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.
Reggae in My Head
Ziggy Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sitting by the river listening to her songs
She played it all night long
She brought me from defeat hypnotized by the beat
On the rocks I made my bed she played reggae in my head
Reggae in my head, reggae in my head, reggae in my head
Cities of oppression there is no imagination
A world without dreams is lost it seems
In the prison of known realities so I say
I got reggae in my head, reggae in my head, I put reggae in my head
Oh what a wonderful world this could be only if we live in peace
Dancing to this vibration this is my emotion
Sitting by the river listening to her songs
She played it all night long
She brought me from defeat hypnotized by the beat
On the rocks I made my bed, she played reggae in my head
Reggae in my head, reggae in my head, reggae in my head
I got reggae in my head, reggae in my head, I want reggae in my head
I got reggae in my head, I need reggae in my head, reggae in my head
In "Reggae in My Head," Ziggy Marley sings about the power of reggae music to uplift and transport the listener to a place of freedom and joy. He starts off by describing a moment by the river where he becomes entranced by the music and is brought out of his own defeat by its hypnotic beat. The line "on the rocks I made my bed" suggests a feeling of homelessness or displacement but that the reggae music provides a sense of belonging and comfort. The repetition of "reggae in my head" throughout the song reinforces the idea that the genre is more than just a sound, but a state of mind.
Marley then delves into the idea that cities and systems of oppression can stifle imagination and creativity, but that reggae offers a means of breaking free from the confines of known realities. He calls for a world without dreams to be lost, and that we need to live in peace to truly have a wonderful world. The line "dancing to this vibration" suggests that reggae is not just a sound, but a physical sensation that can inspire movement and connection.
Overall, "Reggae in My Head" celebrates the power of reggae music to uplift and inspire its listeners. Through its hypnotic beats, the genre offers an escape from the struggles of everyday life and a means of finding a sense of belonging and joy.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah reggae in my head, reggae in my head, reggae in my head
The singer is emphasizing the constant presence of reggae music in his mind.
Sitting by the river listening to her songs
The singer is finding peace and relaxation by the river while listening to reggae music.
She played it all night long
The reggae music was played continuously throughout the night.
She brought me from defeat hypnotized by the beat
The singer's mood was lifted and transformed by the irresistible rhythm of the reggae music.
On the rocks I made my bed she played reggae in my head
The singer is recalling a time when he slept outside on rocks while the reggae music played in his mind.
Cities of oppression there is no imagination
The singer sees urban areas that lack creativity and innovation.
Oh to be wild and free again
The singer longs for a time when he can live unencumbered by societal norms and expectations.
A world without dreams is lost it seems
The singer believes that a world devoid of ambition and imagination is a desolate and meaningless one.
In the prison of known realities so I say
The singer is trapped in a mundane and unsatisfying life, but he is expressing his desire for change.
I got reggae in my head, reggae in my head, I put reggae in my head
The singer deliberately fills his mind with reggae music to provide himself with comfort and inspiration.
Oh what a wonderful world this could be only if we live in peace
The singer envisions a world filled with harmony and cooperation.
Dancing to this vibration this is my emotion
The singer expresses the intense feelings of joy and excitement he experiences when he dances to reggae music.
I got reggae in my head, reggae in my head, I want reggae in my head
The singer is affirming the importance of reggae music in his life and expressing his desire for more of it.
I got reggae in my head, I need reggae in my head, reggae in my head
The singer emphasizes the therapeutic and healing effects of reggae music on his mind and spirit.
Lyrics © ISHTI MUSIC INC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DAVID NESTA MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@babylonhasfallen1329
It’s January 28, 2023. 10:28pm central time and I’m still surviving. I don’t know where you’re at but at this moment this is where I am. Long live reggae and that wonderful leaf is for the healing of the nations but the true remedy is Christ.
Stay unwoke my bruthas and hold fast to common sense.
@nz6052
Very nice mix👍
@LotusRiver
Followed Every Sunsplash and tour in Ventura or nearby at 15 and on to now 40+...Beautiful familia and Love!!!!! True to self.....Loved all the Truths...Feelin' free and better at 40 than ever...Life truly begins there, and now this rings truer today than EVER.....Yummmmm...smell the new air....Something seems less polluted by "emotional SMOG".....All my Healing Light I have.....~Lotus River :)
@oon307
I love Reggae forever
@ericalangarcia
Like the One Drop at the end. Jah Bless
@jimmysplifff
Jah's Music ... Blessed Rastaman spread the message ... Nuff Raspect
@avishaygolan
Ziggy greetings from israel. JA is 1
@muaroland9989
Every time i listen to the Marley's its like every thing is perfect!
@joshcomeau987
I've seen you twice now ziggy can't wait for the third time hope to meet you this time.. reggae forever
@gregorywisang1046
one love from Jakarta Indonesia.,Jah Bless