Jo-Ann Greene writes about "Mind Control" AllMusic.com: "Stephen has continued to grow, adding new sounds and styles to his repertoire over the years. A conduit to the past and a bridge to the future, his music -- like his father's -- sounds timeless: reggae that embraces the world."
2004 he started the 27-city Bob Marley Roots, Rock, Reggae Festival tour with his four brothers and sons of Bob β Ziggy, Julian, Damian and Ky-Mani β each of whom have their own professional recording careers. The tour was the first time the brothers have officially performed together on stage.
Every February in Miami, Marley and his brothers perform at his family's annual Caribbean Festival in honour of their late father Bob Marley.
False Friends
Stephen Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Friend I guess I misunderstood
Thought that we had mutual respect
Now I see the thanks that we get
So be careful who you choose as your friends
For they might let you down in the end
Just when I thought, a real good friend I found
Them let you down down down
They let you down down down
Them let you down down down
Down down down down down
So my son always bear in mind
A faithful friend is the hardest thing to find
It is better an open enemy
A false friend is the hardest thing to see
'Cause when times are good when the friends are plenty
In times of trouble, we're not one in twenty
Just when I thought, a real good friend I found
They pick you up to let you down, ah
We were friends, we were friends
Real good friends, we were friends
We were friends, we were friends
And I remember when
Just when I thought everything was good
My friend I guess I misunderstood
Thought that we had love and respect
But now I see the thanks that we get
So I'm careful who I choose as my friends
For they might let me down in the end
Just a thought, when I thought, when I thought
Them let you down down down
Them let you down down down
Them let you down down down
Down down down down down
They let you down down down
Them let you down down down
Them let you down down down
Down down down down down
We were friends, we were friends
Real good friends, real good friends
We were friends, we were friends
And I remember when were good friends
Real good friends
The song "False Friends" by Stephen Marley talks about the disappointment and hurt that comes from trusting someone who turns out to be untrustworthy. The singer thought he had found a real good friend, someone he had mutual respect and love with, but it turned out that the friend betrayed him. He warns that one must be careful who they choose as their friends because they might let you down in the end. The lyrics also suggest that a faithful friend is hard to find but it is better to have an open enemy than a false friend because they are harder to see.
This song's chorus is repetitive and catchy, emphasizing the message of the song. The verses, on the other hand, tell a personal story of the singer's experience with betrayal, giving the listener a relatable experience. Marley's vocals bring out the pain and disappointment in his voice, making the song emotional and powerful.
In conclusion, "False Friends" by Stephen Marley highlights an important lesson about the importance of choosing the right friends, being cautious of false friends, and knowing who you can trust.
Line by Line Meaning
Just when I thought everything was good
At a time when I felt content and comfortable
Friend I guess I misunderstood
I was wrong in my assumption about our friendship
Thought that we had mutual respect
I believed there was mutual admiration between us
Now I see the thanks that we get
Seeing the lack of appreciation for our efforts
So be careful who you choose as your friends
Select your companions thoughtfully
For they might let you down in the end
One can experience cruel outcomes from those they trust
Just when I thought, a real good friend I found
Despite my hope in discovering genuine comradery
They pick you up to let you down, yeah
They briefly offered support, only to ultimately disappoint you
Them let you down down down
They leave you feeling disappointed and depleted
So my son always bear in mind
A valuable lesson for my child to keep in memory
A faithful friend is the hardest thing to find
A loyal friend is a rare treasure
It is better an open enemy
It is easier to cope with an honest foe
A false friend is the hardest thing to see
Deceiving companions are difficult to recognize
'Cause when times are good when the friends are plenty
In better moments, where people surround you
In times of trouble, we're not one in twenty
In times of strife, true friends are scarce
We were friends, we were friends
In the past, our amicable relationship was genuine
Real good friends, we were friends
We once had an excellent and honest friendship
And I remember when
Reflecting upon the pleasant memories of our relationship
My friend I guess I misunderstood
My friend and I did not see eye-to-eye
Thought that we had love and respect
There was a belief of honesty and admiration between us
But now I see the thanks that we get
Now realizing the lack of gratitude or respect from them
Just a thought, when I thought, when I thought
Remembering the hopes they had for the relationship
Them let you down down down
They bring you down, down, down
Lyrics Β© Ultra Tunes, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDRE FORREST, STEPHEN MARLEY, DESMOND SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Reb Bull
Just when I thought everything was good,
Β Friend a case I misunderstood
Β Thought that we had mutual respect,
Β Now I see the thanks that we get,
Β So be careful who you chose as your friends,
Β For they might let u down in the end,
Β Just when I thought a real good friend I found,
Β They pick you up to let you downΒ Dem let u down down down,
Β They let you down down down down,
Β Dem let u down down down,
Β Down down down down downΒ So my son always care in mind,
Β A faithful friend is hardest thing to find,
Β It is better an open enemy,
Β A false friend is hardest thing to see
Β Cause when times are good well are friends are plenty
Β In times of trouble when not one in twenty,
Β Just when I thought a real good friend I found,
Β They pick you up to let you downΒ We were fiends, we were fiends,
Β Real good fiends, we were fiends,
Β We were fiends, we were fiends and I remember when...Β Just when I thought everything was good,
Β My friend a case I misunderstood,
Β Thought that we had love and respect,
Β But now I see the thanks that we get,
Β So i'm careful who I chose as my friends,
Β For they might let me down in the end,
Β Just a thought, when I thought, when I thoughtΒ Dem let u down down down,
Β Dem let u down down down,
Β Dem let u down down down,
Β Down down down down down,Β They let u down down down,
Β Dem let u down down down,
Β Dem let u down down down,
Β Down down down down down,Β We were fiends, we were fiends,
Β Real good fiends, real good fiends,
Β We were fiends, we were fiends,
Β And I remember when we were good friends, real good friends
Godwin Ajogi
Realistic song. Never gets tired of listening to it.
Amilcar Xavier
Este som merece ser escutando junto das pessoas que mais amamos e os com mesmo gosto pelo Reggae, lembrando das boas pessoas que jΓ‘ se foram!
Isaias Mendez
Soy de MΓ©xico y me gusta esta mΓΊsica, tengo mis dread y aunque no conozco Jamaica siento que tengo parte de sangre de ese gran paΓs
metzanima
simply an awesome song, stephen has that warm marley tone in his voice
Devone Johnson
Str8 up
OteroGaming
This song just makes me realise who my friends are, and who not to trust.
Devone Johnson
No doubtπ―
Tricia P
This song speaks to us all β¦ everyday is a learning day and a day to pay attention to the ones around you. Pay attention to the people that reach out to you and why they reach out to you.
Donnah SexciiSwaggah Callaway
You know when your body just feel the rhythm and you just can't stop!!!!
Autre Femme
I just turned 28 and I'm only now realizing this after everyone continuously warned me. I'm happy I didn't listen in a way because I needed to feel the burn of betrayal. People mostly let you down at some point. Wish I would have just stayed close to God instead. God NEVER lets you down. Real talk.