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.
Walk Tall
Ziggy Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Walk tall, walk tall
Even if you fall get up
Stand tall, stand tall
Even if you fall get up
Walk tall, walk tall
Even if you fall get up
Stand tall, stand tall
Life is a lesson that we must learn
If you play with fire you might get burned
If you worry too much
You gonna get stressed
So brush off the dust
And lift up your chest
[Chorus]
Everyone creeps before they walk
Everyone cries before they talk
There comes a time you gotta be strong
So pick up your feet and sing this song
[Chorus]
Don't you worry 'bout how it looks
Not everything was written in a book
Some things you learn as you go
But here's one thing you already know
[Chorus]
Nothing is ever gonna keep me down
I jump over hurdles I'll come around
And if at first I don't succeed
I'm gonna try it again
Till I get what I need
[Chorus]
Jook it
Even if you fall get up
Even if you fall get up
Even if you fall get up
Even if you fall get up
Yeah
Walk tall, walk tall
Stand tall, stand tall
Walk tall, stand tall
Walk tall, stand tall
The first part of the chorus in Ziggy Marley's "Walk Tall" sends a message of resilience and perseverance. It encourages us to hold our heads up high even when we stumble, reminding us that a fall does not mean the end of our journey. It's about standing back up after life knocks you down and believing in yourself.
The verses of "Walk Tall" emphasize the lessons that we learn from living, and that everyone has to start small before growing into something great. The first line points out that making mistakes is part of growing, and sometimes contrary to our expectations, those mistakes are valuable teachings. Also noted are the fears that can hold us back from achieving our dreams and the importance of brushing ourselves off and taking steps forward even when we fall.
The chorus holds a powerful message of self-empowerment. The line "Even if you fall get up" is repeated throughout, cementing the importance of getting up from our failures and using them as lessons to grow. The song is a reminder that, regardless of where we are in our lives or what hardships we face, resilience and determination will help us overcome and achieve our goals.
Line by Line Meaning
Walk tall, walk tall
Remain confident and composed, regardless of the obstacles faced in life.
Even if you fall get up
No matter how many times you fail, learn from your mistakes and keep pushing forward.
Stand tall, stand tall
Be proud of who you are and never let anyone bring you down.
Life is a lesson that we must learn
We should treat every experience in life as a learning opportunity.
If you play with fire you might get burned
Every action has consequences, so be cautious with your decisions.
If you worry too much
Excessive worrying can lead to unnecessary stress and anxiety.
You gonna get stressed
We must learn to let go of worries to avoid undue stress and its adverse effects.
So brush off the dust
Let go of past failures and look forward to future opportunities.
And lift up your chest
Be confident and proud of who you are and what you have accomplished.
Everyone creeps before they walk
Success doesn't come overnight. It takes time, effort, and patience.
Everyone cries before they talk
Before achieving success, one must endure some form of discomfort or pain.
There comes a time you gotta be strong
At some point in life, you need to be strong and resilient to face and overcome challenges.
So pick up your feet and sing this song
Embrace life's challenges with a positive attitude and keep moving forward.
Don't you worry 'bout how it looks
Don't worry about other people's opinions or judgments. Focus on your goals.
Not everything was written in a book
Life experiences teach us valuable lessons that can't be found in any book or manual.
Some things you learn as you go
We learn a lot from the experiences we have and the challenges we face every day.
But here's one thing you already know
The only constant thing in life is change, and the best way to deal with it is to remain positive.
Nothing is ever gonna keep me down
No matter what challenges I face, I will always rise back up and keep fighting.
I jump over hurdles I'll come around
I am determined to overcome every obstacle in my path.
And if at first I don't succeed
Failure is not the end. It's an opportunity to learn and try again with renewed vigor.
I'm gonna try it again
Perseverance and persistence are the keys to success in life.
Till I get what I need
I won't stop until I achieve my goals and fulfill my dreams.
Jook it
An expression of enthusiasm and energy.
Walk tall, walk tall
Remain confident and composed, regardless of the obstacles faced in life.
Stand tall, stand tall
Be proud of who you are and never let anyone bring you down.
Walk tall, stand tall
Be confident and resilient, even in the face of adversity.
Walk tall, stand tall
Persevere and remain hopeful, even in difficult times.
Lyrics © Regard Music, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DAVID NESTA MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Allentravelsnow
I love this song so much
@OGSwavyyyyy333
Same ❤
@marishea0silver
My 7mon old and I love to dance to this !!!! Thanks Ziggy Et al Nuff Respect
@brenda19ish
Thanks. They are great together.
@Loose1244
I played this c.d to my children they loved it and I did 2
We would all sing together while I would drive to and from
@mooiNijmegen
great combination
@duanebaatjes514
It's in the genes!!!
@Ceocammm
Feels like yesterday this was on little league World Series☹️☹️
@adamcastro3326
Lows 2009 was the best
@Santosaint_
Thank you.