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.
You
Ziggy Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From the task master's whip to my brain
Kidnapped, enslaved, raped
And killed by the lynch clan
Again and again
Is it the origin of the skin
Or the face of a race
Why you don't care about me?
Now, I know you don't care about me
I'm just a nigga walking down the street
The brother did nothing wrong
But now his life is gone
So, I know you don't care about me
Code of silence you say
Yet your actions speak so loud and clear
Diallo's killers going free paid by society
Now I know you don't care about me
Hey-we should be burning and looting,
Believe me, start exchanging 41 for 90
Our ancestors've built this country
And all sticks and whips and kicks and punches
Meanwhile you're living
Like some bird in bunches
Tell me where is the justice
Much less the dances?
My world must know that man is still in darkness
Rapings, torture, kill and maim.
Their injustice remains the same
Killing the people in the Queen's name
No one will get the blame,
And my people keep going down the drain
All these crimes we've come to read,
They'll be written in black history
Crimes of injustice and inhumanity,
Perpretated by society, and my people
Are living in poverty
My struggle for survival is to be accepted
And treated as a member of the human family,
Whose practices should reveal the
Fundamental right and duty to be humane
In all judgement and action to all humanity
So, why don't you care about me?
So I know you don't care about me
I'm just a nigga walking down the street
The brother did nothing wrong,
But now his life is gone
And I know you don't care about me
Code of silence you say
But your actions is so loud and clear
Are Diallo's killers going free?
Paid by society
And I know you don't care about me
Amadou Diallo, they killed him for nuttin'
No crime he did not do!
And just like him there were others
Who suffered for what they didn't do
We're living in a system,
We are the victims and that is so true
Amadou Diallo Reggae music knows your name
Amadou Diallo
Amadou Diallo
Amadou Diallo, reggae music knows your name
Code of silence you say
Yes your actions speak so loud and clear
Diallo's killers going free?
Paid by society
And I know you don't care about me
Yo, Ziggy, check this out!
It's kinda strange how the same things're happening
Over and over again, over and over again
And they say their constitution's
For the benefit of all
It's all a lie again, it's all a lie again
Tell me when will this injustice change
Tell me when will we stop feeling pain
Just the way we survive
In their eyes it's a crime
You're to blame for all that's bleeding this way
Yes, we know you don't care about we
Yes, we know you don't care about we
Yes, we know you don't care about we
Yes, we know, yes we know
Now, I know you don't care about me
I'm just a nigga walking down the street
The brother did nothing wrong
But now his life is gone
So, I know you don't care about me
We want to talk right down the earth
In a language that everybody here
Can easily understand.
We all agree tonight
All of the speakers have agreed
That America has a very serious problem
Not only does America have a very serious problem
But our people have a very serious problem
The lyrics of Ziggy Marley's song "You" address the ongoing issues of systemic racism and injustice faced by Black people. The song explores the historical roots of oppression, from slavery and the task master's whip to modern-day injustices like the killing of Amadou Diallo. Marley questions why society doesn't care about Black people and points out the hypocrisy of a system built on the backs of Black people, yet holds no accountability for the crimes committed against them. He highlights the code of silence that perpetuates these atrocities and calls for change.
The song's chorus repeatedly states "I know you don't care about me," which is a powerful message that speaks to the lived experiences of many Black people. The lyrics also reference the burning and looting that occurred during the Rodney King protests in 1992, suggesting that if justice is not upheld, people will naturally become enraged. The song's final words by an unidentified speaker indicate that everyone agrees that America has a very serious problem.
Overall, "You" is a deeply emotional and thought-provoking song that delves into centuries of pain, injustice, and oppression. It speaks to the ongoing struggle for racial equality and justice that is still so prevalent today.
Line by Line Meaning
From the slaveship to the chain
Starting from when my ancestors were taken on a slave ship and put in chains.
From the task master's whip to my brain
Throughout generations, they were whipped and treated cruelly, causing long-lasting psychological effects.
Kidnapped, enslaved, raped, And killed by the lynch clan
My ancestors were forcibly taken, treated inhumanely, raped, and murdered by the white people in power.
Again and again
These horrific events happened time and time again, over countless generations.
Is it the origin of the skin
Do you treat me differently because of the color of my skin?
Or the face of a race
Do you make assumptions about me based on the stereotypes associated with my race?
Why you don't care about me?
Why don't you take the time to understand and care about me?
Now, I know you don't care about me
I have come to the realization that you do not value me as a human being.
I'm just a nigga walking down the street
I cannot even walk down the street without fear of being mistreated for my skin color.
The brother did nothing wrong
The man who was killed did not do anything to deserve it.
But now his life is gone
Unfortunately, his life was taken from him unjustly.
Code of silence you say
You claim that there is a code of silence in place, but your actions speak louder than your words.
