You can’t go wrong when listening to the songs of Bob Marley. The man, the myth, the legend wrote and performed music for nearly two decades, trying to unite mankind in a worldwide brotherhood. So if you want to kick back, relax, and enjoy the smooth sounds of the master himself, I suggest the following ten songs as a good place to start.
1. THREE LITTLE BIRDS – Written by Bob Marley – Produced by Bob Marley & The Wailers – First Released in June 1977 – The Island Def Jam Music Group
This is my favorite song for simple enough reasons. First, it’s easy and fun to sing along with (“Don’t worry about a thing cause ev’ry little thing gonna be alright”). Second, the story behind how it was written is how I like to picture Marley as he wrote his songs. He and Peter Tosh (one of The Wailers) would sit at the back door of 56 Hope Road writing songs, rolling joints, and throwing the seeds on the ground, seeds which birds (often the same three) would come and eat.
2. ONE LOVE / PEOPLE GET READY – Written by Bob Marley / Curtis Mayfield – Produced by Bob Marley & The Wailers – First Released in June 1977 – The Island Def Jam Music Group
This song is Marley’s call for mankind to unify and respect one another. He sings the familiar lyric, “Let’s get together and feel all right.” And from personal experience, I would have to say it was the most played song in Jamaica for the duration of my vacation there.
3. BUFFALO SOLDIER – Written by Bob Marley & N.G. Williams – Produced by Bob Marley & The Wailers and Errol Brown – First Released in May 1983 – The Island Def Jam Music Group
This song is a great example of Marley’s oftentimes political music. It tells the true story of Africans enslaved by the United States after the Civil War and forced to go to battle against Native Americans. Sample lyrics: “Buffalo Soldier, in the heart of America, stolen from Africa, brought to America, fighting on arrival, fighting for survival.”
4. NO WOMAN, NO CRY – Written by Vincent Ford – Produced by Steve Smith and Chris Blackwell – First Released in August 1975 – The Island Def Jam Music Group
This song begins, “Cause I remember when we used to sit in the government yard in Trenchtown,” which refers to the extremely poor area of Kingston, Jamaica, where Marley moved with his mother and lived for many years.
5. JAMMING – Written by Bob Marley – Produced by Bob Marley & The Wailers – First Released in June 1977 – The Island Def Jam Music Group
This song is Marley’s attempt to unite all sufferahs with his music as they “jam” together. He sings, “No bullet can stop us now, we neither beg nor we won’t bow, neither can be bought nor sold, we all defend the right, Jah Jah childred must unite, for life is worth much more than gold,” further supporting his eternal quest for everyone to “feel alright.”
6. COULD YOU BE LOVED – Written by Bob Marley – Produced by Bob Marley & The Wailers – First Released in May 1980 – The Island Def Jam Music Group
This song has a catchy chorus same as the title, “Could you be loved,” and its beat is somehow different, perhaps more mainstream, than most of his music, which makes it stand out in my mind. Not to mention the fact that the first few seconds of the intro always remind me of the score to the movie “Crocodile Dundee.”
7. I SHOT THE SHERIFF – Written by Bob Marley – Produced by Chris Blackwell and The Wailers – First Released in October 1973 – Universal-Island Records Ltd.
You’re familiar with this one, right? Or are you familiar with Eric Clapton’s version, which was released a year after Marley’s and became a huge hit in America and worldwide? Either way, the song is great.
8. GET UP, STAND UP – Written by Bob Marley and Peter Tosh – Produced by Chris Blackwell and The Wailers – First Released September 1973 – Universal-Island Records Ltd.
This song is maybe Marley’s most self-explanatory. It is his call for anyone oppressed to “Get up, stand up, stand up for your right, get up, stand up, don’t give up the fight.”
9. IS THIS LOVE – Written by Bob Marley – Produced by Bob Marley & The Wailers – First Released in February 1978 – The Island Def Jam Music Group
The first traditional love song on this list! Marley sings, “I wanna love you and treat you right, I wanna love you every day and every night.” This is just one of many Marley love songs, but I believe this one has the best sound.
10. LIVELY UP YOURSELF – Written by Bob Marley – Produced by The Wailers / A Tuff Gong Production – First Released in 1971 – JAD Records / Universal International Music BV
Last but not least, this song makes the list because it’s just a great feel-good tune. It is well known that Marley often used this song to get the crowd up and into his performance. Marley sings, “You’re gonna lively up yourself, don’t say no, you lively up yourself, Big Daddy says so.”
Additional Resources Offical Bob Marley Website Buy Marley’s Music at Napster Buy Marley’s Music at Amazon
