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.

Marijuanaman
Ziggy Marley Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Huh ahh

Marijuana man
Marijuana man
Said we gonna save the land
Give the needy a helping hand

Marijuana man

Marijuana man

Were we got to save the land
Before the people a helping ha d

Overall Meaning

The song "Marijuanaman" by Ziggy Marley is a reggae anthem that praises the virtues of marijuana and the need for its legalization. The lyrics of the song are simple yet profound, as they reflect on the medicinal and healing properties of marijuana, calling it the ultimate savior for the land and the people. The recurring chorus of the song, "Marijuana man, said we're gonna save the land, give the needy a helping hand," emphasizes the theme of marijuana being a solution to many of the world's problems.

The lyrics capture the spirit of the legalization movement that advocates for the decriminalization and regulation of marijuana. Ziggy Marley uses the song to express his strong belief in the medicinal benefits of marijuana and how it can help people in need. Through the lyrics, he urges people to put aside their prejudices and embrace the healing power of marijuana. Overall, "Marijuanaman" is an uplifting and inspiring song that seeks to change people's perceptions of marijuana and promote a more positive image of the plant.

Line by Line Meaning

Huh ahh
A nonsensical sound used to grab attention and set the tone for the song.

Marijuana man
The singer of the song who is associated with marijuana.

Marijuana man
Repetition of the singer's name to reinforce their identity.

Said we gonna save the land
Marijuana man believes that the use of marijuana can help preserve and protect the environment.

Give the needy a helping hand
Marijuana man wants to use marijuana to help those who are struggling or in need.

Marijuana man
Repetition of the singer's name to reinforce their identity.

Were we got to save the land
Marijuana man feels a sense of urgency in using marijuana to protect the environment.

Before the people a helping hand
Marijuana man wants to prioritize helping those in need before anything else.

Writer(s): David Marley

Contributed by Maria S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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