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.

Five Days a Year
Ziggy Marley Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yo, this something for my baby, yo
Explaining how the way it goes
Want to tell you you're my cherry, yo
This is how the way it goes

This something for my baby, yo
Explaining how the way it goes
Wanna tell you you're my cherry, yo

This is how the way it goes

She says "It's my line of work"
That makes a woman really hurt
I said "Yo, I'm tryin' "
But she started cryin'
She believes I'm lyin', I'm tryin' she says

Five days a year, I don't see you much
Five days a year, it's not enough
Five days a year, that's really rough
Five days a year, yeah

Now I could tell she really hurts
Then she thinks, I'm dishing dirt, yeah
But Jah Jah knows I'm tryin'
But she insists I'm lyin', yeah
Well she keeps on cryin' an' cryin', she says

Five days a year, I don't see you much
Five days a year, it's not enough
Five days a year, that's really rough
Five days this year, yeah

She say, "We don't do things together anymore"
And which seems, we're not together anymore
She say, "We don't do things together anymore"
And which seems, we're not together anymore

She says, "It's my line of work"
That makes a woman really hurt
I said, "Yo I'm tryin'", yeah
But she started cryin'
She believes I'm lyin', I'm tryin' she says

Five days a year, I don't see you much
Five days a year, it's not enough
Five days a year, that's really rough
Five days this year, yeah

She say "We don't do things together anymore"
And which seems we're, not together anymore
She say "We don't do things together anymore"
Which seems, we're not together anymore
Say we don't do things together anymore
And which seems, we're not together anymore

That makes a woman, yeah
That makes a woman, and
That makes a woman, yeah

That makes a woman, and
...

Overall Meaning

The song "Five Days a Year" by Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers is a touching song that focuses on the challenges of being in a relationship with someone who has a demanding job. The song presents a conversation between the singer and his partner, where they talk about their relationship and the rarity of spending quality time together. The lyrics describe how the partner is feeling neglected and hurts from missing out on spending time with her partner, and how the singer tries to assure her that he is trying, but it's just difficult given the nature of his work.

Throughout the song, the singer acknowledges the challenges that his partner faces due to his work, which he portrays as something that he cannot see himself giving up. He recognizes that it hurts her and tries to reassure her of his love and devotion despite the circumstances. The repetition of the phrase "Five days a year" serves to emphasize the rarity of their time together and the difficulties that come with maintaining a relationship under the circumstances.

Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the challenges that come with trying to balance a demanding job and a romantic relationship. The lyrics are heartfelt and reveal the strains that such a situation can put on a couple. The song shows that despite their hardships, they are still committed to one another and willing to make it work.

Line by Line Meaning

Yo, this something for my baby, yo
This is a song dedicated to my significant other.

Explaining how the way it goes
I am going to tell you how things really are.

Want to tell you you're my cherry, yo
I want to tell you that you are very special to me.

She says "It's my line of work"
My partner often complains that my work keeps us apart.

That makes a woman really hurt
It hurts her deeply that we are not together more often.

I said "Yo, I'm tryin' "
I am doing my best to make it work.

But she started cryin'
Despite my efforts, my partner is still very upset.

She believes I'm lyin', I'm tryin' she says
My partner thinks that I am not being honest, even though I am genuinely trying.

Five days a year, I don't see you much
We only get to spend a few days together each year.

Five days a year, it's not enough
Those few days are not enough for my partner, and they are not enough for me either.

Five days a year, that's really rough
Spending only five days together each year is incredibly difficult on our relationship.