Yet your actions speak so loud and clear
Your actions make it clear that you are not interested in bringing justice to those who have been wronged.
Diallo's killers going free paid by society
People who committed a heinous crime are getting away with it, and it's being financially supported by others in society.
Hey-we should be burning and looting, Believe me, start exchanging 41 for 90
The people who are being oppressed should take matters into their own hands and retaliate with violence.
Our ancestors've built this country
Black people have contributed heavily to building and developing this country through their forced labor.
And all sticks and whips and kicks and punches
Despite all of the abuse and violence inflicted upon them, they persevered and continued to work hard.
Meanwhile you're living, Like some bird in bunches
White people are living comfortably, with no worry or care about the struggles people of color face.
Tell me where is the justice
Why is there not justice for those who have been wronged and oppressed?
Much less the dances?
Black people are known for their music, dancing, and culture, but are not given the same respect and rights as white people.
My world must know that man is still in darkness
The world needs to recognize that there are still many people being oppressed and treated unfairly.
Rapings, torture, kill and maim.
People of color are being subjected to horrific treatment such as rape, torture, and murder.
Their injustice remains the same
Despite efforts to bring attention to these issues, the injustice has persisted.
Killing the people in the Queen's name
People in power are killing those being oppressed and doing so in the name of their country's rulers.
No one will get the blame, And my people keep going down the drain
No one is held accountable for these horrific actions, and the oppression continues to destroy people's lives.
All these crimes we've come to read, They'll be written in black history
The crimes being committed against black people will go down in history as some of the darkest and most shameful moments.
Crimes of injustice and inhumanity, Perpetrated by society, and my people Are living in poverty
Society itself is responsible for the atrocities being committed against people of color, and these same people are also living in poverty because of systemic oppression.
My struggle for survival is to be accepted
As a person of color, my biggest struggle is just to be accepted and treated equally by society.
And treated as a member of the human family, Whose practices should reveal the Fundamental right and duty to be humane
People of all races should be treated as equals and as valuable members of the human family.
In all judgement and action to all humanity
This treatment needs to be universal and applied to all people, regardless of race or other factors.
Amadou Diallo, they killed him for nuttin'
This was a clear example of how black people are being killed for no reason at all.
No crime he did not do!
The man who was killed did not do anything to deserve it.
And just like him there were others, Who suffered for what they didn't do
Many other people have faced the same fate as Amadou Diallo - being unjustly killed for no reason at all.
We're living in a system, We are the victims and that is so true
This entire system is set up to oppress people of color, and they are the ones suffering because of it.
Code of silence you say
You claim that there is a code of silence in place, but your actions speak louder than your words.
But your actions is so loud and clear
Your inaction and lack of empathy make it clear that you do not care about the oppression and suffering of others.
Are Diallo's killers going free?
Those responsible for taking Amadou Diallo's life are not facing any consequences for their actions.
Paid by society
These killers are being supported by society in some way, whether financially or through a lack of accountability.
We want to talk right down the earth
We want to have an honest and open conversation about the issues facing people of color.
In a language that everybody here Can easily understand.
We want to communicate in a way that is accessible to everyone, regardless of background or education.
We all agree tonight All of the speakers have agreed
Everyone present at this gathering is in agreement that there are serious issues that need to be addressed.
That America has a very serious problem Not only does America have a very serious problem
America as a country is facing deep-seated issues that need to be addressed for true progress to be made.
But our people have a very serious problem
People of color are the ones who bear the brunt of these issues and are the ones who need to be the focus of change.
Yes, we know you don't care about we
We understand that you do not value us as human beings or care about our well-being.
Tell me when will this injustice change
When will society finally start to recognize and change the systemic injustices that people of color face?
Tell me when will we stop feeling pain
When will people of color finally experience true equality and no longer have to suffer because of their skin color?
Just the way we survive In their eyes it's a crime
Simply existing and surviving as a person of color is seen as a crime by those in power.
You're to blame for all that's bleeding this way
Those in power are responsible for the oppression and suffering that people of color face on a daily basis.
Lyrics © Regard Music, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DAVID MARLEY, ZIGGY MARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Olger Villavicencio Montiel
HERMOSA MUSICA,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Edsel Janga
kin of kin lort of lort jahrasra blesen
Irwan Shaputra
GOOD
Ann M
Class Track! Big up Ziggy!
Madame en France
When my heart was lonely, into pieces
I went looking with the sunshine, on the beaches
All my riches, couldn't save I if I needed
Love was so close to I, Yes I was mystified
There are so much more, I need to know
Like a lost memory "I found YOU"
Zoher Harb
what a lovely song ..
jack kennedy
Fucking incredible. Instant classic
HEALING VIBES
very good song !
* RastaMusic
JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT YOU HEARD SOMETHING!
Soul Shakedown
I went looking for the sunshine ☀️