Uprising cover art

  Studio Album · No. 11

Uprising Songwriting Credits by Bob Marley

1980 Island Records / Tuff Gong 10 tracks 36 min

Produced by Robert Nesta Marley, The Wailers  ·  Engineered by Errol Brown, Ted Jensen

Island Records / Tuff Gong ReggaeRoots Reggae
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 10 of 10 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 10 / 10 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 10 tracks with documented writers, by whether Bob Marley carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
10 trackswritten by Bob Marley 0 tracksoutside writers
Bob Marley's roles on this album

Share of the 10 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

10
Tracks
1
Lyricists
1
Producers
1980
Released
Data Insight

Bob Marley wrote all ten songs on Uprising, recorded with the Wailers at Tuff Gong Studios in Kingston during early 1980. The album closes with Redemption Song, which Marley recorded as a solo acoustic performance, just his voice and guitar, a stark departure from the full-band reggae arrangements that fill the rest of the record. The lyrics draw heavily on a 1937 speech by Marcus Garvey, framing the album's spiritual and political themes around personal and collective liberation. Could You Be Loved became the album's commercial centerpiece while Forever Loving Jah and Zion Train carried its Rastafarian devotional core.

Bob Marley & The Wailers' final studio album released during Marley's lifetime, issued June 10, 1980. Uprising closes with 'Redemption Song', Marley alone with an acoustic guitar, often cited as one of his greatest compositions. 'Could You Be Loved' was the commercial lead single. It was recorded while Marley was already ill with the cancer that would kill him the following year. The Uprising World Tour that followed was his last.

Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Coming in from the Cold
Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley Robert Nesta Marley Bob Marley (Lead Vocals)
2
Real Situation
Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley Robert Nesta Marley Bob Marley (Lead Vocals)
3
Bad Card
Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley Robert Nesta Marley Bob Marley (Lead Vocals)
4
We and Dem
Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley Robert Nesta Marley Bob Marley (Lead Vocals)
5
Work
Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley Robert Nesta Marley Bob Marley (Lead Vocals)
6
Zion Train
Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley Robert Nesta Marley Bob Marley (Lead Vocals)
7
Pimper's Paradise
Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley Robert Nesta Marley Bob Marley (Lead Vocals)
8
Could You Be Loved
Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley Robert Nesta Marley Bob Marley (Lead Vocals)
9
Forever Loving Jah
Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley Robert Nesta Marley Bob Marley (Lead Vocals)
10
Redemption Song
Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley Robert Nesta Marley Bob Marley (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 2 contributors

RN
Robert Nesta Marley
Writer · Producer
On this album10 written
BM
Bob Marley
Writer · Vocals
On this album10 written

More from Bob Marley

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Frequently Asked Questions Uprising

Who wrote Redemption Song by Bob Marley?
Bob Marley wrote Redemption Song, the closing track on Uprising. He drew its central lyric, the call to emancipate yourself from mental slavery, from a 1937 speech delivered by Marcus Garvey. Marley recorded it as a solo acoustic performance featuring only his voice and an acoustic guitar.
Why is Redemption Song different from the rest of Uprising?
Redemption Song is the only acoustic track on Uprising, performed by Bob Marley alone on guitar without the full Wailers band. Every other song on the album is a full-band reggae arrangement. The stripped-down recording gives the closing track a folk-like intimacy that sets it apart from the rest of the record.
Who wrote the songs on Bob Marley's Uprising album?
Bob Marley wrote all ten tracks on Uprising, including Could You Be Loved, Redemption Song, and Forever Loving Jah. The album was produced by Bob Marley and the Wailers and recorded at Tuff Gong Studios in Kingston, Jamaica. Chris Blackwell served as executive producer.
What is Could You Be Loved by Bob Marley about?
Could You Be Loved is the most commercially successful single from Uprising, written by Bob Marley. The song blends reggae with a disco-influenced rhythm and carries a message about staying true to yourself and resisting outside judgment. It reached number 5 on the UK Singles Chart and number 6 on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart.
When was Bob Marley's Uprising released?
Uprising was released on 10 June 1980 by Tuff Gong and Island Records. It was the last album released during Bob Marley's lifetime, recorded between January and April 1980 at Tuff Gong Studios in Kingston, Jamaica. Marley died in May 1981.
How long is Bob Marley's Uprising album?
Uprising runs about 36 minutes across ten tracks. The album opens with Coming in from the Cold and closes with the acoustic Redemption Song. It is one of the most concise studio albums in Bob Marley's catalog.
What themes run through Bob Marley's Uprising?
Uprising centers on Rastafarian spirituality and themes of liberation, faith, and resistance. Songs like Forever Loving Jah and Zion Train express devotional and prophetic ideas, while Redemption Song calls for freedom from mental slavery. Could You Be Loved adds a more universal message about self-respect and love.

Sources

Wikipedia: Uprising (Bob Marley & the Wailers album) Wikipedia: Uprising (Bob Marley and the Wailers album) Wikipedia: Could You Be Loved MusicBrainz release-group search: Uprising Cover Art Archive: Uprising front cover Cover Art Archive: Uprising by Bob Marley