Light up the darkness!
Bob Marley was born Robert Nesta Marley on February 6, 1945 in a rural town called Nine Mile in St. Ann Parish, Jamaica, Rolling Stone reports. He and his mother would eventually move to Kingston, settling in a tenement called Trench Town. While his mother longed for a life outside of the rough neighborhood, Marley found community, camaraderie, and his passion for music there. His experiences there would serve as the background for much of his musical content and during the late ’60s, after the visit of Emperor Haile Selassie to Jamaica, Marley’s spiritual roots in Rastafarianism would only enhance the depth of his work as an artist.
While he lived a short life, passing at the young age of 36 on May 11, 1981, his ability to give voice to the calamity in society and provide light in an otherwise dismal world touched millions of people across the globe. His words cut straight to the soul of man, and his message of love and truth is still resounding. Today, Bob Marley is a cultural icon and a symbol of freedom, revolution, and all those things that are good, pure, and sacred. During a time when many of us may be battling a little bit of seasonal depression or just looking for a pick-me-up, music is the great unifier. In honor of the beloved Tuff Gong and what would’ve been his 78th birthday, here are 10 Bob Marley songs that’ll lift your spirits if you’re experiencing the winter blues:
Is This Love
Jamming
Get Up, Stand Up
Sun Is Shining
Three Little Birds
Could You Be Loved
Stir It Up
Lively Up Yourself
One Love/People Get Ready
Give Thanks & Praises
Bless up!
10 Bob Marley songs that’ll lift your spirits if you’re experiencing winter blues. Photo Courtesy of Peter Murphy/Fifty-Six Hope Road Music Ltd./BobMarley/Instagram