Studio Releases
Live Releases
DVDs
More
The overall theme of the album is a powerful one, as it propels Marley to challenge social injustice along with the political weapons of ignorance and fear. Wild and Free (Tuff Gong Worldwide), his fourth solo album, may be Ziggy's most political and personal to date. Wild and Free was produced with friend and collaborator Don Was at Ocean Way Studios in Hollywood, CA as well as Marley's own studio.
"The thing that makes this new album special is that Ziggy has embraced the more traditional and familiar textures and rhythms of reggae, while further defining the unique artistic vision that sets him apart," says producer Don Was. "His quest to find his own voice within the framework of tradition is the real story of the album." In that quest, Marley finds company in the immense and varied talents of guitarist Takeshi Akimoto (Raya Yarbrough, Dry & Heavy), bassist Darryl Jones (The Rolling Stones, Miles Davis, Sting), keyboardist James Poyser (Eryka Badu, Common, Mariah Carey), drummer Carlton "Santa" Davis (Jimmy Cliff, Burning Spear) and percussionist Rock Deadrick (Ben Harper, Chicago, Kenny Loggins).
With themes of freedom and responsibility, tempered hope and intemperate love, Wild and Free affirms Marley as a master storyteller with an innate sense of soul. It opens with its title track, "Wild and Free," a rock-fueled reggae anthem with a funky, Stevie Wonder-esque synthesizer solo, written in support of California's Proposition 19 to legalize marijuana. Swapping verses with his friend, actor Woody Harrelson, the two envision "hemp fields growing wild and free" and the far-reaching effects of legalization benefiting small farmers and a myriad of others. Marley provided a free acoustic version of the song to his fans on his website under the alternate title, "A Fire Burns for Freedom."
From there it's the funky and fun-loving "Forward To Love," segueing into the first of several cautionary songs, "It" (joined by rapper Heavy D), which implores people to examine long-desired goals. Ziggy rides a swift reggae current on "Changes," joined by songwriter/producer Linda Perry as well as his own son, Daniel, who lends vocals. The self-empowerment anthem "Personal Revolution" opens with a military drumbeat, before adding hot guitar licks and thick Hammond organ fills; in contrast, it's a Wild West guitar that opens "Get Out of Town," moving into a dark beat to take aim at the pollution of the planet and the corrupt powers that control it. Politics is also in the side-view mirror in the spirited "Road Less Traveled," which extols the virtue of bravery in choosing paths that may not be familiar or comfortable.
"Mmmm Mmmm," with its gospel-flavored chorus, gives us Ziggy Marley as he contemplates Jah's view of mankind and our spiritual condition, while "Welcome to the World" (showcasing the newest "wailer," baby Abraham Selassie Robert Nesta Marley) warns, "I can't promise it's a good place" and "you've got to stand up for who you are." Ziggy suggests the consequences of not heeding the warnings of positive change in "A Sign," before slipping into an easier, upbeat groove for the mantric "Reggae in My Head." As Wild and Free opens with a political song, so does it close with "Elizabeth," which casts a cynical eye toward government and its motives.
