Junior, Bob Marley, Jacob Miller, and Chris

Rita Marley Biography

Singer, widow of Bob Marley. Born Alpharita (or Alfarita) Constantia Anderson in Cuba in 1947. Sometimes called the Queen of Reggae, Rita Marley has carried on his musical legacy of her late husband Bob Marley and has developed her career as a solo artist. Abandoned by her mother when she was five, she was raised along with her brother Wesley by their father and their aunt in the Kingston, Jamaica neighborhood of Trench Town, one of the city’s roughest slums. Her mother took her other brother, Donovan, with her.

When she was thirteen, Marley was left in her aunt’s care while her father moved to England to look for work there. He supposedly told her that she would join him later, but that move never happened. After high school, Marley went to the Bethesda School of Practical Nursing. But an unexpected pregnancy derailed her education. She had her first child—a daughter she named Sharon—in 1964. 

Starting out by singing along to the radio, Marley eventually began practicing with her cousin Constantine “Dream” Walker and her friend Marlene “Precious” Gifford. The trio later sang for the Wailing Wailers, a local group made of Bob Marley, Peter McIntosh (later Peter Tosh), and Bunny Livingston (later Bunny Wailer). The band liked what they heard and got the trio an audition with Clement “Coxsone” Dodd. Dodd ran the Studio One record label. The trio became known as the Soulettes, and Dodd asked Bob Marley serve as a mentor for the young group. The Soulettes had a hit with the song “I Love You, Baby.” Sometimes the group also sang backup for the Wailers. Marley also had a few solo hits of her own, mostly notably “Pied Piper.”

Over time, Rita and Bob Marley fell in love, and they married in 1966. They welcomed their first child together, a daughter named Cedella, in 1967. The next year, the couple had their first son, David, who is known by the nickname “Ziggy.” The couple struggled financially and professionally. They spent some time in the United States, working for singer Johnny Nash’s JAD Records in the late 1960s and lived with Bob’s mother for a time in Wilmington, Delaware. In the early 1970s, Rita returned to her mother-in-law’s home to live and work, hoping to improve her family’s financial situation. With her daughters staying with her aunt, Rita had her son Ziggy with her, but decided to go home to Jamaica after she gave birth to son Stephen in 1972.

Returning to Jamaica, Rita discovered that Bob had been involved with two different women while she was away. Both women got pregnant and these children, Robert Marley and Rohan Marley, were born not long after Stephen. In her autobiography, No Woman No Cry, Rita Marley wrote “I was very upset at first to learn about all this, though it’s common in Jamaica. But since then, I’ve come to love both of these boys and to think of them as my sons.” She maintained this generous attitude toward the several other children Bob had with other women throughout the years.

After the Wailers signed with Island Records in 1972, things began to turn around for the band members, but not necessarily for the Marleys. The group had their first album with the label, Catch a Fire, released internationally the next year, and they became to attract critical attention. With their popularity on the rise, the Wailers toured the United States and Europe. But Rita’s marriage was under a lot of stress with Bob often away and involved with other women. Rita herself had an extramarital affair, which disturbed Bob. While she was involved with both men at the time, she stated her autobiography that Bob was the father of her fourth child, a daughter named Stephanie, born in 1974. Around that same time, Rita—as part of the female trio the I-Threes—joined the group after Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer left to pursue solo careers.

In 1976, the Marleys faced another hardship. A group of armed men attacked their home while the group was rehearsing there. Shielding her children, Rita had a bullet grazed her head and Bob was hit in the sternum and arm. Music manager Don Taylor was hit several times and required surgery to fix his wounds. While no motivation for the attack has been officially determined, many have thought that it may have been politically motivated. Bob Marley was seen as a supporter of the People’s National Party and the attack happened in the weeks before an important national election.

The couple continued to face many ups and downs in the remaining years of Bob Marley’s life. But they bonded together as he battled against cancer, a disease he would finally succumb to in 1981. Rita and many of his children were with him while he died on May 11, 1981, at a Miami, Florida, hospital. After his death, Rita was engaged in a lengthy legal battle over his estate since he had never written a will.

