Top 10 best Bob Marley songs
It’s no easy task to whittle 40-50 Bob Marley hits to just 10. But someone has to do it, and who better than me? So whether tanning at the beach, traveling in a car, or protesting a war, these are the 10 best Bob Marley songs of all time.
10. Sun Is Shinning. Pure reggae. Very raw. One of Marley’s best from his early years.
9. One Drop. I love this song because it’s bouncy, encouraging, and fun to listen to. It’s chill, but it’s also aggressive, like when Marley belts “One Drop!” “One Stop!” and “Hua!” during the verse.
8. Is This Love. Talk about a thumping reggae love song. The bass is driving. The drums are pounding. And it makes me want to dance — quite possibly the best Marley track to start a playlist with.
7. Stir it up. I don’t think there is another Marley song where the individual elements stand out as much as they do in this sulky, layered song. Bass lines have never been this walky. You’ve never heard “whaka, whakas” quite so fresh.
6. So Much Trouble in the World. This song creeps like a creeper. It’s sneaks up on you, and has some of the best synth organs ever recorded. As usual, Marley’s preachy lyrics perfectly combine with background vocals.
5. Africa Unite. I played this song for Sadie when she was just six months old. But that didn’t stop her from swaying to the music in sync with the beat. It’s both chill and dancy, as are most of Marley’s tracks.
4. Three Little Birds. If you’ve had a sucky day or feel that the world is coming down on you, do yourself a favor and listen to this song. It’s one of Marley’s happiest and sure to paint a smile on any jaded or worried face.
3. Shake Down Party. This is one of Marley’s most underrated songs. It’s like doo-whop meets Jamaica, and boasts one of my favorite melodies, not to mention it’s deft use of backing vocals. I can’t help but sing along to this one.
2. Jammin’. This is easily Marley’s best dance song. And it strangely reminds me of something the bar band from Toshi Station would play. In any case, this will have feet moving and heads bouncing in no time.
1. Roots, Rock, Reggae. For me, this encompasses all that is good in Bob Marley. Pleading vocals. Horns. Piano. Bass. Drums. Backing voices. The perfect tempo. Reggae at its best.
What are your favorite Bob Marley songs?
Further reading:
- Top 10 Spoon songs
- Top 10 Led Zeppelin songs (coming soon!)
August 13th, 2008 at 11:41 am
It’s not good to listen to this much Bob Marley on a Wednesday. I don’t know if I should book my next cruise or find some bong resin to scrape, but work is the furthest thing from my mind right now.
Your list is great but I would add 3 more to it:
Lively Up Yourself – This is what happens when funk, blues and reggae have children.
Forever Loving Jah – West Coast gansta bell is unreal. How long has Dr. Dre been producing anyway?
Waiting In Vain – My favorite of all time. Just a beautiful song.
August 13th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Trenchtown Rock – Hit me with music – or mu-sack, as my boy says.
August 15th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Blake, It’s a good list, but I believe that it is an impossible task to take upon yourself. But it’s cool of you to try. If I made a list I would have at least 4 maybe 5 of your picks. I can’t think of all my favorites, but Time Will Tell, Kaya, Keep On Moving, Rasta Man Live Up, and maybe No Woman No Cry.
De’la
August 15th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
Confirmed: I forgot one: Let the Cap Fit!
September 6th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Stir it uppppp !!!!
best Marley song in my opinion
also like could you be loved and is this love
but Stir it up is just relaxing and chill. You could listen to it while doing anything.
December 8th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Time Will Tell…my favorite along with Iron Lion Zion
December 21st, 2008 at 6:34 am
Tnx 4 ur blog but in my opinion his best song is no woman no cry
January 6th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Well i have to agree with you guys i love all of his songs. but my top 2 have to be 2. three little birds, 1. no woman no cry. other than that, you cant chose 10 songs of his best… his discography has to be the best(all songs) after all he is the musical prophet =D
January 23rd, 2009 at 10:58 pm
mellow mood
February 1st, 2009 at 9:21 am
how about this news about the 64th anniversary of the birth of the late Jamaican reggae star, Bob Marley will be held in Shashemane town.read it here
http://arefe.wordpress.com/2009/01/31/concert-to-honor-marley/#comments
March 15th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
midnight ravers, natural mystic, positive vibrations chill beats.
March 15th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
you forget waiting in vain.
&& pimpers paradise.
April 3rd, 2009 at 5:22 am
i love the marley brothers so being able to read about one of them is amazing!!
