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 Time
Ziggy Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let's have a good time
Though the world is cruel and blind
Let's have a good time
Get those problems out your head, put
Your mama to bed
But don't stray too far from reality or
In a dream world
Dreaming of things that there ain't no possibility, who
Wee, believe me
Let's have a nice grooving time, but don't go too far
From the truth in your mind
Cause you'll drink and drive, and then
You'll fly too
High and so you'll pay the price for justa
Feeling nice
Though the world is cruel and blind
Let's have a good time
Though the world is cruel and blind
Let's have a good time
So many things to foresee, we were not
Born to live this way
We were born having fun in the jungle of grace
With plenty of food to eat, and plenty drink to drink
So you know what I mean when I say
Liberate yourself from the state that you're in
It stink, it stink, it stink
Mi sey to dance if y ou have to but don't
Take no chance
To be deceived, yea
Though the world is cruel and blind
Let's have a good time
Though the world is cruel and blind
Let's have a good time
The bass is heavy the drummer is steady
Ooh, rhythm runs and it got you on the
Floor cry out
For more
That's the only way you gonna know for
Sure you need
Some more
Though the world is cruel and blind
Let's have a good time
Though the world is cruel and blind
Let's have a good time
Your mind is your mind, I mean your body
And your soul
Don't let material things they must not
Keep you down
A get on up, a get on up, I mean you do
What I ya say
I say do what you do, but don't get
Carried away
Let's have a good time, yes educate
Oneself
Let's have a good time, and liberate
Oneself
Don't be no fool today don't be so cruel
Today
Let's work together yes, to build a better
Place
Though the world is cruel and blind
Let's have a good time
Though the world is cruel and blind
Let's have a good time
Though the world is cruel and blind
Let's have a good time
Though the world is cruel and blind
Let's have a good time
The bass is heavy the drummer is steady
Woe wee yes it run and got you on teh floor, cry out
For more
That's the only way you gonna know for
Sure, we need
Some more
Though the world is cruel and blind
Let's have a good time
Though the world is cruel and blind
Let's have a good time
Melody Makers, more Melody Makers
Let's have a good time
Melody Makers, more Melody Makers
Melody Makers
More Melody Makers, Let's have a good time
Melody Makers, More Meldoy Makers
Melody Makers
Let's have a good time, let's have a good time
Let's have a good time
The song "Good Time" by Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers calls for people to enjoy life despite the difficulties and challenges in the world. The lyrics talk about getting rid of the problems in your head, but not living in a dream world or straying too far from reality. The song encourages people to liberate themselves from their current state and to have fun while educating and working towards building a better world.
While it may seem like the world is cruel and blind, the song suggests that there is still hope for a good time. The bass and drum in the song represent the steady rhythm of life, encouraging listeners to dance and let loose. The lyrics urge people to get on up and not let material things keep them down. It is a call for people to work together to make the world a better place.
Line by Line Meaning
Though the world is cruel and blind
Even though the world is a tough and unforgiving place
Let's have a good time
Let's enjoy ourselves and have some fun
Get those problems out your head, put
Forget about your troubles and relax
Your mama to bed
Go to sleep and rest
But don't stray too far from reality or
But be careful not to lose touch with the real world
You will live
Or you will end up
In a dream world
Living in a fantasy world that doesn't exist
Dreaming of things that there ain't no possibility, who
Wishing for things that can never happen, and
Wee, believe me
Trust me
Let's have a nice grooving time, but don't go too far
Let's enjoy ourselves, but not get carried away
From the truth in your mind
Don't forget what you know to be true
Cause you'll drink and drive, and then
Otherwise, you may end up drinking too much, driving under the influence, and
You'll fly too
Going too fast and not able to control yourself
High and so you'll pay the price for justa
Being in trouble and facing the consequences of your actions
Feeling nice
Just because you wanted to feel good
So many things to foresee, we were not
There are so many possibilities in life, but we were not
Born to live this way
Born to suffer and be miserable
We were born having fun in the jungle of grace
We were born to enjoy life and all its wonders
With plenty of food to eat, and plenty drink to drink
With everything we need to survive and thrive
So you know what I mean when I say
You understand what I'm talking about
Liberate yourself from the state that you're in