To honor her late husband, Rita and other members of the Marley family established a charitable organization. The Bob Marley Foundation helps people and organizations in the developing world. She also works to preserve his music and memory through numerous events, such as the annual Bob Marley Birthday Celebration in Jamaica. In 2004, her autobiography No Woman No Cry: My Life with Bob Marley was released. There have been reports that the book is slated to be made into a feature film.

A talented performer herself, Marley has pursued a solo career and released several albums, including Sunshine After Rain (2003) and Play Play (2004). She continues to perform live, having recently joined with Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt of the I Threes to play the Africa Unite concert in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Source A&E Television Networks

Bob Marley Them belly full '' But we hungry'' Lyrics

Na-na na na-na na na na;
Na-na na na-na na na na;
Na-na na na-na na na na;
Na-na na na-na na na na.

Them belly full, but we hungry;
A hungry mob is a angry mob.
A rain is fall, but the dirt it tough;
A pot is cook, but the food no 'nough.

You're gonna dance to Jah music, dance;
We're gonna dance to Jah music, dance, oh-ooh!

Forget your troubles and dance!
Forget your sorrows and dance!
Forget your sickness and dance!
Forget your weakness and dance!

Cost of livin' gets so high,
Rich and poor they start to cry:
Now the weak must get strong;
They say, "Oh, what a tribulation!"
Them belly full, but we hungry;
A hungry mob is a angry mob.
A rain is fall, but the dirt it tough;
A pot is cook, but the food no 'nough.

We're gonna chuck to Jah music - we're chuckin';
We're chuckin' to Jah music - we're chuckin'.
---
/Guitar solo/ chuckin'
---
My belly full, but me hungry;
A hungry mob is a angry mob.
A rain a-fall, but the dirt it tough;
A pot is cook, but the food no 'nough.
A hungry man is a angry man;
A rain is fall, but the dirt it tough;
A pot is cook, but the food no 'nough'
A rain is fall, but the dirt it tough.
A pot is cook, but the food no 'nough;
A hungry mob is a angry mob;
A hungry mob is a angry mob. /fadeout/

Bob Marley Turn Your Lights Down Low lyrics

Turn your lights down low
And pull your window curtains;
Oh, let Jah moon come shining in -
Into our life again,
Sayin': ooh, it's been a long, long (long, long, long, long) time;
I kept this message for you, girl,
But it seems I was never on time;
Still I wanna get through to you, girlie,
On time - on time.
I want to give you some love (good, good lovin');
I want to give you some good, good lovin' (good, good lovin').
Oh, I - oh, I - oh, I,
Say, I want to give you some good, good lovin' (good, good lovin'):
Turn your lights down low;
Never try to resist, oh no!
Oh, let my love come tumbling in -
Into our life again,
Sayin': ooh, I love ya!
And I want you to know right now,
I love ya!
And I want you to know right now,
'Cause I - that I -
I want to give you some love, oh-ooh!
I want to give you some good, good lovin';
Oh, I - I want to give you some love;
Sayin': I want to give you some good, good lovin':
Turn your lights down low, wo-oh!
Never - never try to resist, oh no!
Ooh, let my love - ooh, let my love come tumbling in -
Into our life again.
Oh, I want to give you some good, good lovin' (good, good lovin').

Bob Marley Waiting In Vain lyrics

1, 2, 3:

I don't wanna wait in vain for your love;
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love.
From the very first time I rest my eyes on you, girl,
My heart says follow t'rough.
But I know, now, that I'm way down on your line,
But the waitin' feel is fine:
So don't treat me like a puppet on a string,
'Cause I know I have to do my thing.
Don't talk to me as if you think I'm dumb;
I wanna know when you're gonna come - soon.
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love;
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love;
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love,
'Cause if summer is here,
I'm still waiting there;
Winter is here,
And I'm still waiting there.
---
/Guitar solo/
---
Like I said:
It's been three years since I'm knockin' on your door,
And I still can knock some more:
Ooh girl, ooh girl, is it feasible?
I wanna know now, for I to knock some more.
Ya see, in life I know there's lots of grief,
But your love is my relief:
Tears in my eyes burn - tears in my eyes burn
While I'm waiting - while I'm waiting for my turn,
See!

