This book was originally published as two volumes, created on the anniversaries of my dad’s fifty-sixth and sixtieth Earthdays. In each volume, I selected some of my father’s most prophetic poems and meditations, insights and conversational messages. I chose sayings that resonated with me and that were personally important to my dad as well. Within these books is a side of my father most people didn’t get to see in his lifetime.
My dad’s thoughts and meditations were not circulated as widely as his music. He understood the power of music, but would be surprised to learn that the written word would soon be available in so many ways, and could be combined with music so meaningfully. In this ebook re-release, I had the opportunity to expand the existing material, adding video interviews, links to my father’s music, and new photographs. Fans of Bob Marley will enjoy reading his words, hearing his music, and learning about his life in a way that they never could have experienced before digital books existed. They will see he was not only a musician, but also a revolutionary.
My father was always an explorer, an innovator, and a philosopher. He said, “Blessed reggae is a reggae when you deal with reality. You get more music, more anything.” He always let his words and his music act as his messengers. He believed in unity and he expressed this philosophy in his music. He used his lyrics to connect people, to ask all of us to work together and trust one another. “We should all come together and create music and love,” he said. If he had an opportunity to expand his message of freedom, religion, and social change, he embraced it. I have no doubt that, if he were alive, he would have found a way to see how digital books would have helped him reach a wider audience around the world. Since his words and songs are really one and the same—messages for social change—how pleased he would be that in this project, they all come together.
My father still is truly an inspiration to so many. My family is livicated to making sure that his spirit thrives, along with the vibrancy of his music. We want his writings, his sense of the universe, his devotion to healing the world, and his endless charity to live on. My father passed quite young, and we did not get to spend the time with him that we wished—but from his music and his writings, we understand what he believed and we try to promote those teachings and philosophies. Today, his music and his legacy are still vital, so it is important to my family and me to keep his words alive in every way possible, in every format available.
My dad said, “My music will go on forever. Maybe it’s a fool to say that, but when me know facts me say facts. My music go on forever.” He speaks the truth as always. . . .
~Cedella Marley