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.
Love Is My Religion
Ziggy Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Love is my religion
Love is my religion
I'll take you to the temple tonight
All my days I've been searching
To find out what this life is worth
Through the books and bibles of time
I don't condemn, I don't convert
This is a calling have you heard
Bring all the lovers to the fold
'Cause no one is gonna lose their soul
Love is my religion
Love is my religion
Love is my religion
Hey, you can take it or leave it
And you don't have to believe it
I don't want to fight
Hey, let's go fly a kite
There's nothing that we can't cure
And I'll keep you in my arms for sure
So don't let nobody stop us
Free spirits have to soar
With you I share the gift
The gift that we now know, oh, oh, oh
Love is my religion
Love is my religion
Love is my religion
Hey, you can take it or leave it
And you don't have to believe it
Well I'm done searching now
I found out what this life is worth
Not in the books that I find
But by searching my mind
I don't condemn, I don't convert
This is the calling have you heard
Bring all the lovers to the fold
No one is gonna lose their soul
Love is my religion
Love is my religion
Love is my religion
Hey, you can take it or leave it
And you don't have to believe it
Love is my religion
Love is my religion
Love is my religion
Hey, you can take it or leave it
Now that you believe
Ziggy Marley's song "Love Is My Religion" is a powerful anthem celebrating the universal language of love. Throughout the song, Ziggy communicates the idea that love is the guiding force in his life above all else. He challenges those who try to force their beliefs, stating he doesn't condemn or convert. Instead, he invites everyone to the temple, whatever that may be, to celebrate love.
In the first verse, Marley sings about his search for the meaning of life. He has read books and bibles but has come to a realization that love is the answer. He is not looking for followers or converts as he states, "I don't condemn, I don't convert, this is a calling have you heard." The lyrics shift towards a celebration of love in the second and third verses. Marley sings about his desire not to fight, to let his love fly like a kite, and to keep his lover in his arms forevermore. This is a beautifully uplifting message meant to inspire all those who hear it.
"Love Is My Religion" offers a powerful message that rings true in every culture. Love is the one thing that unites us all; it is the language that needs no explanation. This song is a celebration of love in all its forms and a reminder that love is the one thing that can change the world. "Love Is My Religion" concludes with a final verse affirming the central message of the song. Marley has found what life is worth, not in any book he's read, but by searching within his own mind. This is an affirmation of one's own inner strength and wisdom. The message of these lyrics is clear: love is not only the universal force that unites us all, but it is also within each of us.
Line by Line Meaning
Love is my religion
Love is the guiding principle of my life, the focal point around which I orient my actions and beliefs.
I'll take you to the temple tonight
I want to share my love with you and invite you to experience it with me.
All my days I've been searching
I have spent my life trying to uncover the true meaning and purpose of existence.
To find out what this life is worth
To understand what value life holds and what its objectives are.
Through the books and bibles of time
I have explored the world's great religious texts in search of answers.
I've made up my mind
I have made a firm decision based on my search for the truth.
I don't condemn, I don't convert
I do not judge or try to persuade others to change their beliefs.
This is a calling have you heard
I believe that advocating for love is my true calling or purpose in life.
Bring all the lovers to the fold
I want to encourage everyone to embrace love and share it with others.
'Cause no one is gonna lose their soul
By embracing love, no one will forfeit their identity, integrity, or soul.
Hey, you can take it or leave it
I'm not compelling you to think or believe a certain way, you have the freedom to choose what you want to do.
I don't want to fight
I don't want to argue or engage in conflict over philosophical differences.
Hey, let's go fly a kite
Let's engage in playful and enjoyable activities that transcend our differences and bring us together.
There's nothing that we can't cure
Love has the power to heal all wounds, and there is no situation that it cannot remedy.
And I'll keep you in my arms for sure
I will protect and care for you, and keep you close to me.
So don't let nobody stop us
Let's not allow others to hinder us from freely sharing our love with one another.
Free spirits have to soar
Our souls are free to fly high and pursue our aspirations and dreams.
With you I share the gift
I want to share the joy and happiness that love brings with you.
The gift that we now know, oh, oh, oh
The gift of love is something that we have come to recognize and cherish.
Well I'm done searching now
I have put the search for truth aside and found the answer within myself.
Not in the books that I find
I did not find the answer in religious texts or other sources of knowledge.
But by searching my mind
I found the answer within myself through introspection and self-reflection.
Now that you believe
Now that you understand the power of love and its importance, you can share in it with me.
Lyrics © Regard Music, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: David Nesta Marley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Samuel Rodrigues
É A MELHORRRRR.......
Collins Cheruiyot
Lyrics
Love is my religion,
Love is my religion,
Love is my religion
I'll take you to the temple tonight
All my days I've been searching,
To find out what this life is worth
Through the books and bibles of time
I've made up my mind
I don't condemn, I don't convert,
This is a calling have you heard
Bring all the lovers to the fold,
'Cause no one is gonna lose their soul
Love is my religion,
Love is my religion,
Love is my religion
Hey you can take it or leave it,
And you don't have to believe it
I don't want to fight,
Hey let's go fly a kite
There's nothing that we can't cure,
And I'll keep you in my arms for sure
So don't let nobody stop us,
Free spirits have to soar
With you I share the gift,
The gift that we now know oh oh oh
Love is my religion,
Love is my religion,
Love is my religion
Hey you can take it or leave it,
And you don't have to believe it
Well I'm done searching now,
I found out what this life is worth
Not in the books that I find,
But by searching my mind
I don't condemn, I don't convert
This is the calling have you heard,
Bring all the lovers to the fold
No one is gonna lose their soul
Love is my religion,
Love is my religion,
Love is my religion
Hey you can take it or leave it,
And you don't have to believe it
Love is my religion,
Love is my religion,
Love is my religion
Hey you can take it or leave it,
Now that you believe
Clara Barros
Temos que respeitar qualquer religião, Qualquer raça. Somos todos irmãos
Ed Hickey
"Don't let nobody stop us..free spirits have to soar" is my mantra ♥️♥️
Julie Guido
I'm literally getting that as a tattoo 😊
Jason Carpp
My favourite lines in this song are "I don't condemn, I don't convert", and "You can take it or leave it, you don't have to believe it." Just how morality is supposed to be.
Tony Blanko
i love it
Jason Carpp
@Tony Blanko So do I. :)
Trux3d
Me too
The One
"I dont condemn, I dont convert" that is so powerful.
Jason Carpp
"You can take it or leave it, and you don't have to believe it. I don't want to fight!"