10 Best Bob Marley Songs

Bob Marley songs introduced the world to ska -- a compilation of Caribbean reggae and blues -- which eventually evolved into the rocksteady and reggae we hear today. The following 10 Best Bob Marley Songs, as rated by AOL Radio listeners, are all fittingly on the 1984 'Legend' album, released three years after Marley's death and is still the best selling reggae album of all time, with sales of more than 20 million copies.

'Get Up, Stand Up'

Written by Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, this song specifically refers to the Rastafarian belief (a movement that originated in Jamaica in the '30s) that the Emperor of Ethiopia -- Haile Selassie I -- was God incarnate. This was the last song Marley performed on stage -- a performance at the Stanley Theatre in Pittsburgh on September 23, 1980.

iTunes | Lyrics

'Waiting in Vain'

Released in 1997 on the 'Exodus' album, the single reached No. 27 on the UK Single Chart. This Bob Marley song was later covered as a single by Annie Lennox and reached No. 37 in the UK Single Chart in 1995.

iTunes | Lyrics

Bob Marley & The Wailers Waiting In Vain

'Stir It Up'

The version we know today is on the 'Catch a Fire' album, released in 1973 by Island Records. There are however, two other previous releases of the song: First as a single on The Wailers own label, 'Wail'n Soul'm' (which soon after folded); and second on Johnny Nash's 1972 album, 'I Can See Clearly Now,' which is how the song originally gained popularity. The original album cover for 'Catch a Fire,' included a sleeve that functioned as a Zippo lighter case; only 20,000 copies of this cover were made.

iTunes | Lyrics

'Could You Be Loved'

The Wailers wrote this song in 1979 on an airplane while experimenting on the guitar. In the middle of the song, the background singers sing a few lines inspired from Marley's first single, 'Judge Not' released in 1961 changing, "you talk about me," to "you point your fingers": "The road of life is rocky and you may stumble too, So while you point your fingers someone else is judging you."

iTunes | Lyrics

Bob Marley & The Wailers Could You Be Loved

'Three Little Birds'

From the album 'Exodus,' the single reached No. 17 on the UK's Top 20 in 1980. The music video depicts a young girl walking the streets carrying a T.V. showing video clips of Bob Marley. Various drawn graffiti animation (remember this is the '80s) of posterized birds and lyrics are included in the music video as well.

iTunes | Lyrics

Bob Marley & the Wailers Three Little Birds

'Jamming'

The single, released in 1977 was also on the 'Exodus' album, which was recorded mostly in London while Marley was recovering from an assassination attempt.

iTunes | Lyrics

'No Woman, No Cry'

Released on the 'Natty Dread' album in 1974, this version is slightly different than the widely known 1975 version on the album 'Live!' The song credits were given to Marley's childhood friend Vincent Ford so that Ford could continue to run his Trenchtown soup kitchen.

iTunes | Lyrics

Bob Marley & The Wailers No Woman No Cry

'Is This Love'

From the album 'Kaya,' this Bob Marley song reached No. nine on the UK charts in 1978. The music video includes supermodel Naomi Campbell at age seven.

iTunes | Lyrics

'Buffalo Soldier'

The song lyrics depict some historical inaccuracies, but the concept of the song came from Marley's appreciation for the Buffalo Soldiers (U.S. African-American cavalry regiments that originated during the Indian Wars) and invokes them as a symbol of black resistance.

iTunes | Lyrics

Bob Marley & The Wailers Buffalo Soldier

'One Love/People Get Ready'

'One Love/People Get Ready' is a hybrid of The Wailers 'One Love' ska rendition on their 1965 album, 'The Wailing Wailers' and The Impressions' song 'People Get Ready,' written by Curtis Mayfield. Marley's inspiration for this song came from his friend, painter Roman Selvaggio.

iTunes | Lyrics

Bob Marley & The Wailers One Love People Get Ready

What Are Your Favorite Bob Marley Songs?

Be sure to tell us what your favorite Bob Marley songs of all time are in the comments section below.

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Filed under: Best Songs, Top 10 Lists

Reader Comments

(Page 1)

1. Great List! However, you can not make a top ten of Classic Bob Marley jams and leave out 'Redemption Song'

Posted at 8:06AM on Sep 6th 2009 by SeeMLesS

2. Great songs! Great compilation too! One thing that would floor me totally would be extended play of these songs and indeed all the great ones of Bob.

Posted at 2:17PM on Sep 10th 2009 by Iwin

3. 10 TEN and it doesn't include Redemption Song?!? That would have been my No. 1 choice.

