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.
Brothers and Sisters
Ziggy Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You are your father's child
Sometimes we act as if we hate each other
A different faith, different state of mind
That don't mean we all can't be satisfied
We are all brothers and sisters
We are all brothers and sisters
Some are black and brown
Others white and light
That's all the difference I can remember
A different face, a different kind of smile
That's what we see
But this we must realize
We are all brothers and sisters
We are all brothers and sisters
Earth is my mother, there is no other
So for you, so for all of I
Don't look me with a scorn
In time mankind was born
So for you, so for all of I
Love must live, hate must die
Don't draw no line, don't you be so blind
We are all brothers and sisters
We are all brothers and sisters
I am no stranger in your town
Rasta seed is all around
So when you are looking at me
Don't think I am your enemy
I am my father's son
You are your mama's child
Sometimes we act as if we hate each other
A different faith, a different state of mind
That don't mean we all can't be satisfied
Brothers and sisters we are all
Brothers and sisters all and all
Brothers and sisters we are all
Brothers and sisters all and all
Brothers and sisters
Brothers and sisters we are all
Brothers and sisters
Brothers and sisters we are all
The message behind "Brothers and Sisters" by Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers is one of unity and love, regardless of differences in race, religion, or nationality. The lyrics speak to the fact that we are all human beings and should treat each other with kindness and respect, and that we are all connected and part of the same family.
The song acknowledges that people may have different backgrounds and perspectives, but encourages listeners to see beyond these differences and recognize the commonality of the human experience. Instead of focusing on division and hate, the song urges us to embrace love and understanding.
Ziggy Marley's use of 'Brothers and sisters we are all' on several occasions in the lyrics emphasizes the need for unity amongst all people, regardless of their social class, ethnicity, religion or race. Ziggy really hammers the message in the song being that love must prevail over hate and that we must see ourselves as one and treat each other as family.
Line by Line Meaning
I am my mama's son
I am the son of my mother
You are your father's child
You are the child of your father
Sometimes we act as if we hate each other
At times, our actions may suggest that we dislike each other
A different faith, different state of mind
We may have different beliefs and ways of thinking
That don't mean we all can't be satisfied
However, it does not mean that we cannot all find contentment
We are all brothers and sisters
We are all related to each other as siblings
Some are black and brown
Some of us have darker skin tones
Others white and light
Others have lighter skin tones
That's all the difference I can remember
That's the only difference I can think of
A different face, a different kind of smile
We may have different appearances and expressions
That's what we see
That's how we perceive each other
But this we must realize
However, we must understand that
Earth is my mother, there is no other
The Earth is my source of life, there is no replacement
So for you, so for all of I
Therefore, for you and for me
Don't look me with a scorn
Do not judge me harshly
In time mankind was born
We all come from the same human origin
Love must live, hate must die
Love should persist while hatred must disappear
Don't draw no line, don't you be so blind
We should not create divisions and should open our eyes
I am no stranger in your town
I am not unfamiliar to your locality
Rasta seed is all around
The influence of Rastafarianism is present everywhere
So when you are looking at me
Therefore, when you look at me
Don't think I am your enemy
Do not assume that I am opposed to you
Brothers and sisters we are all
We are all siblings
Brothers and sisters all and all
All of us are siblings
Brothers and sisters
Siblings
Brothers and sisters we are all
We are all related as siblings
Brothers and sisters
Siblings
Brothers and sisters we are all
We are all related as siblings
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DAVID MARLEY, ZIGGY MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tinachambers1376
Jamaica 🇯🇲 to the world
@GUEST-em7zd
This should be an international anthem that everyone listens to daily…….it will change their mindset on how they treat others…….❤️
@shavonswealthcreationfarm
We grew up together out in 9 miles bull Bay in the 90s
@godsorganiclove
🤲🏽🙏🤌🏾. “Love must live, hate must die”…❤
@irvingdanielmanriquegarcia4075
Love Is my Religion 🙏
universal union 🍃
@hannahoron9740
Boy! This takes me back! I had forgotten about this song, though I once owned the CD. Actually, I still think it is a great song. Thanks for posting. Jah Bless!!!
@nadinebeckford3340
Ironically this song depicts his own brother and sisters. Kudos to Bob Marley for his multiple affairs.
@dudefrombelgium
Ziggy truly has such a positive and harmless style about him, it just makes me happy.
@johonybrawo7434
Peace my Brothers and Sisters! Send my Love from Poland!
@shavonswealthcreationfarm
The great beach rd Bull bay I'm telling you i remember those days jah no bring back so much memory we used to play football round in the scheme i feel like crying