April 30th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
Impossible task because it always depends on what’s going on in your life at any given moment. Bob has a message for ANY situation you might be going through. Great list though. I’ll add:
Waiting In Vain
Who the Cap Fit
War
Time Will Tell
All Day All Night (gonna be my wedding song)
Natural Mystic
One Love
I’ll stop there because I don’t want to be typing all day
May 14th, 2009 at 3:44 am
Get up stand up
One Love
Natural Mystic
could you be loved
turn your light down low should be included
June 11th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
great list, but as many of you have stated, it is an impossible task to select the top ten. how about adding ” CONCRETE JUNGLE “
June 29th, 2009 at 8:42 am
No Woman No Cry is my favorite
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:35 pm
all time favorite is no woman no cry of course… although it is debatable, bob marley has become one of the most influential characters of all time. the single “Time Will Tell” was featured in Pineapple Express. The song really brings out the mood in the characters as a kind of a growing up attitude, a truly beautiful song.
July 17th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Mr.Brown, don’t know why but this song always struck a cord with me.
August 19th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Babylon System cannot be forgotten
August 28th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
“One good thing about music! When it hits you feel no pain
So hit me with music,hit me with music yeah, brutalize me with music!!!.
Trenchtown Rock
Don’t watch that
Trenchtown Rock
Big Fish or sprat
Trenchtown Rock
You reap what you sow
Threnchtown Rock
And everyone know now
Trenchtown Rock
Don’t turn your back
Trenchtown Rock
Give the slum a try
Trenchtown Rock
Never let the Children Cry!
Trenchtown Rock
Got to tell JAH!! while you’re grooving”
That’s Like, the most beautiful phrases ever to be put in a song!
September 21st, 2009 at 6:15 am
Three Little Birds is the best song by Bob Marley…. My Opinnion
September 26th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
I JUST LOVE HIS MUSIC….ITS SO RELAXING YOU KNOE…I LOVE TO READ THINGS ABOUT HIM AND HIS SONS TOO.HIS MUSIC IS THE S#!T!!!!!!
October 2nd, 2009 at 7:01 am
No woman no cry live is one of the best songs ever written. Why the hell isn’t it on the list?
October 3rd, 2009 at 12:43 pm
africa unite
October 5th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
All good but have you ever listen to Stiff necked
October 9th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
nice list! i would have one drop at the number one position though. and im afraid never will all the bob marley people int he world be able to agree on a list!
October 19th, 2009 at 11:01 am
omg i love the song sun is shinning and it is really good i lison to it all the time but i still need the lyrics but it is no big deal so if no lison to it u should
October 26th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Redemption Song !! for me :O
November 6th, 2009 at 9:15 am
i dig all bob marley’s songs, but one in special that nobody mentioned is Exodus!
i go to another dimension listening to it!
November 26th, 2009 at 6:59 am
Love them all. Surprised Redemption Song wasn’t mentioned though. One of my favorite songs of all time.
December 3rd, 2009 at 10:54 pm
GET UP, STAND UP??????????
December 28th, 2009 at 10:29 am
Good list, Three Little Birds is by far my favorite Bob Marley song, but I’ve gotta say, Redemption Song and Exodus are both totally wonderful as well. Def in my top ten of his
January 2nd, 2010 at 2:45 pm
I still miss Jah live, Burnin’ and Lootin’, Natty Dread and Punky Reggae Party in this topic, so here they are. But I guess it’s the same as trying to get consensus about which beer is the best. At some point(late in the evening) every beer is alright, like with Marley.
January 4th, 2010 at 5:32 pm
I have to say that Kaya is my favorite, Its truly hard to come up with 10…
Sun in Shining
Misty morning
Burnin n Lootin
Exodus
Lively up yourself
January 22nd, 2010 at 10:52 am
In my opinion:
1. Could you be loved
2. Buffalo Soldier
3. One love
4. No woman no cry
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:11 pm
redemption song is my fave
February 7th, 2010 at 12:19 am
Yesterday 6 februari i listen to lovely 3 great songs
1.Zimbabwe
2.Guiltiness
3.Natural Mystic
But all his songs are great!
February 11th, 2010 at 7:29 pm
small axe? anyone, a personal fave. my favorites go in this order
1.small axe
2.real situation
3.could you be loved
4.kaya
5.duppy conquerer
6.redemption song
7.coming in from the cold
8. i could go on forever……
March 14th, 2010 at 3:21 am
if its a marley list its gotta have no woman no cry, war, one love, red red wine,
March 25th, 2010 at 5:46 am
well i just love bob. i cant get enough. but you really cant put them in a list cause they all just perfect. but.. if i had to i would pick
natural mystic.
is this love.
the sun is shining.
weed.
who the cap fit.
jammin.
waiting in vain.
dont worry be happy.
live your life.
she’s gone.
damnni wanna list more but that marley for you greatest music eveerrrr!!
