David Nesta "Ziggy" Marley (born October 17, 1968 in Saint Ann Parish, ghet… Read Full Bio ↴David Nesta "Ziggy" Marley (born October 17, 1968 in Saint Ann Parish, ghetto of Trenchtown, Jamaica), composer, singer and guitarist, is a multiple Grammy-winning (reggae) Jamaican musician. He is known for songs like "Tomorrow People", "Love Is My Religion" and "A Lifetime", He is the oldest son in the marriage between the singer Rita Anderson (Marley) and late legendary reggae Bob Marley. David's father Bob nicknamed him "Ziggy". A ziggy is a big marijuana spliff on Jamaiaca.

Ziggy learned Rastafari faith from his parents and had access to some of the world's best reggae musicians in the comp band of his father – the legendary reggae Wailers. Ziggy Marley first sat in on recording sessions with Bob Marley and the Wailers when he was around 10 years old. Joining with his three siblings to become The Melody Makers, Ziggy crafted his own soulful sound blending blues, RnB, hip-hop and roots reggae.

After their first two albums, Play The Game Right (1985) and Hey World! (1986), The Melody Makers earned their first Grammy (Best Reggae Recording) for Conscious Party (1988), an album produced by Talking Heads Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth which included the hit songs "Tomorrow People" and "Tumbling Down."

Subsequent albums included the Grammy-winning One Bright Day (1989), Jamekya (1991), Joy and Blues (1993), Free Like We Want 2 B (1995), their third Grammy winner Fallen is Babylon (1997), Spirit of Music (1999) and Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers Live, Vol 1 (2000), which featured some of their biggest hits as well as a cover of Bob Marley's "Could You Be Loved."

While selling records by the millions and selling out countless concerts with the Melody Makers, including a recent European tour, Ziggy Marley has never lost sight of his foundation of faith, fellowship and family.

After two decades as the driving creative force behind The Melody Makers, Ziggy stepped out on his own with his first solo album, Dragonfly (2003). Never content to rehash the success of his past, Ziggy uses Dragonfly to explore new ground and create his own distinctive musical identity as a solo artist.

"Working on my own gave me a chance to take my time and experiment a lot," Ziggy says of the material on Dragonfly." It took one year to finish this record. It's the longest I've ever worked on a album. It's different when you on your own. At some point it's scary and then at another it's a drive that makes you focus more."

Although the members of the most close-knit musical families often yearn to step out on their own, for Ziggy, a solo debut was not a long-awaited goal. "It's not something that I wished for since I began doing music," he says. "It was just the circumstances, and I wanted to be true to myself and what I feel. The record has strong messages and it feels good."

In addition to being Ziggy's first album of solo material, for Dragonfly he felt it was time for a change of scene. "Usually we record in Kingston. These songs were written in Jamaica and recorded in America. I did the first set of recordings in a house in Miami and then went to L.A. rented a house, set up my equipment and basically did the rest there. I left Jamaica for a while, because as an artist I need to experience different things, to see the world and have different energies. Living in one place is not good for me and I was tired of making music in a studio setting. I wanted it to be more like everyday life a part of me.

"As an individual, I've opened up more by traveling outside Jamaica, and I've been more able to be open to people and ideas. It helps me to grow as a person to be outside of my element; to be on my own in a strange place meeting people. That's good for me not to be in my secure domain."

The evidence of that growth is everywhere on Dragonfly.

On July 2nd, 2006, Ziggy released his second album, Love is My Religion. He states "This album is from my heart," and he feels that he embraces his spiritual and emotional side of life. This album show Ziggy coming into his own as an artist, as he wrote all of the songs for the album and played nearly all of the instruments.

Love is My Religion is a testament to Ziggy Marley's talent as he follows in the footsteps of his father, the Legend.

All I Need Is You
Ziggy Marley Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I don't need no body
To make me happy
All I need is you
I don't need no money
To live how I should
All I need is you

Sorrow sometimes teach a lesson well

And I know that good can come from bad
So let's look into that morning star
'Cause we know just who we are

I don't need no body
To make me happy
All I need is you
I don't need no money
To live how I should
All I need is you

Man, this road I said it's rocky rough
So much obstacles and barriers
Ecclesiastes man him say
Everything is vanity
I don't need no body
All I need is you

Sorrow sometimes teach a lesson well
And I know that good can come from bad
So let's look into that morning star
'Cause you know just who you are

I don't need no body
To make me happy
All I need is you
I don't need no money

To live how I should
All I need is you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Ziggy Marley's "All I Need is You" express a powerful message of contentment and appreciation for the simplicity of life. The chorus repeats the lines "I don't need no body to make me happy, all I need is you. I don't need no money to live how I should, all I need is you." This sentiment echoes the idea that material possessions and other external factors do not bring true happiness, but rather it is the people in our lives that make us truly fulfilled.

The song also touches on the theme of overcoming obstacles and finding positivity even in the midst of difficult times. The verse "sorrow sometimes teach a lesson well, and I know that good can come from bad, so let's look into that morning star 'cause we know just who we are" suggests that while life may bring challenges and setbacks, it is our perspective and attitude that ultimately shape our experiences.

The final verse references the book of Ecclesiastes and its message that everything in life is temporary and fleeting. The refrain "I don't need no body, all I need is you" takes on an even deeper significance in light of this reminder that material possessions and worldly accomplishments are ultimately insignificant compared to the relationships we have with others.

Overall, the lyrics to "All I Need is You" celebrate the importance of human connection and the value of a simple, contented life.

Line by Line Meaning

I don't need no body
I don't rely on other people to make me happy

To make me happy
To bring joy and contentment into my life

All I need is you
You are the source of my happiness

I don't need no money
I don't require wealth or material possessions

To live how I should
To achieve the things that are important to me

Sorrow sometimes teach a lesson well
Difficult experiences can provide valuable insights

And I know that good can come from bad
Positive things can emerge from negative situations

So let's look into that morning star
Let's focus on hope and positivity

'Cause we know just who we are
We are self-aware and confident in our identities

Man, this road I said it's rocky rough
Life can be difficult and challenging