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!)
113 Comments
Trenchtown Rock – Hit me with music – or mu-sack, as my boy says.
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
Confirmed: I forgot one: Let the Cap Fit!
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.
Time Will Tell…my favorite along with Iron Lion Zion
Tnx 4 ur blog but in my opinion his best song is no woman no cry
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
mellow mood
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
midnight ravers, natural mystic, positive vibrations chill beats.
you forget waiting in vain.
&& pimpers paradise.
i love the marley brothers so being able to read about one of them is amazing!!
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
Get up stand up
One Love
Natural Mystic
could you be loved
turn your light down low should be included
great list, but as many of you have stated, it is an impossible task to select the top ten. how about adding ” CONCRETE JUNGLE “
No Woman No Cry is my favorite
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.
Mr.Brown, don’t know why but this song always struck a cord with me.
Babylon System cannot be forgotten
“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!
Three Little Birds is the best song by Bob Marley…. My Opinnion
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!!!!!!
No woman no cry live is one of the best songs ever written. Why the hell isn’t it on the list?
africa unite
All good but have you ever listen to Stiff necked
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!
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
Redemption Song !! for me :O
i dig all bob marley’s songs, but one in special that nobody mentioned is Exodus!
i go to another dimension listening to it!
Love them all. Surprised Redemption Song wasn’t mentioned though. One of my favorite songs of all time.
GET UP, STAND UP??????????
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
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.
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
In my opinion:
1. Could you be loved
2. Buffalo Soldier
3. One love
4. No woman no cry
redemption song is my fave
Yesterday 6 februari i listen to lovely 3 great songs
1.Zimbabwe
2.Guiltiness
3.Natural Mystic
But all his songs are great!
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……
if its a marley list its gotta have no woman no cry, war, one love, red red wine,
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!!
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
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
WHAT?! What about Get Up Stand Up? That is like Marley’s tune man
That tune is absolutely amazing!
waiting in vain and zion train deserve to be up there..
It makes me sad that “Satisfy My Soul” hasn’t been mentioned. It’s my most favorite one…
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!!!…
how about one love? buffalo soldier? and get up stand up???
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
An emancipator in life and in death,who can rplace this genius?. only Jaaaaah……..
Amazing – Nobody mentioned my all time bob marley favorites
1. Night Shift 2. Kaya So Cool, so Powerful!!!
marly man is cool
marleyman is exelcette cool and he is cool so much
could you be loved no.1
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”.
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.
no woman no cry <<3
awesome. best of them all in my opinion.
Buffalo soldier number one!!!!!! I’m listening to it right now while hitting the blunt, smoke out a room while listening to this song 🙂
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.
NO WOMEN NO CRY is the best one
MR. BROWN !!!!
concrete jungle the live version on babylon by bus album
redemtion songs
i hv never seen such a guy ………………………….. i like ganja gun ,,,,, no women no cry…………………………………………………………………………………. proud to be a ganjawala
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
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.
73 little birds shuold be no.1
its his b-day 2morrow!!!!!!
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”
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.
Roots rock reggae & Positive vibes & could you be loved.
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
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
Just attractive songs, Beb Marely got our attention while he’s in grave…
hahahahaha
ehrm…. Top ranking? Babylon system…Comming in from the cold??
how has everyone forgotten ride natty ride?
no woman no cry??? how is that not on there it is easily his most powerful and emotional song.
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?
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 =)
i think them belly full is a great song, running away and punky reggae party Yeah 😉
I think the best song from him is:
…Forever loving Jah…
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
Ganga GUN my FAVORITE
“i shot the sherif ” number one
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…
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
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
WE ALL MISS U BOB:) U DA BEST EVA
What about the One Love?
how do you not have “one love” in there??
i think all marley song is the best!
bob marley is the best musician the world has produced.
his best songs are.
one drop.
blackman redemption,
survival
chant down babylon
forever loving jah.
come from trench town.
real situation.
lively up your self (live recording)
ride natty ride
zimbabwe
from king solomon.
Buffalo Soldier
I shot the Sheriff
Get up Stand up
THE BEST BOB MARLEY SONGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JAH LIVE!!!
I only took a 2 seconds view to this page… right away I didnt like it… it was missing REDEMPTION SONG… but then… it may be just me stuck with that son…bye
i am listening to his songs right now,infact we are celebrating him.i can’t list the top 10 of his music because all his songs are fantastic.the man his legend indeed.
i am listening to his songs right now,infact we are celebrating him.i can’t list the top 10 of his music because all his songs are fantastic.the man is a legend indeed.