May 6th, 2010 at 1:53 am
Slogans
Turn your lights down
Stir it up
No woman no cry
Redemption
Africa Unite
So Much Trouble in the World
One love
Three little birds
Dont worry be happy
May 17th, 2010 at 10:20 am
In my opinion, of this moment right now as i am listning to Robert on this fine day, i will give you my favourites.
1. Zion Train
2. Real Situation
3. Misty Morning
4. Zimbabwe
4. So Much Trouble In The World
5. Roots
6. Jah Live
7. Africa Unite
8. Lively Up Yourself
9. Kaya
10. everything else
May 29th, 2010 at 8:33 am
WHAT?! What about Get Up Stand Up? That is like Marley’s tune man
June 5th, 2010 at 9:24 pm
That tune is absolutely amazing!
June 11th, 2010 at 3:03 pm
waiting in vain and zion train deserve to be up there..
June 13th, 2010 at 12:02 am
It makes me sad that “Satisfy My Soul” hasn’t been mentioned. It’s my most favorite one…
July 5th, 2010 at 11:52 pm
There can be no “BEST” songs. There can only be “FAVOURITES”. All his works are the best!!
I am trained in eastern classical music and i happened to come across Bob marley (& reggae) a couple months ago and OMG he is a musical geeniuss!!!!! This is REAL MUSIC from the heart!!!…
July 7th, 2010 at 11:11 am
how about one love? buffalo soldier? and get up stand up???
August 14th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
I have not heard all the songs of Bob Marley but so far, for me, the best are:
1: concrete jungle
2: forever loving JAH
3: natural mystic
4: rastaman chant (live)
5: Trenchtown Rock
6: sun is shining
7: redemption song
8: jamming
9: do it twice
August 15th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
An emancipator in life and in death,who can rplace this genius?. only Jaaaaah……..
August 21st, 2010 at 10:24 pm
Amazing – Nobody mentioned my all time bob marley favorites
1. Night Shift 2. Kaya So Cool, so Powerful!!!
August 24th, 2010 at 1:32 am
marly man is cool
August 24th, 2010 at 1:34 am
marleyman is exelcette cool and he is cool so much
October 6th, 2010 at 1:29 pm
could you be loved no.1
October 16th, 2010 at 6:23 am
In my opinion “No Woman No Cry” is undeniably his greatest achievement in songwriting and musicianship. Truly a 20th century masterpiece.
That said, I love “Waiting in Vain”, “Positive Vibration”, “Them Belly Full”, and “Stir It Up”.
November 6th, 2010 at 3:17 am
rat race
johnny was
forever loving jah(demo)
concrete jungle(origanal)
turn your lights down low
no woman no cry(live lyceum)
Bob Marley saddly missed but his music will
last for EVER.
November 15th, 2010 at 8:37 am
no woman no cry <<3
awesome. best of them all in my opinion.
November 18th, 2010 at 12:07 am
Buffalo soldier number one!!!!!! I’m listening to it right now while hitting the blunt, smoke out a room while listening to this song :)
November 18th, 2010 at 9:28 pm
I’m a little late on this response, but felt compelled to comment. Where’s Waiting in Vain, Hammer, Jah Live, Easy Skanking and the ever popular No Woman No Cry? This was a tough one to throw out. Can’t narrow it down to top 10. Way too tough… nice list though.
January 12th, 2011 at 10:25 am
NO WOMEN NO CRY is the best one
January 15th, 2011 at 11:52 am
MR. BROWN !!!!
January 16th, 2011 at 11:38 am
concrete jungle the live version on babylon by bus album
January 16th, 2011 at 11:50 am
redemtion songs
January 21st, 2011 at 11:45 pm
i hv never seen such a guy ………………………….. i like ganja gun ,,,,, no women no cry…………………………………………………………………………………. proud to be a ganjawala
January 27th, 2011 at 10:07 pm
hey guys do any of you know what kind of dread hat his wearing? i have no clue where to find out like that its awsome somebody help me out
February 2nd, 2011 at 12:52 pm
You know it’s a good topic when you’re still gettin’ comments 3 years out… good job!
But i’m in the “No Woman, No Cry” crowd as being the best. With “Stir it up” and “Three Little Birds” right up there.
February 5th, 2011 at 11:01 am
73 little birds shuold be no.1
February 5th, 2011 at 11:01 am
its his b-day 2morrow!!!!!!
February 10th, 2011 at 5:26 am
Marley WAS the greatest music star.
