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.
Namibia
Ziggy Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
People get free and independent
People get freedom in Namibia
People get free and independent
I pay my tribute to, people get freedom in
Namibia
People get free and independent, yea
People get freedom in Namibia
So strive for the land
Don't depend on the over sea man
He is like a mosquito
A mean, one step, hey, we got more step to
Go
I pay my tribute to, people get freedom in
Namibia
People get free and independent, one time
People get freedom in Namibia
People get free and independent
So many years ago
I say, white racist regime would not
Know
Run, dem hafi gun run, run with their
Mentality
Run dem down
A tribute to, people get freedom in
Namibia, yea, yea
People get free and independent, really a
Joy and relief
People get freedom in Namibia, free to
Make up your mind
People get free and independent, every
Time
We don't stop you go, we don't stop you
Go
Mi sey, we don't stop you go, we don't
Stop you go
Mi sey, we don't stop you go, we don't
Stop you go
Mi sey, we don't stop you go, we don't
Stop you go
Rastaman rise, rise and take your stance
Again
All revolutionaries rise
Hey come come come come come come meek
We help and freedom
I tell you now, people get freedom in
Namibia
People get free and independent
Hey, people get freedom in Namibia
People get free and independent, yes
People get freedom in Namibia, my life is
Full of joy
People get free and independent, tell
Africans I know their joy
People get freedom in Namibia, we got all
Right to live
People get free and independent, we've
Got a right to give
People get freedom in Namibia
People get free and independent
People get freedom in Namibia
People get free and independent
The song Namibia by Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers is a tribute to the people of Namibia who fought for and achieved their freedom and independence. The song celebrates the hard-won victory against a white racist regime that oppressed and denied the rights of the people. Through the lyrics, the artist encourages the people to strive for the land and not to depend on the over sea man who is like a mosquito- one step, and there's still more steps to go. The song invokes a spirit of revolution and unity among the people to continue fighting for their rights until they achieve an independent and self-governing nation.
The lyrics are a testament to the resilience, courage, and determination of the Namibian people in their fight for freedom. The song acknowledges the joy and relief that came with independence and celebrates the right of every citizen to live and give back to their community. The artist encourages Africans to embrace the freedom and independence of Namibia and let it be a source of inspiration to them. The song Namibia is a message of hope, a reminder of the power of unity and perseverance, and a tribute to the people who fought for a cause greater than themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
People get freedom in Namibia
The people of Namibia gained their freedom and became an independent nation.
People get free and independent
The people of Namibia can now live freely and make their own decisions without being controlled by others.
I pay my tribute to, people get freedom in Namibia
The singer acknowledges and honors the people of Namibia for their struggle towards freedom and independence.
So strive for the land
It's important to work hard and fight for your country.
Don't depend on the over sea man
Do not rely on foreigners or outsiders to solve your problems.
A mean, one step, hey, we got more step to go
It may be a difficult journey towards freedom, but there's still a long way to go and we must keep moving forward.
So many years ago, I say, white racist regime would not know
The singer predicted that the oppressive white racist government in Namibia would not last forever.
Run, dem hafi gun run, run with their mentality
The oppressive government must flee and abandon their oppressive ways.
Rastaman rise, rise and take your stance again
The Rastafarians must stand up and demand freedom for themselves and others.
All revolutionaries rise
All those who stand against oppression and fight for freedom should unite and take action.
We help and freedom
We must work together to achieve freedom and independence.
My life is full of joy
The singer is happy to see the people of Namibia finally free and independent.
Tell Africans I know their joy
The singer wants to share the news of Namibia's freedom with other Africans who are also fighting for their own freedom.
We've got a right to give
Now that they are free, the people of Namibia can help other countries and people who are struggling for freedom.
Lyrics © Regard Music, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: CEDELLA MARLEY, STEPHEN MARLEY, ZIGGY MARLEY, ERICA NEWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rebirthinvestment17
Watch this song being performed live at the independence stadium 21st March 1990 Windhoek. We should invite the souls of the legend back to this beautiful country for a other show.
@tocatocaboca30
As a Namibian, this song brings tears to my ears. Didn't even know of it. Thank you Ziggy.
@sisfraser3517
Love this song. It's never left me from my youth ..... 💚💛❤️
Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers ❣️
@sounamibia
Me chamo Namibia 😊😊 que emoção ouvir essa música e saber que meu pai se inspirou nesse país incrível para colocar o nome da sua caçula ❤❤❤
@marciadaconceicao7061
A sério? Vc é da onde?
@Kashis_Corner
As a Namibian, I would like to thank the artists for this track 👏👏👏
@pieterwillembotha6719
but 'Namibia', is a colonial construction, how can you support those borders when they were artificially constructed?
@ysaehikonrad6431
I'm from Namibia, lets link up
@sebastianwinkler1757
I love reggae and I love Namibia.
What a wonderfull song.
Peace and Love to u All.
@therootoflife5290
This song reminds me of Jahmekya Album, me and brothers and sisters during secondary schools times in 1992. Our favourite tracks were Jah is True and Perfect and Small People. I shall make my day today listening to Jahmekya album. Thanks for posting