Few reggae songs achieved as much acclaim as Bob Marley’s “No Woman No Cry”. Originally released on Marley’s 1974 album Natty Dread, the autobiographical song delves into Bob Marley’s experiences living in Trenchtown, Kingston, and is often interpreted as a comforting song for his wife Rita Marley. In this article, I will dive into the story, meaning, and legacy behind “No Woman No Cry”.
The Story Behind the Song
Bob Marley released “No Woman No Cry” on his seventh studio album Natty Dread in 1974. The fast(er)-paced and minimalistic original initially received very little attention outside Jamaica and sounded vastly different than the eventual well-known version of the song.
A year later, in July 1975, Bob Marley and the Wailers recorded a live version of the song in the Lyceum Theatre in London. The live version was played in a slower tempo, making it almost twice as long as the original, and featured more instrumentation. This version was released as a single at the end of 1975 and sparked Bob Marley’s international breakthrough.
The Meaning of the Song
“No Woman No Cry” is a nostalgic song about Bob Marley’s experiences living in Trenchtown, Kingston. The lyrics are a trip down memory lane and provide a comforting message for Marley’s loved ones that there’s ‘no reason to cry’ because ‘everything’s gonna be alright’.
The woman in the lyrics of the song most likely refers to Marley’s wife Rita. “So many of Bob’s lyrics reflect our personal life,” Rita Marley wrote in her biography. “from ‘Nice Time’ to ‘Chances Are’ to ‘Stir It Up’, and, of course, ‘No Woman No Cry’.
“Sometimes, on tour, if we’d had an argument before the show and he wanted to apologize, while we were performing that song he’d use the opportunity to come over to me onstage and put his arm around my shoulder, with sometimes a kiss or a whisper ‘I love you’ in my ear.”
Misinterpretation of the Song’s Title
Bob Marley’s “No Woman No Cry” is often misinterpreted, and it has everything to do with the song’s title. Some interpret “No Woman No Cry” literally, as in ‘no woman around, no reason to cry’. In actuality, “No Woman No Cry” is rephrased from the Jamaican Patois “No Woman Nuh Cry” and means ‘no woman, don’t cry’.
Songwriting Credit
Although it is assumed that “No Woman No Cry” was written by Bob Marley, the songwriting credit of the song was given to Vincent Ford. Ford was a close friend of Marley and ran a soup kitchen in Trenchtown. By giving the songwriting credit to Ford, Marley provided financial support to his friend. In total, Vincent Ford received songwriting credit on four Bob Marley songs.
In later years controversy emerged around Marley’s habit of giving songwriting credit to close friends. Cayman Music, Marley’s former publishing label, believed Marley gave songwriting credit to close friends in order to avoid contractual obligations. It resulted in a lawsuit won by the Marley estate.
The Legacy of No Woman No Cry
“No Woman No Cry” grew out to be one of Bob Marley’s most famous and iconic songs. It’s a good example of a song that’s more popular as a live rendition than as a studio version.
Pretty much all Bob Marley compilation albums include the live version of “No Woman No Cry” and few know the actual original recording.
Bob Marley himself was an admirer of the song. In 1974, he stated: “Me really love ‘No Woman No Cry’ because it mean so much to me, so much feeling me get from it. Really love it.”
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