The most famous Jamaican singer of all time, Bob Marley, supported Michael Manley, the Prime Minister of Jamaica, in the early seventies. During the reign of this politician, the country was divided into two opposing camps, and relations between Manley’s supporters and his opponents were so tense that weapons were sometimes used.
Marley’s worldview did not allow him to join one of the parties, however, being such a significant figure for Jamaica, he could not completely stay away from the political struggle. In 1976, he agreed to participate in a concert organized by Michael Manley to improve the situation in society.
This initiative was not to everyone’s liking, and Bob Marley’s house was fired upon by unknown militants. The musician himself, his wife and manager were injured. Despite his injuries, Marley did not postpone the speech, saying:
People trying to make this world a worse place don’t take days off. How can I do it?.
On stage in front of 80,000 spectators, he was accompanied by the Zap Pow, and his partners from The Wailers did not appear at the concert.
The story behind of the creation and meaning of the song One Love by Bob Marley
After this event, Marley left Jamaica and recorded the album Exodus in London. One of the songs included in it was One Love. The Wailers performed this ska song as far back as 1965, but it didn’t become a hit until after the events mentioned above, when the call to unite contained in it became especially relevant.
Now One Love is one of the most famous songs of Bob Marley. It was included in numerous official collections, used in a huge number of films and covered by various performers.
Video of One Love by Bob Marley
The music video for the song was filmed in 1984, after the death of Bob Marley. It starred Jesse Lawnrens, a British boy, and used archival footage. The video features Paul McCartney and other artists.
Interesting Facts
- One Love borrows a lot from Curtis Mayfield’s People Get Ready, so it usually goes under a double title and is credited to both artists.
- It is said that the inspiration for writing One Love for Marley was the work of the artist Roman Selvaggio.
- Since 1997, One Love has been featured in commercials for the Jamaican Ministry of Tourism.
- The BBC named One Love the Song of the Millennium.
Lyrics of One Love by Bob Marley
one love! one heart!
Let’s get together and feel all right
Hear the children cryin’
(one love!)
Hear the children cryin’
(one heart!)
Sayin’: give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right
Sayin’: let’s get together and feel all right.
Let them all pass all their dirty remarks
(one love!)
There is one question
(One Heart!):
Is there a place for the hopeless sinner
Who has hurt all mankind just to save his own beliefs?
one love! What about the one heart? one heart!
What about-? Let’s get together and feel all right
As it was in the beginning
(one love!)
So shall it be in the end
(one heart!)
All right!
Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right
Let’s get together and feel all right
One more thing!
Let’s get together to fight this Holy Armageddon.
(one love!)
So when the Man comes there will be no, no doom
Have pity on those whose chances grows t’inner
There ain’t no hiding place from the Father of Creation.
Sayin’: One Love! What about the One Heart?
(one heart!)
What about the-? Let’s get together and feel all right
I’m pleadin’ to mankind!
(one love!)
Oh Lord!
(one heart)
Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right
Let’s get together and feel all right
Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right
Let’s get together and feel all right
One Love by Bob Marley Lyrics Alternate
One Love! One heart!
Let’s unite and everyone will be fine
Hear the crying children.
(One Love!)
Hear the crying children.
(One heart!)
I say thank and praise the Lord and I’ll be fine
I say let’s unite and everyone will be fine
Let them all exchange dirty remarks.
(One Love!)
I would like to ask just one question.
(One heart!):
Is there room for an incorrigible sinner
Who harmed all of humanity in order to defend his beliefs?
One Love! How about one heart?
One heart!
What about…? Let’s unite and everyone will be fine
As it was in the beginning.
(One Love!),
So it will be in the end.
(One heart!)
Everything is fine!
Thank and praise the Lord and I will be fine
Something else!
Let’s unite for the fight in this Holy Armageddon.
(One Love!)
So that when He comes, there will be no more death
Have pity on those who have less and less hope,
Nowhere can you hide from the Creator Father
I say one love! How about one heart.
(One heart!)
What about…? Let’s unite and everyone will be fine
I beg humanity!
(One Love!)
Oh my God!
(One heart!)
Thank and praise the Lord and I will be fine
Let’s unite and everyone will be fine
Thank and praise the Lord and I will be fine
Let’s unite and everyone will be fine
