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

„No Woman, No Cry“ propelled Bob Marley & The Wailers to sudden global fame. The song was released 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 excites 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 people 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 a correct translation doesn't mean „No woman, no yelling,“ 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 grammar rules, the song should therefore be titled „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 is difficult.

History behind the song: Trenchtown, Jamaica

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

The song describes the feeling of life and the problems of the people in Trenchtown. Nevertheless, 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“ go to a soup kitchen for the homeless.

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

Ford operated a soup kitchen for homeless people and young people 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 explanation for this: it is questionable whether Marley gave away the rights out of pure charity. Problems with his Producers been. During his collaboration with Danny Sims of Cayman Music, discrepancies became more frequent. For example, Sims retained the income from the licensing of „I Shot the Sheriff“ without paying Marley his share.

„No Woman, No Cry“ Lyrics

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, yeah Mingling with the good people we meet, yeah Good friends we have, oh, good friends we've lost Along the way, yeah In this great future, you can't forget your past So dry your tears, I say, yeah

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 burnin‘ through the night, yeah Then we would cook cornmeal porridge, I say Of which I’ll share with you, yeah My feet is 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