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.
Water And Oil
Ziggy Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dem try fi hold hold wha dem can't conquer
Rastaman no mix up with no vagavanga
They want to condemn the innocent
For crimes which we did not committ
They want to get good people mix up
In their bag of tricks
[Repeat: x2]
But water and oil can't mix
Water and oil don't mix
[Repeat: x2]
Say dem try fi hold hold wha dem can't conquer
Rastaman no mix up with no vagavanga
Hear this! naah go like the son if you no like the father
True we manifest under the same order
Cock your ears and listen me want you hear ya part ya
But first come in papa Ziggy as the eldest brother
Yes I hear the lies they've told
Dem says Rasta did this and this
What is the politican role
Is it to create conflicts
[Repeat: x2]
But water and oil can't mix
Water and oil don't mix
Jah who I praise break your silence
Now that the wicked is accusing
Attacking for no reason
All we did was pray for them
Now the way things happen fast
Some things me naah go member
But the day did cool cool and collective lya
Nest thing me know some unwanted visitors
Some devil worshiping Rasta hating cold-blooded murdera
Never get get wha dem expect dem expect lamb fi slaughter
Hear this! This is Ragamuffin and him hitting harder
We get up from weh we sit down to a strategic corner
Me and the bwoy dem eye mek four me mek a nervous swallow
Prip around from left to right me look pon all me brother
Hold me head to the sky and make a final prayer
Zoom! zoom! And everything take cover
Look how fast lightning rod back out in all a dem face
Quick! Me back out me no member wha it name
Them never know the youth them would not lose them faith
Through the grace of the Father everything set straight
Water and oil can't mix
The main message in the song "Water and Oil" by Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers is that the righteous and the wicked cannot coexist. The lyrics warn of those who try to make others mix with bad company and those who falsely accuse the innocent. The repetition "Dem try fi hold hold wha dem can't conquer" emphasizes the idea that some people try to control or conquer those who are not meant to be controlled or conquered. The lyrics reflect the Rastafari belief in the separation of good and evil.
The phrase "water and oil don't mix" is used as a metaphor to emphasize the separation of good and evil. Water and oil are two substances that cannot be mixed or blended together. This metaphor is used to represent the righteous and the wicked. The righteous and the wicked cannot be joined together. The song encourages people to remain firm in their faith and avoid mixing with bad company. The lyrics also criticize politicians who create conflicts and falsely accuse the innocent. The song ends with a sense of triumph over the wicked as the righteous overcome their challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Dem try fi hold hold wha dem can't conquer
They want to condemn the innocent for crimes which they did not committ
Rastaman no mix up with no vagavanga
They want to get good people mix up in their bag of tricks
Water and oil can't mix
There is a fundamental difference between them that makes them incompatible
Say dem try fi hold hold wha dem can't conquer
They want to condemn the innocent for crimes which they did not committ
Hear this! naah go like the son if you no like the father
If you don't like someone's family, it's likely you won't like them
True we manifest under the same order
We are all created equal and the same way
Cock your ears and listen me want you hear ya part ya
Pay attention and listen to what I have to say
What is the politican role
What is the purpose of politicians?
But water and oil can't mix
There is a fundamental difference between them that makes them incompatible
Jah who I praise break your silence
God, who I worship, please speak up
Now that the wicked is accusing
Now that the bad people are accusing me
Attacking for no reason
They're attacking me without reason
All we did was pray for them
All we did was pray for them to be safe and happy
Water and oil can't mix
There is a fundamental difference between them that makes them incompatible
Hear this! This is Ragamuffin and him hitting harder
Listen carefully, this is me (Ragamuffin) fighting back harder
We get up from weh we sit down to a strategic corner
We moved from where we were sitting to a strategic location
Hold me head to the sky and make a final prayer
I raised my head to the sky and prayed for the final time
Water and oil can't mix
There is a fundamental difference between them that makes them incompatible
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DAVID MARLEY, 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