Get Up, Stand Up
Encyclopedia
"Get Up, Stand Up" is a reggae
song written by Bob Marley
and Peter Tosh
.
The song originally appeared on The Wailers' 1973 album Burnin'. It was recorded and played live in numerous versions by The Wailers and Bob Marley & The Wailers, along with solo versions by Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer
. It was later included on the compilations Legend and Rebel Music
, among others.
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
.
On his DVD Live at the Hollywood Bowl, artist Ben Harper
relates a childhood experience in which, during a 1978 Bob Marley concert at the Starlight Amphitheater, Peter Tosh showed up unannounced as this song was being performed, took the microphone from Marley and started singing the last verse of the song to thunderous applause. Tosh was on tour opening for the Rolling Stones at the time.
in 1975, this version was notable for the "WO-YO!" refrain after the third verse. Tosh would include his own solo version on his sophomore release, Equal Rights
in 1977. Bunny Wailer was the last to release his own version on Protest. This version actually featured Tosh due to his involvement in recording the album before his death.http://www.amazon.com/Protest-Bunny-Wailer/dp/B000003QH7
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
song written by Bob Marley
Bob Marley
Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley, OM was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae band Bob Marley & The Wailers...
and Peter Tosh
Peter Tosh
Peter Tosh, born Winston Hubert McIntosh , was a Jamaican reggae musician who was a core member of the band The Wailers , and who afterward had a successful solo career as well as being a promoter of Rastafari.Peter Tosh was born in Grange Hill, Jamaica, an illegitimate child to a mother too young...
.
The song originally appeared on The Wailers' 1973 album Burnin'. It was recorded and played live in numerous versions by The Wailers and Bob Marley & The Wailers, along with solo versions by Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer
Bunny Wailer
Bunny Wailer, , also known as Bunny Livingston and affectionately as Jah B, is a singer songwriter and percussionist and was an original member of reggae group The Wailers along with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh...
. It was later included on the compilations Legend and Rebel Music
Rebel Music
Rebel Music is a compilation album by Bob Marley & The Wailers released by Island records in 1986. It consists of tracks drawn from such albums as Natty Dread, Rastaman Vibration, and Survival, as well as an exclusive remix of Rebel Music and the first album appearance of 1977 B Side "Roots"...
, among others.
Premise and usage in concerts
The song was frequently performed at Marley's concerts, often as the last song. "Get Up, Stand Up" was also the last song Marley ever performed on stage, on September 23, 1980 at the Stanley TheaterBenedum Center
The Benedum Center for the Performing Arts is a theater and concert hall located at 719 Liberty Avenue in the Cultural District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
.
On his DVD Live at the Hollywood Bowl, artist Ben Harper
Ben Harper
Benjamin Chase "Ben" Harper is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Harper plays an eclectic mix of blues, folk, soul, reggae and rock music and is known for his guitar-playing skills, vocals, live performances and activism. Harper's fan base spans several continents...
relates a childhood experience in which, during a 1978 Bob Marley concert at the Starlight Amphitheater, Peter Tosh showed up unannounced as this song was being performed, took the microphone from Marley and started singing the last verse of the song to thunderous applause. Tosh was on tour opening for the Rolling Stones at the time.
Recordings by the Wailers
The song was re-recorded and re-released by the three major Wailers on their own solo releases, each with varying arrangements and approaches to the third verse. Bob Marley and the Wailers released a Bob Marley only version on Live!Live! (Bob Marley and the Wailers album)
Live! is a Bob Marley & The Wailers live album, released on 5 December 1975. Live! was recorded 18 July and 19 July 1975 at the Lyceum Theatre in London. The performance remains one of Marley's most famous...
in 1975, this version was notable for the "WO-YO!" refrain after the third verse. Tosh would include his own solo version on his sophomore release, Equal Rights
Equal Rights (album)
Equal Rights is an album by Peter Tosh. It was released in 1977 .-Track listing:All Songs by Peter Tosh except "Stepping Razor" by Joe Higgs#"Get Up, Stand Up" – 3:29 #"Downpressor Man" – 6:25...
in 1977. Bunny Wailer was the last to release his own version on Protest. This version actually featured Tosh due to his involvement in recording the album before his death.http://www.amazon.com/Protest-Bunny-Wailer/dp/B000003QH7
Covers, remixes, parodies
- The song was parodied on an episode of the television series FuturamaFuturamaFuturama is an American animated science fiction sitcom created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening and David X. Cohen for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series follows the adventures of a late 20th-century New York City pizza delivery boy, Philip J...
, entitled The Route of All EvilThe Route of All Evil"The Route of All Evil" is episode twelve in season three of the Futurama DVDs. This episode was originally made to be aired during Season 3 but was put on the shelf by FOX. It was also going to be the season premiere for the fifth season but FOX made a last minute change and aired it on December...