| # | Track Title | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Wild and Free
A fire burns for freedom, a fire burns for freedom A fire burns fro freedom the smell of dissent is high I'm standing for the truth too long it's been denied The tide of change is rising let hope be realized Unchain these wings let angels fly I see hemp fields forever growing wild and free I see marijuana trees blowing in the breeze I see hemp fields forever growing wild and free, wild and free A crime against nations a war is waged There's a message in the wind for every race Peace and love we sow so let us grow It's good for the body it's good for the soul I see hemp fields forever growing wild and free I see marijuana trees blowing in the breeze I see hemp fields forever growing wild and free, wild and free Sold us the kiss of death denied us the tree of life This damn hypocrisy cost so many lives Corporation greed can't own this seed Small farmers will survive by planting a weed I see hemp fields forever growing wild and free I see marijuana trees blowing in the breeze I see hemp fields forever growing wild and free, wild and free A crucified savior to save your face Demonizing nature our saving grace We got to put to good use what the lord has gave Fruits of the tree the herbs of the field A fire burns for freedom , a fire burns for freedom , a fire burns for freedom |
4:50 |
| 2 |
Forward to Love
Don't go away when you know that it feels good
Why don't you stay cause you know what we could do baby We could get hazy Hand in hand we feel the vibe we see true love in our eyes baby This aint no maybe Forward to love You know we got something the feeling is true And I don't wanna wait another day to be with you baby We could get lazy The spirit has spoke the voice of the truth No need to waste time lets just do it baby We could get crazy Forward to love Hard to believe it shouldn't be this easy You take the lead and I wont be greedy baby I'm in no hurry What are the odds as stranger we meet But deep inside we've walked these streets already This ain't just lately Forward to love Don't go away when you know that it feel good Why don't you stay cause you know what we could do baby We could get hazy Hand in hand we feel the vibe you see true love in my eyes baby This aint no maybe Forward to love |
3:43 |
| 3 |
It
lets go ziggy now them a pray for the riches and the gold but wont even pray for them soul ziggy
I hear you wanna try to find it do you know what it is I hear you gone looking for what you want hope you find what you need I hear you gonna try and find it do you know what it is I hear you gone looking for what you want hope you find what you need Not all that glitter is gold once a fool was told Right before he sold his soul his soul and a man made his money His money was on his mind He got everything he wanted and he still wasn't satisfied How you feel when you look in the mirror do you see a champion or a weakling What's your thing what you chasing falsehood or fatherhood Abandonment of parenthood I'm looking for something good There's something bout the way you act the way you play the game I love you smile and you don't look at life quite the same Your attitude kinda make me want to really change Look at things not the same but differently You the best the worst of me the reverse the opposite of me Your hospitality got me feeling quite free Sitting in front of the big screen watching life go by Wanna be like what you see every time you close your eyes She's coming in from the cold she cant stand to be alone He's looking for a hole what she needs is a home Hope you find what you need hope you find what you need A religious man is preaching. Said he found god But he couldn't go to heaven until he found love The people they are listening he caught them by surprise He Confessed all his sins and he stop telling lies I hear you wanna try to find it do you know what it is I hear you go looking for what you want i hope you find what you need I hear you gonna try to find it do you know what it is I hear you go looking for what you want hope you find what you need Hope you find what you need Hey yo push come to shove what happen to the love What happen to the giving instead of taking my heart is breaking To many greedy not giving to the needy What happen to the pity when you walk through the inner city Now where the love at where the hugs at Nowadays everybody want to be a thug act Too many materialistic ways and nowadays nobody love each other the same way Everyone's trying to find it Do we know what it is hear we go looking for what we want I hope we find what we need Everyone's trying to find it Do we know what it is I hear we go looking for what we want I hope we find what we need I Hope you find what you need hope you find what you need One time and if the blind lead the blind then wha go happen to the whole mankind You nuh know me say hope you find what you need Ziggy ziggy ziggy and heavy heavy heavy and Ziggy Ziggy Ziggy them no ready ready |
4:38 |
| 4 |
Changes
Changes, Changes for ordinary people now