Posted at 1:36PM on Sep 28th 2009 by Gayla

4. this list sucks. this is almost the whole legend album. whoever made this list obviously doesnt know bobs music.
some of the greatest are concrete jungle, im hurting iside, roots rock reggae, zion train and zimbabwe

Posted at 5:46PM on Oct 5th 2009 by cheepoono

5. I think this is a horrible top ten. He has many, many more songs that a lot of people have not heard. This is just the top ten of the Legend CD, which is supposed to be his greatest songs. There is no denying that these songs are unbelievable, but songs such as "Redemption Song" and "Natural Mystic" and "One Drop" and "Ride Natty Ride" are songs that should be in consideration. In fact, there should not be a top ten for Bob Marley, we should have a top 100. This to me is a popular vote, not too many people know of the songs that I have listed. People who really listen to Bob Marley and understand his music know where I am coming from. Still love these songs though.

Posted at 1:41PM on Dec 4th 2009 by zkhaliqi

6. With the exception of Redemption Song, you guys, especially 'cheepoono', are idiots.
Obviously this is a POLL of the best Bob songs and therefore a popularity contest.
I have an authentic Marley Tribute Band and I am FROM the islands. I perform more Marley songs than you may even know and I can tell you that this list is HIGHLY accurate when compared to the response that I get here in the US.
Zimbabwe, one of my favourites, sends the floor dancers to the frikkin bar. So stop with the knowitallaboutbob attitude and learn from the list as a reflection of the society in which you live.

Posted at 12:45PM on Dec 4th 2009 by dreadrocksean

7. Ur right, you can't sum "Bob" up in juz "10".... How they dare they!!!!!

Posted at 9:02PM on Dec 22nd 2009 by bgettinjiggy

8. Bob Marley music is great any way you put it.
To each its own. I remember when I was in high school back in the day. I tried to buy Bob's new LP album 'Natty Dread' from a large record store on Fordham Road in the Bronx, NY. They said, "we don't sale reggae music here." I felt very hurt. Then Bob made reggae music sale everywhere. it was then and still is one of the coolest music in the world.

Posted at 10:51PM on Jan 20th 2010 by Ernest Cooper

9. When I first read this list.. I didnt agree at all.. it's terrible, its just all Legend songs..

This is my Top 10 List:

10. There She Goes (Soul Rebel)
- Amazing melody, reaaaally old sckool track.
9. She's Gone (Kaya)
- I love this song, I wanted to put it in my top 5 believe it or not.. "Oh Mockingbird, have you ever heard, words that I never heard"
8. Three Little Birds (Exodus)
- I couldn't not put this in here.. Whether it be number 1 or number 8 in this list, it still makes you happy.
7. Ambush In The Night (Survival)
- Incredible track, making not of the assassination attempt on him.
6. Stir It Up (Catch A Fire)
- Biggest chill song.. I couldd die happy listening to this song
5. Real Situation (Uprising)
- Very underrated, very great and factful (if that is a word) track.
4. Natty Dread (Natty Dread)
- This song has always made me dance. I don't know why but this is one of my favourites.
3. Zimbabwe (Survival)
- Political and very powerful
"Every man gotta right to decide his own destiny", powerful words.
2. Is This Love (Kaya)
- This is my favourite song of all time, however, not my favourite Bob Marley & The Wailers song.. I sing along to this all the time.
1. Redemption Song (Uprising)
- This has got to be one of, if not, the best songs ever to be recorded on the face of the earth, people think its overrated, I, however, feel it is underrated.

Thats my list, took me a good hour to think of that, its impossible to come up with one but thats one I made up just then.. i have so many notable mentions but I don't wanna type them, too many, although these four i strongly considered:

- Buffalo Soldier (Confrontation)
One of the many songs my Dad sang to me when I was a baby.
- War (Rastaman Vibration)
You know why I would've put it in the list, it's a classic.
- No Woman No Cry (Live!)
No not the Natty Dread Version, but the Live! version, or also found on Legend, this inspires me this song.
- Misty Morning (Kaya)
Always loved this song all my life, was my favourite for a while.

Posted at 1:08AM on Jan 21st 2010 by Matt Davidson

10. he was and is a fine man of the arts.very very fine , wish the shit they play today like rap could take lessons how to play an sing.

Posted at 6:08PM on Apr 22nd 2010 by mtazzmoe1

11. Thanks for the top 10 list but Bob wrote to many great songs to have a top 10 list. Bob never wrote a bad song. Ambassador David's Productions www.caribbeanconnection2002.com

Posted at 11:16AM on May 2nd 2010 by Ambassador David

12. i like:

1.misty morning
2.burnin and a lootin tonite
3.who the cap fit
4.high seas or low seas (i'm gonna be your fren)
5.natty dread
6.give thanks and praises
7.jump nayabingi
8.so much things to say
9.no woman no cry
10.redemption song...

yeah!!!

