Songmeaning „No Woman No Cry“: The first „No” actually means „No“ and the second is to be translated as „don't,“ so in German „nicht.“ The first one is missing a comma, the second comes from Jamaican slang „Nuh.“ „No Woman, No Cry,“ Bob Marley's biggest hit, should actually be called „No, Woman, Don't Cry.“ It's not the macho song that many people consider it to be. Rather, the song lovingly addresses a woman and asks her not to cry.

„No Woman, No Cry“ made Bob Marley & The Wailers instantly world-famous. The song appeared in 1974 on the album „Natty Dread“ and has been covered countless times by other artists over the decades. These include Joan Baez, Nina Simone, and The Fugees.

To this day, the song delights and touches music fans all over the world. To this day, it is Marley's most played song – and to this day, it is misunderstood.

The True Meaning of Bob Marley's „No Woman, No Cry“

„No Woman, No Cry“ is not the macho song that many think or have thought it to be. Rather, the song lovingly addresses a woman and asks her not to cry. These are comforting words of love, not demeaning words of contempt. Because correctly translated, it doesn't mean „No woman, no shouting,“ but „No, woman, don't cry.“.

Grammatically, there should be a comma after the first „No,“ which would then be translated as „Nein.“ The second „No“ comes from Jamaican slang „Nuh“ and means „don't“ in English and „nicht“ in German. According to strict grammatical rules, the song should therefore be called „No, Woman don't Cry.“.

The true meaning of the song becomes clear in the lyric „Oh little, little darling, please don’t shed no tears.“ It's an appeal to persevere and remain hopeful, even when life gets tough.

History behind the song: Trenchtown, Jamaica

In „No Woman, No Cry,“ Marley sings about the difficult life in the slums of Kingston, Jamaica's capital. More precisely, in Trenchtown, as the line „In the government yard in Trenchtown“ reveals. Marley lived there with his wife Rita Anderson and knew poverty, the struggle for survival, and hopelessness. Those who lived there often had nothing but their families. No running water, no electricity, and no future.

The song describes the feelings and problems of people in Trenchtown. However, it could also refer to any other slum in the world. It is partly this openness that has made the song so successful. Nevertheless, it is not a socially critical protest song, but a song full of hope and comfort.

All proceeds from „No Woman, No Cry“ will go to a soup kitchen for the homeless.

The entire revenue from the song goes to Vincent „Tata“ Ford. Alongside Bob Marley, he is credited as the songwriter. However, Marley admitted in an interview that he wrote the song alone. The reason Ford still receives royalties is different.

Ford ran a soup kitchen for homeless people and youths in Trenchtown. In keeping with the song's spirit, Ford wanted to create a space for togetherness. Marley's checks helped him fund it until his death in 2008.

There is another, far less romantic narrative to this: For it is questionable whether Marley released the rights out of pure charity. Problems with his Producers been. While working with Danny Sims of Cayman Music, discrepancies became more frequent. For example, Sims kept the proceeds from the licensing of „I Shot the Sheriff“ without paying Marley his share.

„No Woman, No Cry

No, woman, no cry No, woman, no cry No, woman, no cry No, woman, no cry

‚Cause, ‚cause, ‚cause I remember when we used to sit In the government yard in Trenchtown Observing the hypocrites Mingle with the good people we meet Good friends we have, oh, good friends we've lost Along the way In this great future, you can't forget your past So dry your tears, I say

No, woman, no cry No, woman, no cry, eh, yeah Little darlin‘, don’t shed no tears No, woman, no cry

Eh, said, said, said, I remember when we used to sit in the government yard in Trenchtown, yeah And then Georgie would make the fire lights, I say A log wood burning through the night, yeah Then we would cook cornmeal porridge, I say Of which I’ll share with you, yeah My feet are my only carriage And so I’ve got to push on through but while I’m gone

Everything's gonna be alright Everything's gonna be alright Everything's gonna be alright Everything's gonna be alright Everything's gonna be alright Everything's gonna be alright Everything's gonna be alright Everything's gonna be alright

So no, woman, no cry No, woman, no cry I say, oh little, oh little, darling, don't shed no tears No, woman, no cry, eh No, woman, no, woman, no, woman, no cry No, woman, no cry, one more time I've got to say Oh little, little darling, please don't shed no tears No, woman, no cry No, woman, no, woman no cry