There's so much beauty in every breath that we take Oh wont you tell me can you relate needs of the many the wants of the few We can find religion in the freedom we choose There's so much hurt all over the place oh can't you tell by the look on my face And there's one thing I must convey Changes, Changes for ordinary people now I just can't help the way that I feel We all want our dreams to be real yet circumstances I just can't understand Why does money got to make the man Everyone has an ego to feed and every want is filled with grief So here's one thing I've got to say Changes, Changes for ordinary people now Change for the better and not for the worst Lets stand together and break all curses We look off in the distance chasing dreams But the things that I see with my eyes obscene Lets plant a new tree make a change Needed for you and me brighter days Will come and you will see make the change necessary for ordinary people There's so much beauty in every breath that we take Oh tell me can you relate needs of the many and the wants of the few You can find religion in the freedom you choose There's so much hurt all over the place and I can tell by the look on your face There's one thing that we've got to say Changes, Changes (dani bam say brighten up you day and don't feel no way) For ordinary people now (hear wha we say, hear wha we say) Changes, Changes (dani bam say brighten up you day and don't feel no way) For ordinary people now (hear wha we say, hear wha we say) |
4:07 |
| 5 |
Personal Revolution
I need, I need a revolution, my own revolution, my very own revolution
I need, I need a revolution, my own revolution, my personal revolution Heartbreak is so hard to take and I lay down in the bed that I make Crying, crying tears of change fighting, fighting everyday There must be a better way I need, I need a revolution, my own revolution, my personal revolution Baby I need, I need a revolution, my own revolution, my personal revolution Hey I don't like the hypocrisy is this democracy There is no voice for me in your philosophy Tainted theology oh can you save me Who can save me, Who can save me. Revolution Who got the power, I do, who got the say I do, who got the play, I do I will find a way Who got the power, I do who got the say, I do, who got the play, I do I will find a way Heartbreak is so hard to take and I lay down in the bed that I make Crying, crying tears of change fighting, fighting everyday There must be a better way So I need, I need a revolution, my own revolution, my personal revolution Hey I need, I need a revolution, my own revolution, a personal revolution Who got the power, I do, who got the say I do, who got the play, I do I will find a way Who got the power, I do who got the say, I do, who got the play, I do I will find a way |
4:54 |
| 6 |
Get Out of Town
I got to get out of town, leave the town
There's too much pollution is there a solution Got to get out of town leave the town I wont be hanging around I'm gonna catch the train I'll never play your game My life isn't based on how much money I make I wanna live in peace but it's hard today There's always something trying to take it away I rather change my situation than change who I am Don't wanna hurt no one just to prove I'm a man I wanna plant a little grass on a piece of land And help this planet as best as I can I've got to get out of town, leave the town There's too much pollution is there a solution Got to get out of town leave the town I wont be hanging around I don't care bout the silver I don't care bout the gold I don't care bout the sex with a heart that so cold Misused by abuse and refused, refused by misuse and abuse Hey where will I go nobody know Maybe to Maui or maybe to Fiji or maybe to Ghana where my mama lives Or way up to the Nine-mile hills I got to get out of town, leave the town There's too much pollution is there a solution Got to get out of town leave the town I wont be hanging around In this political rut oh who can you trust, Cause no ideology can ever control me Who them you fool once, who them you fool twice The silent majority everything's a conspiracy Till you wake up one morning and the truth has dawned Too late for most people they got stuck in the storm Like a cub leaves the den a boy leaves his home In search of a truth that must be found |
4:35 |
| 7 |
Roads Less Travelled
I take the roads less travelled I'm on my way
I take the roads less travelled I'll see you again some day I take the roads less travelled well I'm on my way When I was a young boy people try to tell me what I should be And then a wise man sang decide your own destiny Aunty said choices you make chances you take To be free to be free to be free I got to be brave I take the roads less travelled I'm on my way I take the roads less travelled I'll see you some day Now my daddy had a lot of women and my mama had a lot of grief And the brethrens that surrounded him became the enemies Cause greed can't be satisfied by money and jealousy's a disease Oh if you don't learn from history what a blind man see I take the roads less travelled I'm on my way I take the roads less travelled see you again one day The more I love the more hurt I feel And that's all right by me cause that's just how I be I could be like a brother sold out for a million dollar I could be like a brother despising one another And aunty said choices you make chances you take And to be free to be free to be free you got to be brave I take the roads less travelled I'm on my way I take the roads less travelled I'll see you some day I take the roads less travelled I'm on my way |