. In the episode, Jamaican accountant Hermes Conrad alters the lyrics of the song by singing "Stamp it, file it, send it over night." - The song is found on Toots & the Maytals' LP Pass the Pipe. Although sung with completely different lyrics and melody, the songwriting credit is given to the Wailers.
- The song was remixed with Welcome to Jamrock by Marley's son DamianDamian MarleyDamian "Jr. Gong" Marley is a Jamaican reggae artist who has won three Grammy awards. Damian is the youngest son of Bob Marley....
for his album of the same name and later included on the Grand Theft Auto IV soundtrackGrand Theft Auto IV soundtrackThe soundtrack to the game Grand Theft Auto IV, like the previous games in the series, is mostly made up of in-game radio stations. These radio stations can be listened to when driving various vehicles in the game, or at the start menu...
. - The song has been covered by Tracy ChapmanTracy ChapmanTracy Chapman is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her singles "Fast Car", "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution", "Baby Can I Hold You", "Give Me One Reason" and "Telling Stories". She is a multi-platinum and four-time Grammy Award-winning artist.-Biography:Tracy Chapman was born in Cleveland,...
. - The title line was referenced in Common's song Book of Life from the album ResurrectionResurrectionResurrection refers to the literal coming back to life of the biologically dead. It is used both with respect to particular individuals or the belief in a General Resurrection of the dead at the end of the world. The General Resurrection is featured prominently in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim...
. - A smooth jazz version of the song has been covered by Lee RitenourLee RitenourLee Mack Ritenour is an American jazz guitarist who has recorded over 42 albums, appeared on over 3000 sessions, and has charted over 30 instrumental and vocal contemporary jazz hits since 1976. One of his most popular songs was the smash hit, “Is It You” in 1981. Ritenour is considered to be a...
and Dave GrusinDave GrusinDavid Grusin is an American composer, arranger and pianist. Grusin has composed many scores for feature films and television, and has won numerous awards for his soundtrack and record work, including an Academy award and 12 Grammys...
and featured on the compilation CD, A Twist of Marley. - Toronto based Reggae/Metal band Zeroscape covered the song on their new "Friday Night EP"
- Cover by Axis of JusticeAxis of JusticeAxis of Justice is a non-profit organization co-founded by Serj Tankian and Tom Morello. Its purpose is to bring together musicians, fans of music, and grassroots progressivism to fight for social justice together.-Formation:...
with Serj TankianSerj TankianSerj Tankian is a Lebanese-born Armenian-American singer–songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, playwright, record producer, poet, and political activist... - A cover version is included in the album Tribute to the Legend: Bob MarleyTribute to the Legend: Bob MarleyTribute to the Legend: Bob Marley is an album by the Puerto Rican reggae band, Cultura Profética. The album is a live performance of a tribute the band held to Jamaican reggae singer Bob Marley....
by Cultura ProféticaCultura ProféticaCultura Profética is a Puerto Rican reggae band that debuted in 1996. They have toured in Puerto Rico and across the Caribbean, Central America, South America, Mexico and the United States...
. - Bob Marley's son Ziggy MarleyZiggy MarleyDavid "Ziggy" Marley is a Jamaican musician and leader of the band Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers. He is the oldest son of famed reggae musician Bob Marley...
does a jazz compilation with a heavy reggae based influence in which he uses the hook to get up stand up. - The song has been covered by The Butts BandThe Butts BandThe Butts Band was a British and American group formed by ex-Doors members John Densmore and Robby Krieger that was active from 1973-1975.-History:The Butts Band came about as a consequence of The Doors trying to find a replacement for Jim Morrison...
for their 1975 album Hear And NowHear and Now (album)- Track listing :#"Get Up, Stand Up" #"Corner of My Mind" #"Caught in the Middle" #"Everybody's Fool" #"Livin' and Dyin'" #"Don't Wake Up"...
. - ShaggyShaggy (musician)Orville Richard Burrell , better known by his stage name Shaggy, is a Jamaican-American reggae singer and rapper. He is perhaps best known for his 1995 single "Boombastic" and 2000 single "It Wasn't Me"...
made a cover of this song, which is featured on Mr. Lover Lover – The Best of Shaggy... Part 1Mr. Lover Lover – The Best of Shaggy... Part 1Mr. Lover Lover – The Best of Shaggy... Part 1 is the first compilation album released by Jamacian rapper Shaggy. The album includes material from Shaggy's first five studio albums, as well as the new recording, "Get Up, Stand Up".-Background:...
. - Covered by Ojos de BrujoOjos de BrujoOjos de Brujo is a nine-piece band from Barcelona, Spain, who describe their style as "jipjop flamenkillo"...
for their 2007 live album Techari (lyrics are in Spanish) http://www.ojosdebrujo.com/detalleDisco.asp?nid=1013
External links
- Recording history of Get Up, Stand Up at The 60's Jamaican Music Reference.