Bob Marley: No Woman No Cry Meaning

Song Released: 1974

Covered By: Londonbeat (1991), Fugees (1996)

No Woman No Cry Lyrics

No woman, no cry (Repeat 4 times)

Said said
Said I remember when we used to sit
In the government yard in Trenchtown
Oba, ob-serving the hypocrites
As they would mingle with the good people we meet
Good friends we have had, oh good friends we've...

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   #1 top rated interpretation:
   Rastafaria

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   Mar 25th 2015 !⃝

   The song is sublime in that he asks the women not to cry over the fates/killings of the protestors who died in Trenchtown. But to rejoice. The feet, the body is only a vessel for the soul. The soul is transcendent. He asks them to remember the good times when we imbibed for pleasure. And to remember, again, when we smoked for the courage to sit. No don't cry. Rejoice. For what the men gave you need to be proud. They sacrificed for the betterment of us all. They stood up not because they wanted glory. They stood/sat because they could not back up any further. So, no don't cry woman. Rejoice.
2. anonymous

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   Sep 4th 2019 !⃝

   A look at woman , mother , wife, .. and a wish (lets make it a world where no woman cries) not mother, not wife. ...
3. anonymous

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   Feb 1st 2018 !⃝

   If no woman no child wud be there to cry .

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
4. anonymous

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   Jun 10th 2017 !⃝

   When its all said and done the woman in reference here in Jamaica. Been away from his beloved country and family and the impending doom of the islands economy by the US. He baseached "her" not to cry. For as long as mankind remember this blessed country Bob knows there will be redemption.
5. anonymous

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   Jun 8th 2017 !⃝

   According to my own perception on this song I think marley is trying to tell all the pple in this universe that if there is no woman non of them will exist in this world talkless of even crying. So he is appreciating what the woman are doing to us men, and telling them that they shouldn't shead tears.

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
6. anonymous

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   May 15th 2017 !⃝

   Wow,from reading all these different meanings it's apparent no one knows what the hell the songs about but maybe it's good that most people think it's about if you don't have a woman then you really have no reason to cry because if people knew it was really about trenchtown I don't think it would have been such a huge internationally known song.

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
7. anonymous

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   Oct 28th 2014 !⃝

   I believe he could be making reference to the Queen or its code for NO VICTIM NO CRIME referring to trespass, loitering (government yard in trench town) or even smoking joints (Georgie would make the fire light).
   He is trying to tell the common man about common law and the inherent rights of every living human being.
8. anonymous

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   Sep 9th 2012 !⃝

   Many people think that the song means that if you don't have a woman in your life, you won't have a reason to cry. That's just not true. He's telling a woman friend to not cry. There can really be no other interpretation, based on the lyric, "...don't shed no tear".
9. anonymous

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   Jul 4th 2012 !⃝

   Greetings, in the name of the Almighty, Rastafari
   Peace Be upon Uncle Nesta iternally,
   
   Robbie's Vibration of 'No Woman No Cry' , is FOR every Person on the face of the earth, ispecially woman, as 'women are the mother of creation' it is so.
   Rastafari, carry a baggage of pain from yesterday, which has created the love of today.
   one must uncover ones own sorrow and triumphs through Jah music, and not ponder passing judgements on our prophets.
   true?seen.
   Love and Prosperity
   OneHeart, Lion..Peter Dyer
10. anonymous

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    Sep 23rd 2011 !⃝

    I think this song is to his wife while he was in Europe he was involved in some adultery with a young lady in the UK. This of-course made his wife sad, however she knew he loved her. So I think this song is to his wife telling her that he still loves her and, that he "remembers" her and thinks about her and, he is telling her not to cry.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
11. anonymous

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    Jul 19th 2011 !⃝

    Wow. 'My feet is my only carriage'? Really? You sure it's not 'My faith is my only courage'?

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