Robert Nesta Marley

“One bright morning when my work is done, I will fly away home.”

Biography

Robert Nesta Marley, better known as Bob Marley, was born February 6, 1945 in St. Ann, Jamaica.

Bob moved to Trenchtown (West Kingston) in the late 50’s where he was first exposed to Reggae music.

At age 16, he recorded his first single, “Judge Not”

Bob formed the band, “The Wailers” In 1970, the band was signed by Island

Records and released their first album, “Catch A Fire”

They were the first Reggae group to produce a full album

In 1973, the band donned its most popular and final name, “Bob Marley & the Wailers”

By the end of the seventies, Bob Marley and the Wailers were the most popular band on the road and broke many festival records.

In 1980, as the Wailers began their U.S. tour, Bob’s health began to deteriorate

Bob passed away on May 11, 1981 from a brain tumor

He was laid to rest near his childhood home in Nine Mile, Jamaica

Composition History

No Woman No Cry

Originally released in 1975The popular live version was released late

1975The song was meant to reassure his woman

that the slum they lived in won’t get her down, and everything will be alright

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGqrvn3q1oo

Exodus

Released in 1977Produced, written and composed by Bob MarleyHas a very reflective quality because Bob wrote the song after he was almost shot and killed

Listening Guide

No Woman No Cry 0:00 – Song starts in major tone with quadruple meter and simple

division. Drums and electric keyboard playing the light rhythm. 0:16 – Begin to hear background vocalists 0:52 – First verse begins with Bob singing “no woman no cry.” Guitar

and bongo drums are more prominent 2:16 – First chorus: The keyboard leads the melody and the bass also

helps play rhythm. 2:29 – Second verse begins with same two lines as the first verse, then

branches off to different lyrics. Begin to hear the crowd more in the background.

3:16 – Bridge: Heavier tonality and more dynamic. Keyboard becomes more pronounced, and lyrics consist of only four words, “everything’s gonna be alright.”

3:41 – Chorus: Melody and harmony change back to the traditional form. Background vocals and audience are heard more.

4:06 – Guitar solo and no vocals4:56 – First verse repeated and the percussion is

more pronounced5:44 – Chorus repeats, background sings the last

few lines alone6:35-End of song – Song slowly becomes less

dynamic and finishes with one loud note played by all instruments. Crowd cheers

Exodus 0:00 – Opens with a funky major tone. Melody is established by the

guitar, keyboard, drums and trumpet. 0:36 – First verse: Same general harmony and melody. Bob sings

the first line and the background vocalists sing the second line. 1:06 – Chorus: Sung by both Bob and background vocalists 1:35 – Second verse: Same vocal pattern of alternating lines with

same rhythm 2:04 – Chorus: Repeated. Bob begins to talk in-between lines 3:30 – Bridge: Vocal, move repeated over and over. Smooth guitar

texture 3:52 – Third verse: Same alternating lines between Bob and

background vocalists

4:21 – Chorus repeated from previous sections. Transitions into main bridge. Bob and background vocalists repeating “movement of ja people”

5:00 – Bridge: “Move” is repeated along with a robotic voice saying, “movement of the people”

5:40 – Transition: First line of the chorus is repeated, but the instrumentation has softened dramatically. Gives vocals more power.

5:55-End of song – “Move” and “movement of ja people” are repeated in various textures and volumes, continues until the song eventually fades out.

Bibliography Bob Marley Biography. (n.d.). Retrieved March 2011, from sing365.com:

www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/bob-marley-biography

Bob Marley- Exodus . (n.d.). Retrieved February 2011, from Last.fm: www.last.fm/music/Bob+Marley/_/Exodus

Ferrin, C. (n.d.). Retrieved February 2011, from Listen to the Music : webcom3.grtxle.com/musicapprec/index.cfm?pageid-10785

No Woman No Cry. (n.d.). Retrieved February 2011, from Songfacts:

www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1744 No Woman No Cry. (2011). Retrieved February 2011, from Musicnotes.com:

www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdVPE.asp