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.

Pains of Life
Ziggy Marley Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

This song is for all the children
This song is for all the children

Jah said if you ain't like a child
You can't enter Mount Zion
Jah said if you ain't like a child
You can't enter Mount Zion
Mount Zion, Mount Zion, Mount Zion

Mama want you to be what she wants you to be
You got to be what you got to be
Yes everyone suffers from the pains of life
And everyone suffers from the pains of life
Pains of life, pains of life, the pains of life

Everyone suffers from the pains of life
Everyone suffers from the pains of life
Pains of life, pains of life, the pains of life

This song is for all the children
This song is for all the children

Jah said if you ain't like a child
You can't enter Mount Zion
Jah said if you ain't like a child

You can't enter Mount Zion
Oh Mount Zion, Mount Zion, Mount Zion

Overall Meaning

In this song, Ziggy Marley emphasizes the importance of love as the only law that should govern human behavior. He suggests that people shouldn't pay attention to what others say since the ultimate goal is to learn how to love. Marley indicates that learning how to love is a fundamental goal that everyone should strive towards, and there is no greater lesson than that. He advises people to embrace love and avoid shame and pain as they learn this valuable lesson.

Marley also points out that while people make mistakes, committing sins should not lead to destruction, thereby indirectly suggesting that forgiveness should be given. He urges people to explain themselves when they are distracted from their aim of loving others. Ultimately, he stresses that love should be embraced by everyone, and it should be the law that governs our lives.

Overall, the Pains of Life by Ziggy Marley is a call to embrace love as the one law that can transform society. The song highlights that learning to love others is the most crucial lesson, and we should make it our aim and let go of the shame or pain that comes with it.

Line by Line Meaning

Love is the only law to obey
The only rule to follow is to love

Don't business what they say
Don't be concerned with what others say

We only live to learn to love
Our purpose in life is to learn how to love

And no lesson is greater
There is no greater lesson than love

Make it your gain, suffer no shame
Embrace love to benefit yourself and avoid shame

We'll only live if we learn to love
Our existence is dependent on learning to love

No treasure is greater
Nothing of greater value than love

What it your aim, suffer no pain
Pursue love and avoid suffering

I know you care what they say
I understand that you're concerned with others' opinions

If it in your mind to commit the sin
If you're considering committing a sin

I hope you know, no destruction is greater
Know that no destruction is more devastating than sin