I don't wanna wait in vain for your love;
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love;
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love;
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love;
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love, oh!
I don't wanna - I don't wanna - I don't wanna - I don't wanna -
I don't wanna wait in vain.
I don't wanna - I don't wanna - I don't wanna - I don't wanna -
I don't wanna wait in vain.

No, I don't wanna (I don't wanna - I don't wanna - I don't wanna -
I don't wanna - I don't wanna wait in vain) -
No I - no I (I don't wanna - I don't wanna - I don't wanna - I don't
wanna - I don't wanna wait in vain) -
No, no-no, I, no, I (I don't wanna - I don't wanna - I don't wanna -
I don't wanna - I don't wanna wait in vain) -
It's your love that I'm waiting on (I don't wanna - I don't wanna -
I don't wanna - I don't wanna - I don't wanna wait in vain);
It's me love that you're running from.
It's Jah love that I'm waiting on (I don't wanna - I don't wanna -
I don't wanna - I don't wanna - I don't wanna wait in vain);
It's me love that you're running from.

Bob Marley on Drums

Bob Marley No Woman No Cry lyrics

'Cause I remember when we used to sit
In the government yard in Trenchtown
Oba, ob-serving the hypocrites
As they would mingle with the good people we meet
Good friends we have had, oh good friends we've lostalong the way
In this bright future you can't forget your past
So dry your tears I say

No woman, no cry
No woman, no cry
Little darlin' don't shed no tears
No woman, no cry

Said, said, said I remember when we used to sit
In the government yard in Trenchtown
And then Georgie would make the fire light
Log wood burnin' through the night
Then we would cook corn meal porridge
Of which I'll share with you

My feet is my only carriage
So I've got to push on through
But while I'm gone...

Ev'rything's gonna be alright
Ev'rything's gonna be alright
Ev'rything's gonna be alright
Ev'rything's gonna be alright
Ev'rything's gonna be alright
Ev'rything's gonna be alright
Ev'rything's gonna be alright
Ev'rything's gonna be alright

So, no woman, no cry
No, no woman, no woman, no cry
Oh, little darling, don't shed no tears
No woman, no cry

No woman, no woman, no woman, no cry
No woman, no cry
Oh, my little darlin' please don't shed no tears
No woman, no cry, yeah

Bob Marley Revolution lyrics

Revelation reveals the truth - revelation.
(revolution, revolution, revolution - oooo-doo-doo-doo-doo)
(revolution - oooo-doo-doo-doo-doo)

It takes a revolution (revolution) to make a solution;
(doo-doo-doo-doo)
Too much confusion (aaa-aaah), so much frustration, eh!
I don't wanna live in the park (live in the park);
Can't trust no shadows after dark (shadows after dark), yeah-eh!
So, my friend, I wish that you could see,
Like a bird in the tree, the prisoners must be free, yeah! (free)

Never make a politician (aaa-aaah) grant you a favour;
(doo-doo-doo-doo)
They will always want (aaa-aaah) to control you forever, eh!
(forever, forever)
So if a fire make it burn (make it burn, make it burn)
And if a blood make ya run (make ya run, run, run),
Rasta de 'pon top (aaa-aaah), can't you see? (doo-doo-doo-doo)
So you can't predict the flop. Eh-eh! (doo-doo-doo-doo)

We got lightning (lightning), thunder (thunder),
brimstone (brimstone) and fire - fire (fire, fire);
Lightning (lightning), thunder (thunder),
brr-brimstone (brimstone) and fire - fiyah - fire - fiyah!
(fire, fire)

Kill, cramp and paralyze all weak at conception;
(aaa-aaah, doo-doo-doo-doo)
Wipe them out of creation (creation), yeah-eah! (creation)
Wa-Jah, Jah, Jah! Wa-Jah, Jah, Jah! (creation)
Wa-Jah, Jah, Jah! (creation)

Oh! Let i'es is i'es (i'es), in i'es is black (i'es),
In i'es is red (i'es), in i'es is dread.

Let righteousness cover the earth
Like the water (aaa-aaah) cover the sea, yeah! Yeah!

Lightning (lightning), doo-doo-doo (thunder),
doo-doo-doo (brimstone), doo-doo-doo (fire, fire);
A lightning (lightning), thunder (thunder),
brimstone (brimstone) and fire.

