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.
Conscious Party
Ziggy Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But not because of the world
And I know there'll be no fight
In such a Conscious Party
Everyone is happy tonight
But not because of the world
And I know there'll be no fight
No booze to lick our head
Now we can't lose in life way
No booze to lick our head
Got to stay a light in darkness
And everyone is happy tonight
But not because of the world
But not because of the world
And I know there'll be no fight
In such a Conscious Party
Spirit of Jah passes through
I can feel him, so can you! Yeah
Makes one want to get up and dance
I said we're jammin' on this love and chant
Everyone is happy tonight
But not because of the world
But it's not because of the world
And I know there'll be no fight
In such a Conscious Party
Everyone, and Jah-a-everyone
I get smiles of Happiness
Jahlification a dances
Brothers loving their sisters
Sisters loving their brothers
Everyone is happy tonight
But not because of the world
And I know there'll be no fight
In such a Conscious Party
Everyone is happy tonight
But not because of your world
And how could there be any fight
In such a Conscious Party
Everyone is happy tonight
But not because of the world
And how could there be any fight
In such a Conscious Party?
No booze to lick our head
Now we can't lose in life way
No booze to lick our head
Got to stay a light in darkness
And everyone is happy tonight
But not because of the world
It's not because of the world
And I know there'll be no fight
In such a Conscious Party
Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers's song Conscious Party is all about being happy, but not in the traditional sense. It's not about material things or what's happening in the world. Instead, the song focuses on the idea of a "Conscious Party," where there is no alcohol to cloud people's minds and everyone is present in the moment. This is what brings about true joy and peace. The lyrics also touch on the spiritual aspect of this kind of gathering, with references to the Spirit of Jah and the sense of connection that can be felt between people.
One of the key themes in the song is the idea of being conscious, which extends beyond simply being awake or aware. It's about being mindful of one's actions and the impact they have on others and the world. The absence of alcohol at this party is symbolic of this idea, as it removes a common barrier to conscious behavior. This reflects the Rastafarian belief that physical and spiritual purity are interconnected and that one should live in a state of constant mindfulness.
Another noteworthy aspect of the song is the emphasis on community and the idea that everyone is a part of the party, regardless of their background or status. Brothers love their sisters, sisters love their brothers, and everyone is brought together through the power of music and a shared sense of consciousness. This message of unity is a core theme in many reggae songs and is particularly prominent in Conscious Party.
Line by Line Meaning
Everyone is happy tonight
The people at the party are all happy and joyful
But not because of the world
Their happiness is not due to the state of the world
And I know there'll be no fight
There will be no arguments or conflicts at the party
In such a Conscious Party
Because the party is focused on mindfulness and purpose
No booze to lick our head
Alcohol is not present to cloud people's judgement or impair them
Now we can't lose in life way
Without alcohol, they feel more in control of their lives
Got to stay a light in darkness
To remain positive and hopeful, even in difficult times
And everyone is happy tonight
All the party-goers are happy with each other and the environment
Spirit of Jah passes through
The presence of spirituality is felt by everyone
I can feel him, so can you! Yeah
The party-goers feel connected to a higher power and are acknowledging it
Makes one want to get up and dance
The positive energy and celebration of spirituality makes people want to dance
I said we're jammin' on this love and chant
The party-goers are participating in a communal expression of love and positivity
Everyone, and Jah-a-everyone
All the people at the party, and the higher power, are included in the joy
I get smiles of Happiness
Seeing everyone happy at the party brings joy to the singer
Jahlification a dances
The party is celebrating and embracing the power of spirituality
Brothers loving their sisters
People are showing love and respect towards those they consider family
Sisters loving their brothers
People are showing love and respect towards those they consider family
But not because of your world
Their happiness is not due to the state of the personal world of any one individual
And how could there be any fight
In the face of positivity and mindfulness, it is unlikely for there to be conflict
In such a Conscious Party
The party is focused on a positive, mindful purpose
Lyrics © Regard Music
Written by: ZIGGY MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Detroit104
Vamos eliminar todos os pensamentos que nos levam ao negativo, e vamos meditar, vamos vencer pois Deus estará no comando...
@SheriKaminski
L
@jercihb7699
jah bless
@manoeldosreisaraujo6242
Tempos bons, meus 24 anos quando comprar um CD do Ziggy Marley era só importado kkkk
Me divertir muito com CD Pioneer !! Demais 😁🤣👍💥
@condor8142
Roots Reggae at its best!
That bassist is showing off his skills👍
God! Those days, I was so young and vibrant!
@johncastrucci4220
They opened for The B-52s in 1990 in Cincinnati. One of the best shows ever!
@steverogers9894
Great album!! Missed by most...
@DavidKing-ut9wr
I saw them
When they opened for INXS many moons ago. Awesome concert.
@joslynhamilton1896
I am so loving this song
@Cokoanut
sounds like childhood!