The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Don't worry about a thing
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright
Singing' don't worry about a thing
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright
Rise up this mornin'
Smiled with the risin' sun
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin' sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true
Saying, (this is my message to you)
Singing don't worry about a thing
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright
Singing don't worry (don't worry) about a thing
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright
Rise up this mornin'
Smiled with the risin' sun
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin' sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true
Saying, this is my message to you
Singing don't worry about a thing, worry about a thing, oh
Every little thing gonna be alright, don't worry
Singin' don't worry about a thing, I won't worry
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright
Singing don't worry about a thing
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright, I won't worry
Singing, don't worry about a thing
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright
Singing don't worry (worry) about a thing, oh no
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright
Singing' don't worry about a thing
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright
Rise up this mornin'
Smiled with the risin' sun
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin' sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true
Saying, (this is my message to you)
Singing don't worry about a thing
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright
Singing don't worry (don't worry) about a thing
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright
Rise up this mornin'
Smiled with the risin' sun
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin' sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true
Saying, this is my message to you
Singing don't worry about a thing, worry about a thing, oh
Every little thing gonna be alright, don't worry
Singin' don't worry about a thing, I won't worry
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright
Singing don't worry about a thing
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright, I won't worry
Singing, don't worry about a thing
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright
Singing don't worry (worry) about a thing, oh no
'Cause every little thing gonna be alright
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this is song is straight up mellow. Bob says Dont worry bout a thing, everythings chillin. I rise up this mornin, smoke a spliff, smile with the sweet sun, listening to the sweet melodies of the birds, life is good
Alright... here's a little story about those three little birds that he's singing about.. they were his little buddies. haha after tokin he'd put the left over weed and resin in a bird feeder that was in his yard. and when he was just chillin outside those 3 little birds came around. and you know... everything is wonderful when you're stoned and it just was cool to him that those birds ate it AND they kept coming back. i dont doubt they were singing of melodies pure and true hehe. also i think its pretty neat that he chose to sing about those birds seeing as how there were probably other things he could sing about. check out what the sybolism though, bob stood for freedom and there's a famous term that i'm sure you've heard "free as a bird". yeah yeah yeah, thats what i think.
WatermelonOfJoy, that's tight that you know that, not many people do. the three little birds WERE his leftover resin/seed eating buddies...as for you shiznaz_kurtaz, you're a dumbass. this is BOB MARLEY we're talking about of course its about drugs and the best one too. lets be smart :D
Good stuff man, had no idea about this.
dont worry about a thing because every LITTLE thing is gona be alright.... in the end its all alright, so dont sweat the small stuff...or the big, cause everything IS gona be Alright, Inshallah.
Man every time i listen to this song i feel better. For me its one of those songs you can listen to when you feel like shit. Life's gonna throw shit at you, it sucks, but in the end every little things gonna be alright. You just gotta appreciate the pure beauty of life.
I couldn't believe it the other day - after hearing this song, and loving it, for so many years amongst Mr. Marley's work, I just heard it for the first time - in it's meaning. Bob Marley was a gift to the world. To me, he was sharing something that happened, that can happen to anyone except we often don't notice. Something from nature/an aspect of God, the 3 birds arrived at his house, probably during a time of uncertainty in his life, and he received a divine message in their song, to let him know that everything is going to be alright. That we all go through difficulties, and we may all be tested with problems which are all a learning experience, and maybe if we listen and learn and do, everything will be alright. He was just expressing being touched by this realization, in the simple but powerful arrival and message through the song of the birds. When I was pregnant with my daughter and due to have her at the age of 41, I was very concerned that she would be a healthy baby. One morning after leaving my apartment in Manhattan and going outside to the street, a butterfly came and landed on my very pregnant tummy. I couldn't believe it. I then continued on to my workplace. Along the way I walk by the Hudson River on the Jersey side. And then unbelievably, another butterfly landed on my tummy in exactly the same spot. I felt this was very special, and in a similar way, the divine power of God was reaching out to me to say the same thing. I don't want to go on and on, but we can receive messages from anywhere at any time. Marijuana has nothing to do with it. Bob, I love you, as I love Princess Diana, Michael Jackson and anyone else who uses life for embettering others.
I agree completely NattyDread, if everyone was as mellow as Bob the world would be a wonderful place.
beauty
yes! a better tomorrow is what I think it meant.
On a side note* The Movie : I AM LEGEND uses Bob Marley as a person and his songs are in the movie a lot!!! Go see it and enjoy!!
I'm listening to this song now!
Just something about the music, the tune and his voice, makes you feel like it really will all be alright. I feel positive he knows what he's talking about.
Firstly, Bob was a Christian. Yes, he did partake in many things, but most of all he belived in the "good book." The "three little birds" refer to God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. One biblical message from God is that no one should worry and he will take care of us. Bob is just reminding us that God is always watching and that we should not worry.
No, the three little birds were just that - three little birds. He would clean the seeds out of his marijuana and throw them to the ground, where the birds would swoop down to eat them. It was a peaceful moment of time that made it into the song. Bob was a Rastafarian, not a Christian.