Bob Marley We And Dem lyrics

We no know how we and dem a-go work this out, oy!
We no know how we and dem a-go work it out.

But someone will 'ave to pay
For the innocent blood
That they shed every day,
Oh, children, mark my word;
It's what the Bible say, yeah! yeah!

Oh, we no know how we and dem a-go work this out;
We no know how we and dem a-go work it out.

But in the beginning Jah created everythin' (oo-oo-oo-oo-ooh),
Givin' man dominion over all things.
But now it's too late,
You see, men has lost their faith (oo-oo-oo-oo-ooh), hey-ey-hey!
Eating up all the flesh from off the earth, eh!

We no know how we and dem a-go work this out (we no know);
We no know how we and dem a-go work this out (no, we don't know);
Dub-da-dub-da-dub!
Dub-a-dippidi-doop-de-doo!
Nim-a-nummany num-na-noo!
Num-a-nummana-num-da-nay!
Dippy-dippy-dippy: dip-de-dub-de-day!
Dip-a-dubbada-dub-da-day!

But I say: we no know how we and dem a-go work it out:
them a flesh and bone!
We no know how we and dem a-go work it out.

But we now have no friends
In-a high society, yea-a-eah!
We no have no friends;
Oh, mark my identity;
We no have no friends. Oh-oh! Yeah!

We no know how we and dem a-go work this out (no, we no know);
We no know how we and dem a-go work this out (we no know);
We no know how we and dem a-go work it out (no, we don't know);
(We no know how we and dem a-go work this out.) Rasta!
(We no know how we and dem a-go work this out.) 

Bob Marley Who The Cap Fit lyrics

Man to man is so unjust, children
Ya don't know who to trust
Your worst enemy could beee your best friend
And your best friend your worst enemy

Some will eat and drink with you
Then behind dem su-su(gossip) pon(upon) you
Only your friend know your secrets
So only he could reveal it
And who the cap fit, let them wear it [repeat]
Said I throw me corn, me no call no fowl
I saying, "Cok-cok-cok, cluck-cluck-cluck"

Some will hate you, pretend they love you now
Then behind they try to e-li-min-ate you
But who Jah bless,no one curse
Then God will past the worse

Hypocrites and parasites
Will come up and take a bite
And if your night should turn to day
A lot of people would run away
And who the cap fit let them wear it [repeat]

And then a gonna throw me corn
And then a gonna call no fowl
And then a gonna "Cok-cok-cok, cluck-cluck-cluck"

Some will eat and drink with you
And then behind they su-su pon you
And if your night should turn to day
A lot of people will run away
Who the cap fit, let them wear it [repeat]
Throw me corn, me no call no fowl
I saying "Cok-cok-cok, cluck-cluck-cluck

Bob Marley So Much Trouble In The World lyrics

So much trouble in the world
So much trouble in the world


Bless my eyes this morning
Jah sun is on the rise once again
The way earthly thin's are goin'
Anything can happen.


You see men sailing on their ego trip,
Blast off on their spaceship,
Million miles from reality:
No care for you, no care for me.


So much trouble in the world;
So much trouble in the world.
All you got to do: give a little (give a little),
Give a little (give a little), give a little (give a little)!
One more time, ye-ah! (give a little) Ye-ah! (give a little)
Ye-ah! (give a little) Yeah!


So you think you've found the solution,
But it's just another illusion!
(So before you check out this tide),
Don't leave another cornerstone
Standing there behind, eh-eh-eh-eh!
We've got to face the day;
(Ooh) Ooh-wee, come what may:
We the street people talkin',
Yeah, we the people strugglin'.


Now they sitting on a time bomb; (Bomb-bomb-bomb! Bomb-bomb-bomb!)
Now I know the time has come: (Bomb-bomb-bomb! Bomb-bomb-bomb!)
What goes on up is coming on down, (Bomb-bomb-bomb! Bomb-bomb-bomb!)
Goes around and comes around. (Bomb-bomb-bomb! Bomb-bomb-bomb!)