I am not overly fond of the songs that the radio has saturated, due to repitition. As all who love Jah Bob know, every last one of his works are awesome, but all you ever hear, is ‘JAMMIN’, ‘EXODUS’, ‘ONE LOVE’, ‘THREE LITTLE BIRDS’, ‘BUFFALO SOLDIAR’, and a slew of other commercial Marley tunes. It would be extremely tough for me to nail down my Top Ten, but I’ll try…
10) – SATISFY MY SOUL
9) – SO MUCH THINGS TO SAY
8) – WHO THE CAP FITS
7) – JUMP NYABINGHI
6) – WE AND DEM
5) – BABYLON SYSTEM
4) – WHO THE CAP FIT
3) – GUILTINESS
2) – REVOLOUTION
1) – JOHNNY WAS
…Even listing those, I am aprehensive, because I feel the need to throw in
‘CRY TO ME’, and ‘AMBUSH IN THE NIGHT’, and ‘FOREVER LOVING JAH’, and ‘MIX UP, MIX UP’, and ‘CONCRETE JUNGLE, ‘MAGA DOG’, and ‘CRY TO ME’, ‘KINKY REGGAE’, ‘RAT RACE’, ‘NIGHT SHIFT’, ‘3’O’CLOCK ROAD BLOCK’, and…
Well, you get the picture! You’ll notice ‘THREE LITTLE BIRDS’, and ‘NO WOMAN, NO CRY’ and ‘COULD YOU BE LOVED’, and others aren’t there, and that’s not because I don’t like them…they simply don’t fit in my ‘TOP TEN’, as I construe the criteria for my Top Ten. Now, that being said, if we were to list a ‘Top Ten’ “Most Important” Top Ten, then my list is completely different. Again, a Top Ten most important to Bob Marley’s career would be different than a Top Ten most important Marley songs to “REGGAE MUSIC”!
So, there you have it…my Top Ten Most Important to Michael Kameka Bob Marley tracks! I LOVE ’em all, though.
1. Sun is shining (this song makes me so happy I can cry…I walk around all the time singing …”want you to know, I’m a rainbow too!!”
2. Is this love
3. War
4. Three Little Birds
5. Trench Town Rock
6. Real Situation
7. Crazy Baldhead
8. Waiting in Vain
9. Natural Mystic
10.
Bob Marley sucks
what is that song that goes too many men too many men, we need more girls in here
where the f**k is “how many times”??? thats one of his best..
I am 60 years old January 25, 1952). A missionary Pastor from Ghana West Africa. I have enjoyed Bob Marley’s songs before got born again at the age of 27. (I did not even know he smoked Ganja until after his death) I STILL PLAY HIS MUSIC. Here are my Selections. Try them and see.
Talking Blues
Satisfy My Saoul
Rebel Music ( 3, Oclock RoadBlock)
Chances Are
Jump Hyabinghi
Jah Live
Stiff Necked Fools
Small Axe
Guiltiness
Blackman Redemption
Babylon System
Chant Down Babylon
We cannot down play BOB MARLEY”S SONGS.
I hope Bob Marley was saved. The ULTIMATE
1.pimper paradize
2.so jah seh
3.jamin
4.crazy baldhead
5.jah live
6.stir it up
ayo.. how come nobody has said Soul Rebel..? that’s ma jam.
But also french african people do listen to Marley and this is my top 10 list.
Definitly the ones not to be put aside :
1.Mellow mood
2.How many times
3.Stir it up
4.Is this love
5.Three little birds
6.African Herbman
7.Satisfy my Soul
8.Small Axe
9.Corner stone
10.Caution (Here I am walking down the street, and the terrain, everything is so sweet!)
No better than this one. Listen all day and all day !
i cant really choose witch is my favorite cuz i like them all hes done many great songs to say witch is the best one.
No more about bob if you have got his songs like TIME WILL TELL,can you hear GET UP STAND UP verse likes you can fool some people some time but you cant fool all the people…….
1) Stir it Up – The bass of this song is extremely well done and the guitar riff, all i can say is damn. This song fills the room with an enchanted love feeling
2) Waiting in Vain – This song has deep meaning and I can’t explain its power
3)No Woman No Cry – Self-Explanatory
4)Three Little Birds – This brings the you into an uplifting mood
5)High Tide Or Low Tide – One of the most moving songs ever
6)Judge Not – First Bob Marley song released, extremely well done
More…but i cant type forever 😉
I’ve already done my list as above, the sixth person before, but there is something too magical with Marley that your brain is always confusing and therefore never come up with a real final list. Some kind of black magic I suppose. Here is another list after many listenings and listenings, one by one :
1. Redemption Song
2. Mellow mood
3. We and dem
4. Positive Vibration
5. Satisfy my soul
6. Could you be loved
7. Them belly full
8. Zimbabwe
9. Burnin’ and lootin’
10.Forever Loving Jah/ Iron Lion Zion (great song and never mentioned by the way) Have you all forgotten this song ?
After I would probably put Real Situaton, So much trouble in the world, Jammin’, Is this Love, Survival, Chances Are, Fussin’ and fightin’, Running Away and a little Exodus never mentioned as well but very powerfullll !
I shouldn’t be too bad ?
the songs is my Favorite song ever and any like it he or she has the test of music
Idk who exactly put it up there or made you believe it BUT BOB MARLEY DID NOT WRITE DON’T WORRY BE HAPPY!!!!
That was Bobby McFerrin!
and what happened to I Shot The Sheriff???
Was it too worn out for y’all?
I’ve grown up listening to Bob Marley since I was 2 and I just turned 16
Marley is still by far in my opinion the best musician to have ever lived and he will never be topped!
I listen to all types of genres and I love older music even stuff like rush and led zeppelin
I also love Jimi Hendrix and my all time favorite is still Bob Marley
I hate the newer crap that’s fed to people my age
It’s an insult to the word “Music”
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.