4:03 |
| 8 |
Mmmm Mmmm
The lord looked down from heaven on the children of man
To see if there is anyone who will understand Do you speak of righteousness weigh the violence of your hands Judgment will return my friends to give justice to the land mmm mmm The vows are upon me I've surrendered myself And I pray that you would see not all that is sad Awake up my glory awake my guitar Play me songs of mercy cause the world has gone too far mmm mmm Why should my liberty be judged by another man Why would I listen to the voices on the stand By the fruits of your tree I know who you are mmm mmm The lord looked down from heaven on the children of man To see if there is anyone who will understand Do you speak of righteousness weigh the violence of your hands Justice will return my friends to give judgment to the land Mmm mmm |
3:31 |
| 9 |
Welcome to the World
Cho Welcome to the world I cant promise it's a good place
Welcome to the world I cant promise it's a cool place I could tell you stories I tell you the truth I could sugar coat it try to make you the fool And soon you'll see anyway that this is life And soon you'll see anyway that you got to fight Cho I could give you roses for you to make your bed But this bed of roses is only in your head Cause every rose has its thorn And every ego has its wants I don't know when innocence is lost And I don't know when you pay the cost Well if your back is against the wall You've got to stand for who you are Cho People are suffering children have no food Keep your eyes wide open check the golden rule The love inside will make you cry The fight inside will make you try Cho |
4:13 |
| 10 |
A Sign
I tell you everyday no don't walk that way
Do you hear a word I say Cause you keep going on and you keep living wrong There's a price to be paid Maybe you need a sign maybe you need a sign maybe you need to cry Maybe you need a sign maybe you need a sign maybe you need to cry Go on walk out the door just remember the seeds you sow Are the fruits that you reap Now you been told before don't act like you don't know When the truth speaks Maybe you need a sign maybe you need a sign maybe you need to cry Maybe you need a sign maybe you need a sign Maybe you need to maybe you need to maybe you need to cry I tell you everyday please don't walk that way Do you hear a word I say Maybe you need a sign maybe you need a sign maybe you need to cry Maybe you need a sign maybe you need a sign Maybe you need a maybe you need a maybe you need a sign |
3:21 |
| 11 |
Reggae In My Head
Yea reggae in my head , reggae in my head, reggae in my head
Sitting by the river listening to her songs she played it all night long She brought me from defeat hypnotized by the beat on the rocks I made my bed she played reggae in my head reggae in my head , reggae in my head, reggae in my head cities of oppression there is no imagination oh to be wild and free again a world without dreams is lost it seems in the prison of known realities so I say I got reggae in my head , reggae in my head, I put reggae in my head Oh what a wonderful world this could be only if we live in peace Dancing to this vibration this is my emotion Sitting by the river listening to her songs she played it all night long She brought me from defeat hypnotized by the beat on the rocks I made my bed she played reggae in my head reggae in my head , reggae in my head, reggae in my head I got reggae in my head , reggae in my head, I want reggae in my head I got reggae in my head, I need reggae in my head, reggae in my head |
3:54 |
| 12 |
Elizabeth
Uncle sam is a naughty old man he says he wants you but he only wants to use you
He has a woman named Elizabeth she walk the streets selling her body for glory Immorality They get drunk from the blood of saints not the kind that are made into statues Her brother john drinks wine all day he and his friends Trying to take our souls away Oh it's sad to say but uncle sam is going to have his day And they will weep for Elizabeth Uncle sam is a naughty old man he says he wants you but he only wants to use you He has a woman named Elizabeth she walk the streets selling her body for glory Immorality They get drunk from the blood of saints not the kind that are made into statues Her brother john drinks wine all day he and his friends his friends They can't take our souls away Oh it's sad to say but my uncle sam is going to have his day And they will weep for elizabeth |
4:15 |
|
Search
|
Ziggy | Store Site | Elsewhere | |
| Solo Works Books | Tour | |||