Free yourself from the unhappy state you're in
It stink, it stink, it stink
It's really bad and unpleasant
Mi sey to dance if y ou have to but don't
I say you can dance if you want to, but
Take no chance
Be careful not to do anything risky
To be deceived, yea
To be fooled or tricked
The bass is heavy the drummer is steady
The music is strong and powerful
Ooh, rhythm runs and it got you on the
The beat is so intense that it makes you want to
Floor cry out
Dance and shout
For more
Wanting to experience more
That's the only way you gonna know for
That's the only way you'll truly understand
Sure you need
What you really want
Some more
Is more of this great music
Your mind is your mind, I mean your body
Your thoughts are your own, just as your body is
And your soul
And your inner self or spiritual essence
Don't let material things they must not
Don't let material possessions take over
Keep you down
Prevent you from living your life to the fullest
A get on up, a get on up, I mean you do
Stand up and get moving, do
What I ya say
What I'm telling you
I say do what you do, but don't get
I mean do what you like, but
Carried away
Don't lose control
Let's have a good time, yes educate
Let's have fun, while also learning and growing
Oneself
As individuals
And liberate
And free ourselves
Oneself
As individuals
Don't be no fool today don't be so cruel
Don't act foolishly or hurt others
Today
Right now
Let's work together yes, to build a better
Let's collaborate to create a better
Place
World for all
Melody Makers, more Melody Makers
The band, and more of the band
Let's have a good time
Let's enjoy ourselves and our music
Melody Makers, more Melody Makers
The band, and more of the band
Melody Makers
The band
More Melody Makers, Let's have a good time
More of the band playing more music, and let's have fun
Melody Makers, More Meldoy Makers
The band, and more of the band
Melody Makers
The band
Let's have a good time, let's have a good time
Let's enjoy ourselves and our music, and have fun
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: CEDELLA MARLEY, SHARON MARLEY, STEPHEN MARLEY, ZIGGY MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@scribescribe4289
Here is the difference, the heathen go against Jah plan and never repent
The righteous, ask God to move their steps, and to rightly guided
Jeremiah 10:23 or near that, look it up. the prayer of him says 'Lord, I know it is not for people to direct their steps.'
one must let go of the ego, the demon inside that wants , and wants
that is the meaning of "The Lord is My Shepherd, I shall not want"
this means to kill the fleshly desires, stop wanting things outside of what
God wants for you in your life
The meaning of the saying from David "I shall not want"
means simply: I shall not want anything other than what the Lord wants for me
It is to have joy, and to repent daily, that is the religion of Judah
that I and I am sent to the world to teach, I have been in hiding
2022 is when I begin to record with the reggae community
I am building a band and a camp, it is on over 100 acres
in the mountains above san luis obispo, I have no money
I have everything else, should you want not to help me ziggy
message someone who can, it need be a loyal member of Judah
who loves Most High, that is the person who will help I
for before David became king, he built a camp
RASTAFARI
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@tdhinternational8976
This one of my favourite melody maker's track, take me back to my school days. 😎👍
@wannabet2647
The cadence of the flow with back up singers, the ladies sound great, one of the happiest most chill songs, I love it. I’m trying to make rap songs with a back up singers wailing on the hook. That’s a banger right there
@westlygraves4209
Thanks for the positive music and positive vibes ziggy"✊see dem fake leaders,🔥
@coolpoete
Awesome album. Lots of great memories during these earlier years. Will be putting this back in my music library rotation
@solinspired4428
Me too! I play the all the time my shop
@ambervisions
Thank you for the positive energy! It is soooo needed right now!
@hannahoron9740
I remember at the time I found it too difficult to accommodate to the new sound (not exactly roots reggae), but listening to the song now, I applaud the move from the "we are Marley so we have to make reggae music" sound! Actually, it was quite visionary. (Just a question aside about the video, do I see a young Stephen playing the saxophone? Ha, ha, ha! Great stuff, these old vids!) Thanks for sharing. Jah Bless!!!
@gemini787
Yes that's Stephen on the saxophone. They have 2 versions of this music video. This one is for the original album track. They also have a similar video for the remixed version of this song. Though I like both versions, I think my favorite is the remixed one.
@staceymcclain9875
Keep the Spirit high!
Been down with the Melody Makers since "Play the game right"! Never too much!🤗
@SoulfulVeg
I had this CD many moons ago. Nice to hear this again