So much trouble in the world;
So much trouble in the world;
So much trouble in the world.
There is so much trouble (so much trouble in the world);
There is so much trouble;
There is so much trouble (so much in the world);
There is so much trouble;
There is so much trouble in the world (so much trouble in the world);
There is (so much in the world);
(So much trouble in the world)

Bob Marley Coming In From The Cold lyrics

In this life, in this life, in this life,
In this, oh sweet life:
We're (we're coming in from the cold);
We're coming in (coming in), coming in (coming in),
coming in (coming in), coming in (coming in),
Coming in from the cold.


It's you - it's you - it's you I'm talkin' to -
Well, you (it's you) - you (it's you) - you I'm talking to now.
Why do you look so sad and forsaken?
When one door is closed, don't you know another is open?


Could you let the system make you kill your brotherman?
No, no, no, no, no, no! No, Dread, no!
Could you let the system make you kill your brotherman?
(No, Dread, no!)
Would you make the system get on top of your head again?
(No, Dread, no!)
Well, the biggest man you ever did see was - was just a baby.


In this life (in this life),
In this (in this life, oh sweet life):
Coming in from the cold;
We're coming in (coming in), coming in-a (coming in),
coming in (coming in), ooh! (coming in)
Coming in from the cold!


It's life (it's life), it's life (it's life), it's life (it's life):
it's - wa - well! - coming in from the cold!
We're coming in (coming in), coming in (coming in) -
ooh (coming in), hey! (coming in),
Coming in from the cold!


It's you - you - you I'm talking -
Well, yes, you, bilyabong! (it's you);
ew! - you I'm talking to now.
We-e-ell, why do you look so - look so - look so sad -
look so sad and forsaken?
Don't you know: When one door is closed - when one door is closed,
many more is open?


We-e-e-ell, would you let the system get on top of your head again?
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, Dread, no!
Would you let the system make you kill your brotherman?
No, Dread, no!
We-e-e-ell, would you make the system get on top of your head again?
(No, Dread, no!) No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!
Well, the biggest - biggest man you ever - ever
Did-a see was-a - was-a once a baby.


In this life, in this life, in this life,
In this, oh, sweet life,
We're (coming in from the cold) from the cold!
We're coming in (coming in), coming in (coming in),
coming in (coming in), wo-o! Yea-ea-eah!
Coming in from the cold


We're coming in-a, coming in-a, coming in-a, coming in-a!
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yea-ea-ea-eah!
Coming in from the cold
Coming in (coming in), coming in (coming in) -
(coming in) (coming in)
(coming in) from the - from the cold!

Bob Marley and Cindy Breakspeare at the Essex House, NYC

Bob Marley Smoking

RARE MARLEY PHOTO

Bob Marley, and Bob Marley

Bob Marley Mojo March 2005

Publication: Mojo Country: United Kingdom

Cover Story Headline: Bob Marley

Bob Marley Ambush In The Night Lyrics

(Ooh-wee, ooh-wee, ooh-wa!)
See them fighting for power (ooh-wee, ooh-wee, ooh-wa!),
But they know not the hour (ooh-wee, ooh-wee, ooh-wa!),;
So they bribing with their guns, spare-parts and money,
Trying to belittle our
Integrity now.
They say what we know
Is just what they teach us;
And we're so ignorant
'Cause every time they can reach us (shoobe, doo-wa)
Through political strategy (shoo-be, doo-wa);
They keep us hungry (shoobe, doo-wa),
And when you gonna get some food (shoobe, doo-wa),
Your brother got to be your enemy, we-e-ell!


Ambush in the night,
All guns aiming at me;
Ambush in the night,
They opened fire on me now.
Ambush in the night,
Protected by His Majesty.
Ooh-wee, ooh-wee. Ooh-wa-ooh!
(Ooh-wee) Ooh-wee, ooh-wee (ooh-wa), Ooh-wa!
Ooh-wee, ooh-wee, ooh wa-ooh!
Ooh-wee, ooh-wee, ooh wa-ah!


Well, what we know
Is not what they tell us;
We're not ignorant, I mean it,
And they just cannot touch us;
Through the powers of the Most-I (shoobe, doo-wa),
We keep on surfacin' (shoobe, doo-wa);
Thru the powers of the Most-I (shoobe, doo-wa),
We keep on survivin'.


Yeah, this ambush in the night
Planned by society;
Ambush in the night;
They tryin' to conquer me;
Ambush in the night
Anyt'ing money can bring;
Ambush in the night
Planned by society;