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.
Good Ol' Days
Ziggy Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let the angels fly let the devils die
Got to do what you can with the time at hand
Ali boom mah yeah Ali boom mah yeah
Don't worry your mind its just the test of time
In five years these be the good old days
No one knows what the future holds for everything has a season
Tomorrow knows tomorrow woes
I remember when grandpa use to say grandson these be the good old days
These be the good old days
Now comes the moon with its starry lights
And so begins the night life
The tribal dance puts me in a trance
As she pulls me in with her magic swing
I asked of her what do we celebrate
She said to me these be the good old days
These be the good old days
There is no future there is only now
Let's cherish these moments that we now know
These be the good old days
The lyrics of Ziggy Marley's song Good Ol' Days evoke a sense of nostalgia and the importance of living in the moment. The opening lines call for a carefree attitude and a letting go of worries, encouraging listeners to make the most of the present, as time is limited. The repetition of "Ali boom mah yeah" emphasizes the need for enjoyment and living life to the fullest.
The second verse warns against focusing too much on the future and the unknown, as tomorrow will bring its own challenges and worries. The message here is to appreciate what one has now and not take it for granted. The song then transitions into a celebratory moment, with the tribal dance and the magic swing representing the joy that can be found in life. The line, "what do we celebrate?" implies that even in the midst of uncertainty and hardship, there is still something worth celebrating.
The final verse echoes the sentiment of living in the present moment and cherishing what we have. The line, "There is no future, there is only now," emphasizes the idea that the only time that matters is the present, and it is up to us to make the most of it. The song as a whole serves as a reminder to not become too caught up in the past or future, but to focus on the present and appreciate the good that surrounds us.
Line by Line Meaning
Irie days come on play
Let's enjoy these carefree and happy days
Let the angels fly let the devils die
Let the good prevail and the bad fade away
Got to do what you can with the time at hand
Make the most of the time you have
Ali boom mah yeah Ali boom mah yeah
A joyful exclamation, expressing eagerness and excitement
Don't worry your mind its just the test of time
Don't stress and overthink, things will work out with time
In five years these be the good old days
Even though times may change, you will look back fondly on this present moment
No one knows what the future holds for everything has a season
We can't predict the future because everything goes through cycles and changes
Its not a time for war its a time for peace
Instead of creating conflict, we should strive for harmony and understanding
Tomorrow knows tomorrow woes
We can't control the future, it will come with its own challenges
I remember when grandpa use to say grandson these be the good old days
An older generation remembers this present time as a time of happiness and good memories
Now comes the moon with its starry lights
The night is here, bringing its own beauty and mystery
And so begins the night life
The fun and excitement of the night is starting
The tribal dance puts me in a trance
The rhythm and energy of the dance is hypnotic and mesmerizing
As she pulls me in with her magic swing
The dance partner captivates and mesmerizes the singer with her movements
I asked of her what do we celebrate
The singer wonders what the occasion for the dance is
She said to me these be the good old days
The partner reassures the singer that they are currently in a time of celebration and enjoyment
There is no future there is only now
The only moment that truly exists is the present
Let's cherish these moments that we now know
We should value and appreciate the present moment and the memories we are making
These be the good old days
These are the times that we will remember fondly in the future
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DAVID MARLEY, ZIGGY MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Ballards1971
This song helped me through some very bad times in my past !! I first heard it on the movie "Into The Blue" with Jessica Alba and Paul Walker !! That movie also kept me going when I didn't want to "Go" anymore !!. Ziggy nailed it when he wrote this song !! To me, it is and always will be his best song !!.
@bradleygoff468
Stay strong buddy✌🏻
@simonellis8476
Keep well brother
@Guy-vy1bo
Good ole days susan lets try to remember that. Unity
@rolandtarga9371
Haitian rasta men love ziggy Bob Marley vibes.❤❤
@MikeCMcCarthy
In 5 years...these be the good old days! Respect.
@benjaminrojasreyes4361
Don't worry your mind its just the test of time In five years these be the good old days
@curtiswilson4750
such a great message. make's you remember what you have is good and that makes u smile
@Keyleerae
He's there.... He Nailed It..............
@Guy-vy1bo
Cherish these moments...