Had he lived, Bob Marley would have been 68 years old today. Still a young man, right?
Bob Marley was born Robert Nesta Marley on Feb. 6, 1945 in Saint Ann, Jamaica. His father, Norval Sinclair Marley, was a white Englishman and his mother, Cedelia Booker, was a black Jamaican. Bob Marley died of cancer in Miami, FL on May 11, 1981.
He died on my birthday, May 11, so we are forever linked.
From the
The New York Times:
With his superb songs and arrangements, his rapt appearance and charismatic stage personality, Bob Marley and his group, the Wailers, won audiences for reggae all over the world, and influenced countless other musicians. Mr. Marley's concerts were hours-long, almost mystical events, with whole arenas standing and swaying to the insinuating rhythms and reiterated chants of his songs. Phrases such as "get up, stand up, stand up for your rights" - expressing the conviction that God would redeem the world despite its present sufferings - became anthems for his many admirers.
Below are some of my favorite songs from the man known as, The King of Reggae.
Concrete Jungle:
No sun will shine in my day today; (no sun will shine)
The high yellow moon won't come out to play:
(that high yellow moon won't come out to play)
I said (darkness) darkness has covered my light,
(and the stage) And has changed my day into night, yeah.
Where is the love to be found? (oo-ooh-ooh)
Won't someone tell me?
'Cause my (sweet life) life must be somewhere to be found -
(must be somewhere for me)
Instead of concrete jungle (jungle!)
Where the living is harder (concrete, jungle!).
Talkin Blues:
Yeah, I've been down on the rock for so long, (so long)
I seem to wear a permanent screw; (screw-oo-oo-oo-oo)
I've been down on the rock for so long, (so long)
I seem to wear a permanent screw. (screw-oo-oo-oo-oo)
But-a I - I'm gonna stare in the sun,
Let the rays shine in my eyes.
I - I'm a gonna take a just-a one step more
Trench Town Rock:
One good thing about music, when it hits you fell no pain (repeat)
So hit me with music, hit me with music
Hit me with music, hit me with music now
~ ~ ~
Trench town rock, give the slum a try
Trench town rock, never let the children cry
Trench town rock, cause you got to tell Jah, Jah
African Herbsman:
All twinklin' lee
Can't see the right rose when the streams abate
The old slave men might grind slow
But it grinds fine, yeah
Natural Mystic:
There's a natural mystic blowing through the air;
If you listen carefully now you will hear.
This could be the first trumpet, might as well be the last:
Many more will have to suffer,
Many more will have to die - don't ask me why.
If I had to choose, this would be my favorite Bob Marley song: Stir it
up.
Listen with me from about 3:30...ok, gimme a minute. I have some dancing to do. :-)
So many more to choose from.
What is your favorite Marley song?