stop playing this particular track till I die. And my children too will continue from where I will stop. God bless you.
@sandybradshaw1879
So many of us can identify! What a song! What a Woman !🇯🇲👍🏽🎶🙏🎸👍🏽💕🇯🇲
@paulinegamble7523
The true definition of a strong black woman .
@christineWatene-rg2bz
Love U Rita Marley ❤️💚💛🥀🌹🍀🦋⚓✨❄️
@normanbrown9225
Rita Marley singing and writing is awesome but her smile will always be priceless the windows to her soul 4ever bright
@lyte4240
This song gives me strength evrytime I hear it. Bless up sista Rita!
@Boy_Gentle
Tell me about it. Just seeing it for the first time. Had to replay. Powerful