Song Information
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Title: No Woman, No Cry
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Artist: Bob Marley & The Wailers
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Album: Natty Dread (1974)
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Writer: Vincent Ford (a close friend of Marley, credited for financial support reasons)
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Release: 1974 (studio version) – the most famous is the 1975 live performance at the Lyceum Theatre, London.
Song Content
“No Woman, No Cry” is one of Bob Marley’s timeless masterpieces, transcending music to become a universal message of hope. The title is often misunderstood; it doesn’t mean “without a woman there’s no crying.” Instead, it’s a comforting phrase: “No, woman, don’t cry.” Marley used this song to reassure struggling women of Jamaica, recognizing their sacrifices and resilience.
Through his lyrics, Marley painted vivid memories of Trenchtown, the poor neighborhood where he grew up. He recalled nights of hardship, shared meals cooked in communal pots, and the strong bonds that helped people survive. These memories, far from being sad laments, were reminders that love and hope could flourish even in poverty.
The live 1975 performance in London elevated the song into legend. With raw emotion, Marley turned the concert into a collective prayer of comfort and unity. From then on, “No Woman, No Cry” became more than a reggae anthem – it became a hymn of survival, love, and community spirit.
Explanation of the Curiosity
The most touching detail behind this song lies in its authorship. Bob Marley deliberately credited Vincent “Tartar” Ford, a lifelong friend who once ran a soup kitchen in Kingston and helped Marley through difficult times. By doing so, Marley ensured that Ford would receive steady royalties, securing his financial future.
This act of loyalty turned “No Woman, No Cry” into more than a song. It became a testimony of friendship, gratitude, and humanity. Fans worldwide still admire this gesture, seeing it as proof that Marley’s legacy was not only in his music but also in the values he lived by.
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Lyrics
No, woman, no cry;
No, woman, no cry;
No, woman, no cry;
No, woman, no cry.
Said – said – said: I remember when we used to sit
In the government yard in Trenchtown,
Oba – obaserving the ‘ypocrites
As they would 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 seh.
No, woman, no cry;
No, woman, no cry.
‘Ere, little darlin’, don’t shed no tears:
No, woman, no cry.
Said – said – said: I remember when-a we used to sit
In the government yard in Trenchtown.
And then Georgie would make the fire lights,
As it was logwood burnin’ through the nights.
Then we would cook cornmeal porridge,
Of which I’ll share with you;
My feet is my only carriage,
So I’ve got to push on through.
But while I’m gone, I mean:
Everything’s gonna be all right!
Everything’s gonna be all right!
Everything’s gonna be all right!
Everything’s gonna be all right!
I said, everything’s gonna be all right-a!
Everything’s gonna be all right!
Everything’s gonna be all right, now!
Everything’s gonna be all right!
So, woman, no cry;
No – no, woman – woman, no cry.
Woman, little sister, don’t shed no tears;
No, woman, no cry.
—
[Guitar solo]
—
I remember when we used to sit
In the government yard in Trenchtown.
And then Georgie would make the fire lights,
As it was logwood burnin’ through the nights.
Then we would cook cornmeal porridge,
Of which I’ll share with you;
My feet is my only carriage,
So I’ve got to push on through.
But while I’m gone:
No, woman, no cry;
No, woman, no cry.
Woman, little darlin’, say don’t shed no tears;
No, woman, no cry.
Eh! (Little darlin’, don’t shed no tears!
No, woman, no cry.
Little sister, don’t shed no tears!
No, woman, no cry.)