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.
People Get Ready
Ziggy Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a train a comin'
You don't need no baggage you just get on board
All you need is faith
To hear the diesel comin'
Don't need no ticket you just thank the Lord
People get ready
Picking up passengers from coast to coast
Faith is key
Open the doors and board them
There's hope for all among the love the most
There ain't no room for the hopeless sinner
Who would hurt all mankind just to save his own soul
Have pity on those whose choices grow thinner
There ain't no hiding place from the Kingdom's throne
People get ready
There's a train a comin'
You don't need no baggage you just get on board
All you need is faith
To hear the diesel comin'
Don't need no ticket you just thank the Lord
There's a train there's a train there's a train comin' people
There's a train there's a train there's a train comin' people
There's a train there's a train there's a train comin' people
Just get on board
There ain't no room for the hopeless sinner
Who would hurt all mankind just to save his own soul
Have pity on those whose choices grow thinner
There ain't no hiding place from the Kingdom's throne
Ziggy Marley's song "People Get Ready" is a call to humanity to prepare for the coming of a great and decisive event, signified by the arrival of a train. The train is a metaphor for salvation or redemption, and the journey to Jordan is symbolic of the journey towards a better life, guided by faith and love. The song conveys the message that all human beings are equal before the eyes of God, and that they all have a chance to be saved, regardless of their past sins or shortcomings. The lyrics also warn against those who would harm others to save their own souls, and urge the listener to have pity on those who are lost or hopeless.
Line by Line Meaning
People get ready
Prepare for what's to come
There's a train a comin'
Something important is coming soon
You don't need no baggage you just get on board
Leave your troubles behind and join in
All you need is faith
Believe in something greater than yourself
To hear the diesel comin'
Stay aware of what's happening around you
Don't need no ticket you just thank the Lord
Gratitude for the opportunity
Train to Jordan
Metaphor for spiritual journey
Picking up passengers from coast to coast
Everyone is invited to join
Faith is key
Belief is necessary
Open the doors and board them
Welcome others into the journey
There's hope for all among the love the most
Love is the answer to finding hope
There ain't no room for the hopeless sinner
Actions have consequences
Who would hurt all mankind just to save his own soul
Selfishness and cruelty are not acceptable
Have pity on those whose choices grow thinner
Sympathy for those who struggle
There ain't no hiding place from the Kingdom's throne
All will be held accountable for their actions
There's a train there's a train there's a train comin' people
The message needs to be heard
Just get on board
Join the journey
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Curtis Mayfield
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Aldi Septian
on Love Is My Religion
steady
Aldi Septian
on True To Myself
steady.
Oznir Selbor
on Changes
best of the the best
Metin Karamanoğlu
on True To Myself
seni hep dinliyorum.
Sigrid Pauline
on True To Myself
���
James Bryan C Quipanes
on True To Myself
nice cool music Jah rastafarai :)
James Bryan C Quipanes
on True To Myself
yes man .
Joseni Dias
on Never Deny You
ziggi marlei so pedra curte so
Christopher McGrowder
on A Lifetime
love this so much
Christopher McGrowder
on Melancholy Mood
gwaan foodie respect