No Woman, No Cry
Anyone who has heard of Bob Marley knows the song No Woman, No Cry. It is so popular that it has been covered by artists over and over again. The song is about written about violence and abuse against women. The songs name No Woman, Nuh Cry in Jamaican patois, where the “nuh” means “don’t”, literally translates to No Woman, Don’t cry.
A more accurate rendering of the title in Jamaican patois would be “No, woman, nuh cry”. Nuh, which makes a shorter vowel sound for no, is the equivalent of the contraction don’t.[2]
The song was written by Bob Marley, but the copyright credits go to “V. Ford”, which is Vincent Ford, who ran a soup kitchen in Trenchtown where Marley grew up. These song credits kept this soup kitchen open to serve the poor and needy.
So many have covered it but I’ve chosen a few to include here. While you are listening to your favorite version of the song, remember the reason why it was written and how the power of music and love can overcome anything.
No Woman, No Cry by Xavier Rudd (One of my favorite versions)
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That Was A Crazy Game Of Poker/No Woman, No Cry by O.A.R. (Live, 2004)
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No Woman, No Cry by Murder One, featuring Kid Rock
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No Woman, No Cry by The Fugees
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And what would this list be without the original?
No Woman, No Cry by Bob Marley & The Wailers (Live, 1975)
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One of my favorite songs ever, and you’ve put up some of the best covers too. Awesome!