Three Little Birds

Bob Marley

This week's edition of Retro Friday features the song "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley and the Wailers.

"Three Little Birds" appears on their 1977 album Exodus and was released as a single in 1980. The song reached the Top 20 in the UK, peaking at number 17. It is one of Bob Marley's most popular songs (and one of my all time favorites).

The source of Marley's inspiration for the lyrics of the song "Three Little Birds" is still disputed today. They're partly inspired by birds that Marley was fond of, that used to fly and sit next to his home. Marley's longtime friend, Tony Gilbert, was present at the time he was writing the song and says, "Bob got inspired by a lot of things around him, he observed life. I remember the three little birds. They were pretty birds, canaries, who would come by the windowsill at Hope Road."

However, three female singers, from the group I Threes, who did shows with Marley, claim it is a reference to them. I Threes member Marcia Griffiths says, "After the song was written, Bob would always refer to us as the Three Little Birds. After a show, there would be an encore, sometimes people even wanted us to go back onstage four times. Bob would still want to go back and he would say, 'What is my Three Little Birds saying?'"

I absolutely love this song. I have always been a happy person. Sunshine, music, sweet canaries singing, are all things that make me smile. A friend in college once referred to me as the "eternally happy person." That's just who I am. I always see the bright side, the silver lining ... it's what I do. This song brings me back to such a happy place. Every time I hear it, I absolutely can't help but to smile. I hope it makes you smile, too.

And here it is, for your listening pleasure, Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds."


And the lyrics ...

Don't worry about a thing,
cause every little thing gonna be all right.
Singin: don't worry about a thing,
cause every little thing gonna be all right!

Rise up this mornin,
Smiled with the risin sun,
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Sayin, (this is my message to you-ou-ou:)

Singin: don't worry bout a thing,
cause every little thing gonna be all right.
Singin: don't worry (dont worry) bout a thing,
cause every little thing gonna be all right!

Rise up this mornin,
Smiled with the risin sun,
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Sayin, this is my message to you-ou-ou:

Singin: don't worry about a thing, worry about a thing, oh!
Every little thing gonna be all right. dont worry!
Singin: don't worry about a thing - I wont worry!
cause every little thing gonna be all right.

Cheers!