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.
Raw Riddim
Ziggy Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My sound still in the musical top, relax
Come on in, the gate is wide and open
Don't be afraid, we're not as bad as they say
Do you, do you, do what you got to do
Do you, do you, do what you got to do
Do you, do you, do what you got to do
We're having fun down in the ghetto
We're having fun down in the ghetto
We're having fun down in the ghetto
We're having fun down in the ghetto
[Chorus]
When will the innocent stop being
Punished for their innocence
When will the innocent stop being
Punished for their innocence
When will the innocent stop being
Punished for their innocence
When will the innocent stop being
Punished for their innocence
Come on in, the gate is wide and open
Don't be afraid, we're not as bad as they say
Do you, do you, do what you got to do
Do you, do you, do what you got to do
Do you, do you, do what you got to do
Do you, do you
[Chorus]
Now I'm at a corner, gonna check a sistren
Left alone to suffer
No I'm at the station, going to check a brethren
Charge with instigating revolution
See it ya, now me say we willy winkle
Where have you been
So skinning up your teeth, you know we not smiling
Because you upstairs downstairs committing sin
Political wise and you don't deserve a thing
Every sufferer suffer sometime or another
Though you see wiinna knit ganz and sweater
We belly could a full, but we still a suffer
House and land down suh it without furniture
Though wi export wi coffee send wi farm worker
Ex-amount a wi people still a suffer
The ghetto gal from down suh,
Man mi say she sweet like a wah
Man wi hail up Pam and big up Barbara
Special request to Panserella Big up the youth
Call Burro Chaga, soul man him dey yah
In nough gold chain, silver
[Chorus]
You see as to how wi get this riddim yah
Fe dance wid, you dance wid it you nuh
Same way you nuh
The lyrics of Raw Riddim by Ziggy Marley And The Melody Makers are expressive of the joy and freedom of the people who live in the ghetto. The singer urges the listener to do what they gotta do and relax. The gate is open, and there's nothing to worry about. Despite the reputation the ghetto has received in society, the people living in there are just having fun. The chorus of the song is a sad contrast to the joyous tone of the verses. It seems like the innocence of the ghetto people is always under threat, and they're punished for something they didn't do wrong. The song is trying to paint a picture of a system that doesn't care about its innocent people and tries to bring attention to it.
The song is upbeat and starts with the lyrics mentioning hopping and bopping. It is clear that the song is aimed at people who want to dance and have a good time. Ziggy Marley And The Melody Makers use an upbeat and positive tone to bring attention to the issues that the people of the ghetto face daily. The song's lyrics also tell a story of a person who goes out to check on their friends and is met with people who are being unfairly punished. The singer is asking where the justice and fairness are in the world, and why the innocent keep getting punished. The song ends with a call to enjoy the moment and is repetitive to emphasize its point.
Line by Line Meaning
Hop bop but don't call the cop
Let's have a good time without causing any trouble or attracting unnecessary attention from law enforcement
My sound still in the musical top, relax
My music is still at the top of its game, so just sit back and enjoy
Come on in, the gate is wide and open
Everyone is welcome to join in and have a good time
Don't be afraid, we're not as bad as they say
There's no need to fear us because we aren't as dangerous or harmful as rumors may suggest
Do you, do you, do what you got to do
Be yourself and do what you need to do in order to enjoy life
We're having fun down in the ghetto
Despite the difficult living conditions, there's still joy and happiness to be found in the ghetto
When will the innocent stop being Punished for their innocence
Why do good people continue to suffer and be punished for things they did not do or have no control over?
Now I'm at a corner, gonna check a sistren
I'm heading to a street corner to visit a sister who's been left alone and suffering
Charge with instigating revolution
My friend has been charged with starting a revolution, which is a serious accusation
Political wise and you don't deserve a thing
Many politicians are undeserving of their power and privileges
Every sufferer suffer sometime or another
Everyone, regardless of background or circumstances, experiences suffering at some point in their life
House and land down suh it without furniture
Many people in the ghetto own a home and land, but lack basic furniture and necessities
The ghetto gal from down suh, Man mi say she sweet like a wah
There's a lovely girl from the ghetto who I find very attractive
Special request to Panserella Big up the youth
I want to send a shoutout to Panserella and give encouragement to the young people
You see as to how wi get this riddim yah Fe dance wid, you dance wid it you nuh
This music has a great rhythm and we should all dance along to it
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, ISHTI MUSIC INC
Written by: STEPHEN MARLEY, ZIGGY MARLEY
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