They say Bob Marley died young! Well yes, statistically speaking (born in 1945). But, his impact has stayed for long, despite having left us physically way back in 1981.
His music is evergreen. And, how can it not be! Rastafarians will immediately identify with green, for the ‘grass’ was at its greenest when on Marley’s side. The magnificent Jamaican breathed soul into music through a heady cocktail of fantastic music and evergreen and intelligent lyrics that connoted both meaning and splendor.
He might be playing Calypso in the heavens today, but his legacy lives on. And, not just through music but through some meaningful quotes that prove that Bob Marley wasn’t just a music icon but a sensible intellectual, if one could say.
We revisit some of the iconic sayings of the “Trenchtown Rock” singer:
1. Bob Marley’s music has revisited minds from all over the world. A big reason for his success was his powerful lyrics like these. His was the voice of a rebellion against suppression. The legendary “Get Up Stand Up” conveyed the typical Marley charm with ecstatic ease.
2. James Brown wasn’t wrong when he had said, it is a man’s world, but what would it be without a woman or a girl! Bob Marley, through the most simplistic expression confirmed the legendary Brown’s iconic song giving it his own universality. In an age where women are sadly often objectified and subjected to provocations, Bob Marley’s words offer a healing embrace to a lot of shenanigans.
3. So all of us have that one goal we want to so desperately attend. But, often in the run up to the aim, the need to achieve becomes a want. So while we aren’t to tutor as to what is right and what isn’t, greatness surely is what we do and not what we accumulate or just “desire”, if Marley’s wisdom is decoded aptly.
4. Raggae has it’s ‘roots’ in Calypso music, which in turn emerged in Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago. Roots, therefore are our mainstay in life. Don’t you think? Often greatness lies not just in reaching sky-soaring heights but in having feet ‘firmly’ planted on your ground. History, which is a postcard of where we came from and what we did, can be repeated through simplicity and by a certain earnestness. It then, becomes destiny.
5. No fooling around with this one. Marley’s music had redemptive powers that set people free from suffering and suppression’.
6. Love, often is a poignant subject of all great artists. But, with Bob Marley, the essence of life often found the true embodiment of love; women. These iconic lines speak of the man’s depth, coming straight from the soul.
7. This quote is somewhat similar in its ideology of Bruce Lee (who also died young) and that of Jim Morrison. Both icons of modern times emphasized on leading a meaningful life of deep self exploration and daring. Bob Marley, the evergreen Jamaican was not far away as this connotes.
8. The true ambassador of ‘good times’ was known for the strength of his character. Ever a supporter of the downtrodden and a vocal opponent of slavery, Marley cut loose the chains of bondage called suffering through his music. His voice is among us through such beautiful and moving quotes that underline the need for mental toughness.
Doe’s any other quote of this legend inspire you? Share it with us in the comments below.