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.
Get Out Of Town
Ziggy Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For myself to sell matches on reputation in human form
To suit the image you want portrayed so the people are still enslaved
You can not define what I do not put in a box for you
I go out, get out, get, get out, get out
I of the universe will not be prisoners of your little world
We travel far beyond the realms of expectations
And I refuse to be what you expect from me
I go out, get out, get, get out, get out
What you lose to win the price is high to pay
The desire to not be like them to follow the dream of sin
Blessed are the meek and humble spirit of my own
Cause music is a holy thing hey we give thanks for blessings
I go out, get out, get, get out, get out
My mom can go get papa
He said I'm gonna knock it down, said I would kick down
I go out, get out, get, get out, get out
Ziggy Marley's song "Get Out of Town" is an anthem for independence and freedom from societal constraints. The first few lines of the song suggest that the singer is tired of playing the game and trying to conform to societal expectations. He describes himself as "selling matches on reputation in human form," indicating that he is pretending to be someone he is not, just to fit in. The ultimate goal is to break free from the bondage of society and to do what he wants, rather than what others expect of him.
The next few lines suggest that the singer is an individual who refuses to be defined by society. He believes that the mind is limitless and that time does not exist. The singer is suggesting that he is not bound by any traditional or societal constraints, and he refuses to be what people expect him to be. The chorus of the song, "get out, get out, get, get out, get out," is a rallying cry for independence and a call to break free from the prison of societal expectations.
The final lines of the song suggest that the singer is willing to go against the grain to pursue his dreams. He recognizes that he may have to sacrifice something to get what he wants, but he is willing to pay the price. He is grateful for the blessings he has received and recognizes that music is a "holy thing." The final lines "my mom can go get papa, he said I'm gonna knock it down, said I would kick down," suggest that the singer is ready to fight against those who would try to keep him down.
Overall, "Get Out of Town" is a powerful song that encourages individuality, independence, and a breaking away from societal expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
Want to play the game will try again and again
I am willing to keep trying despite difficulty.
For myself to sell matches on reputation in human form
I am not defined by the image others want to portray of me.
To suit the image you want portrayed so the people are still enslaved
I will not conform to societal expectations that keep people oppressed.
You can not define what I do not put in a box for you
I refuse to fit into someone else's idea of who I should be.
I go out, get out, get, get out, get out
I will break free from the limitations placed on me.
I of the universe will not be prisoners of your little world
No one can limit my potential or control me.
The mind is limitless where time does not exist
I believe in the boundless potential of my thoughts.
We travel far beyond the realms of expectations
I will push the boundaries and exceed what's expected of me.
And I refuse to be what you expect from me
I will not conform to societal norms or expectations.
What you lose to win the price is high to pay
There is a cost to going against the norm, but it's worth it.
The desire to not be like them to follow the dream of sin
I choose to dream and live for something greater than the norm.
Blessed are the meek and humble spirit of my own
I strive to stay grounded and humble in the face of success.
Cause music is a holy thing hey we give thanks for blessings
I believe music is a form of prayer and gratitude.
My mom can go get papa
I don't need anyone's validation or approval.
He said I'm gonna knock it down, said I would kick down
I have faith in my abilities to overcome obstacles.
I go out, get out, get, get out, get out
I will continue to break free and pursue my own path.
Lyrics © Regard Music, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DAVID NESTA MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Aaron King
I absolutely love this song!
Stitch Dollie
These songs are wonderful with meaning
Tark over
I'm about to get out of town tomorrow, love this song.
edward harris
Ahhh ahhh ahhh
Ahhh ahhh ahhh
Be the change you want to 👀 on this beautiful mother 🌎
D dub U
I'm assuming Ziggy doesn't own a dog if he cares about the Earth.
Nasser Al-Herz
GooD music Relax and Set back Mr.WsM_J