Posted at 8:00PM on May 3rd 2010 by cassandra k

13. Bob marley is last one creet muzc.

Posted at 6:51PM on May 26th 2010 by Hushamalshekh

14. 10. one love
9. survival
8. caution
7. nice time
6. stop that train
5. one cup of coffee
4. soul rebel
3. fussin n fightin
2. african herbsman
1. redemption song

Posted at 3:00PM on Jun 28th 2010 by graham

15. WHAT ABOUT TRENCH TOWN ROCK?

Posted at 7:00PM on Jun 28th 2010 by GEORGE

16. This is the reggae prophet....all of these songs are great...no disrespect intended, but give us more than a review of the Legend album!

You want to know the real top 10? They are the ones hidden away that most never heard or those that get played on commercials....they are the ones that make you look within...question your approach to life itself...make you cry,tears of every emotion...want to love fellow man and give a mystical energy through your nerves as they tingle and your hair stands up on your neck...make you crack the Bible to read about King Solomon while you roll a spliff of your own homegrown with a unneeded page from the index...make you ignore the police helicopter as it hovers low over the fields, cause you know your heart and soul is not criminal but God's love itself...

those are the 10 songs...

I know I'm not alone......and neither are you... whether baldhead or dread....One Love

Posted at 4:54PM on Jul 4th 2010 by Gottasayit

17. I have loved Bob's music for years, when I hear him I close my eyes and remember him in concert he was #1 for me. It would be great to have extended play of these songs. I love them all.

Posted at 11:28AM on Jul 23rd 2010 by CC

18. for me i love tow songs 1- war 2 excedus

Posted at 8:57AM on Aug 1st 2010 by aburami

19. I love everyone of Bob's songs, but if any list that is created of Bob Marley's ten greatest hit and does not include 'War' and "Redemption Song' it is not a good list. The person/s does not understand Bob's love for his people and Africa and they do not understand his music or the words.

Posted at 10:51AM on Aug 17th 2010 by D Cohen

20. My ten songs are:-

1. War
2. Redemption Song
3. Exodus
4. No Woman No Cry
5. Three Little Birds
6. Buffalo Soldier
7. Natural Mystic
8. Get Up Stand Up
9. Waiting in Vein
10.Zimbabwe

Posted at 3:30PM on Aug 17th 2010 by D Cohen

21. Personally I love all of Bobs songs so to make a list of my top 10 would probably be impossible. But if I had to choose any favorites Rastaman Chant and Redemption Song are definately up there. Peace and Love!

Posted at 6:03PM on Oct 21st 2010 by Heather

22. These are my top 10 Marley selections.Some were released as singles
1.So much trouble in the world
2.Burning
3.Concrete jungle
4.Buffalo Soldier
5.Trench Town Rock
6.No woman no cry
7.Jammin
8.Exodus
9.Sun is shining
10.Get up stand up

Posted at 11:34PM on Nov 11th 2010 by john reid

23. Good compilation but forgot Gotta have Kayaman and Zimbabwe. Get up stand up deserves the top 10 by any means. Buffalo soldier was over played and it has become too obvious like "We are the World"

Posted at 12:00PM on Nov 23rd 2010 by MALANGO

24. The list is OK, but "Buffalo Soldier" should not be there. It's a song that Marley himself chose to not include on the Rastaman Vibration album (1976). But there are another, much faster, version – "Buffalo Soldier" King Sporty's version – which is much better but audio quality bad.

It's not wrong to say that "No Woman No Cry" (No Woman, Don't Cry in standard English) is made by Vincent Ford. The man, speaking to a crying woman, actually spoke the whole lyrics on evening when Bob and Rita were at the soup kitchen. Rita noted the words. The brothers Aston and Carlton Barrett – bass player and drummer in The Wailers – arranged the song. Marley got this one for free, and it's honorable to admit that it's not his song.

I miss "No More Trouble".

Posted at 1:08PM on Feb 2nd 2011 by Stefan Back

25. my wife and i were in jamaica in january bob marley is a national treasure there if you havent been there you need to go at least once in your life beautiful island wonderful people and lots of bob marley im hooked for life also check out mento music i wonder if bob grew up hearing this type of music check out the jolly boys songs like passenger k

Posted at 9:32AM on Mar 9th 2011 by kev

26. i love the song 'Buffalo Soldier' its magic when i first heard it i feel in love with it and just have to sing along with it, also three little birds such a brill song i love him

R.I.P

Posted at 8:35AM on Mar 14th 2011 by GeorgiaMay

27. I have no comment.

Posted at 10:22PM on Mar 24th 2011 by Michele Hoover

28. my top ten bob marley songs are no woman no cry turn your lights down low kaya war africa unite three little birds redemption song one love get up stand up and buffalo sodier.

Posted at 12:19PM on Apr 5th 2011 by william Tandy

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10 Best Bob Marley Songs

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