The Music AND The message sets him above anyone else IMO
A musical prophet who still had so much work to do
My top ten
1.Redemption Song – marley coming to terms with his own mortality
2. Wake up & live – “Life is one big road with lots of signs, but when your riding through the ruts dont you complicate your mind”. My lifes motto
3.Jah Live “You cyant kill god” great song weiten after Haille Sellasie died in 1976
4. Concrete Jungle – 1st track from catch a fire – great song and really brings the fiery, millitant Marley to the fore
5. Zion Train – great tune and great track,
6. Chant down Babylon – maybe not the best musically but Marley telling us through music we can send a message to those who run our live (Babylon)
7. Natural Mystic – A moody, haunting track that recorder as part of exodus when marley was in Lodon after being shot
8. So Jah Seh – From Natty dread, Marley telling us that there should be no poverty and why cant we come togother to stop this. “Not one of my seeds, shall sit on the sidewalk and beg your bread”
9.Natty Dread – A punchy song about how bob felt being away fron home during his teenage years where hw lived in Deleware. Strangley this song and the album should have been Knotty Dread, (the opposite of natty !” but for a translation error at Island records
10. Small Axe – One of Marleys earlier recordings, about the fact that however small we feel together we can be powerful “If you are a big tree, we are a small axe, coming to cut you down, to cut you down”
March 22nd, 2011 at 7:17 pm
1. Revelations
2. Rebel Music
3. Concrete Jungle
4. Burning and Looting
Those four should be high up on the list. But in all seriousness, every one of Bob’s songs are unique and the best in their own way. His lyrics live forever, because he sang about the most basic elements of our existence: Our relationship with God, and with one another.
One love & Jah live for ever
RIP BOB MARLEY
Never will there be anyone else like him.
March 23rd, 2011 at 5:22 pm
Roots rock reggae & Positive vibes & could you be loved.
March 27th, 2011 at 9:11 am
Here are my top 10 of the best bob marley songs :
Duppy conqueror
Small Axe
Redemption song
Stir it up
How many times
Rock my boat
Sun is shining
Mellow mood
Work
Try me
April 20th, 2011 at 6:25 am
Guys come on. ‘War’ is not even on your lists.
1. War
2. Redemption song
3. Who the cap fits
4. Sun is shining
5. Exodus
6. One Love
April 21st, 2011 at 2:09 am
Just attractive songs, Beb Marely got our attention while he’s in grave…
hahahahaha
May 3rd, 2011 at 8:23 pm
ehrm…. Top ranking? Babylon system…Comming in from the cold??
May 28th, 2011 at 7:11 am
how has everyone forgotten ride natty ride?
June 5th, 2011 at 10:34 am
no woman no cry??? how is that not on there it is easily his most powerful and emotional song.
June 5th, 2011 at 6:53 pm
dude what about the talkin blues album…your also missing so many great songs..could you be loved..waiting in vain, forever loving jah…i guess its just prefrence right?
June 20th, 2011 at 12:44 pm
Man, you can’t do a list of the best Marley’s songs… I mean, every song has something’s absent in the other… It’s like choose a Kubrick’s movie as the best…
And, sure, your forgot No Woman no Cry, Redemption Song, Exodus and the others… For me, if you want to judge the song of Bob Marley, you have to judge them on their society’s impact. So One Love, Get up Stand up, So Much Things to Say etc…
But, well, good try =)
June 24th, 2011 at 1:38 am
i think them belly full is a great song, running away and punky reggae party Yeah ;)
July 1st, 2011 at 3:46 am
I think the best song from him is:
…Forever loving Jah…
July 18th, 2011 at 10:54 am
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LEGENDARY
BUFFALO SOLDIER AND
COULD YOU BE LOVED
AND DON’T WORRY BE HAPPY
SERIOUSLY! YOUR LEAVING OUT LEGENDARY SONGS HERE!
bUT GOOD SONGS THOUGH I LOVE BOB MARLEY
August 10th, 2011 at 7:39 am
Ganga GUN my FAVORITE
August 12th, 2011 at 1:23 am
“i shot the sherif ” number one
October 3rd, 2011 at 8:30 pm
Dude, for real … You do not know anything beyond the Legend 1 and 2 for Bob Marley…
Try to hear these songs:
Ambush in the Night
Duppy Conqueror
Bad Card
Zimbabwe
Midnight Ravers
Babylon System
How Many Times
Running Away
Talking Blues
Them Belly Full
Guiltiness
Rebel Music (3 O’Clock Roadblock)
And someone tells for the sucker of post above “Do not Worry Be Happy” is the Bobby McFerrin song…
October 13th, 2011 at 6:14 am
lol i am wrting this at school the teachers cant see me lol,we r all talking about bob marley and i everyone got the computer bye bye oppps teacher is coming
December 6th, 2011 at 5:23 pm
I love no woman on cry the best of his songsbut now that he is gone, my whole life feels so incomplete we miss u bob:( <3
December 6th, 2011 at 5:24 pm
WE ALL MISS U BOB:) U DA BEST EVA
December 10th, 2011 at 6:49 am
What about the One Love?
December 24th, 2011 at 4:08 am
how do you not have “one love” in there??