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​Bob Marley's Final Words To His Son Are Incredibly Poignant

​Bob Marley's Final Words To His Son Are Incredibly Poignant

Ziggy revealed that his father’s dying words put ‘responsibility’ on his shoulders

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

Late reggae star Bob Marley was just 36 when he died of cancer in 1981, having found the melanoma in his toe had spread to his lungs and brain.

Before his death, he had a final message for son Ziggy - who says he still takes the poignant words 'very seriously'.

While it has been widely reported that the musician's poignant last words to his son were 'money can't buy life', Ziggy revealed his father's dying words put 'responsibility' on his shoulders.

In an Instagram post, Ziggy explained: "The last thing my father told me was: 'On your way up, take me up. On your way down, don't let me down'."

Ziggy continued: "A father telling his son that puts some responsibility on my shoulders. He told me that, and I take it very seriously."

Ziggy Marley in 2019.
PA

Ziggy, who is also a musician, even went on to write a song about his final moment with his dad, penning 'Won't Let You Down'.

The track, which was released on 1999 album Spirit of Music, features the lyrics:

Daddy said on his bed
I'll never forget
On your way up
Take me up
On your way down
I won't let you down
I call on you, you call on me
Where can I find my destiny?
I need to find some transportation
To the new iration

In July 1977, Bob was found to have malignant melanoma under the nail of one of his toes, but did not wish to have the digit amputated due to his religious beliefs.

Bob Marley in 1976.
PA

Instead, the nail and nail bed were removed, and Bob was given a skin graft from his thigh to cover the area.

However, the cancer later spread to his brain, lungs and liver, and he died at hospital in May 1981.

After his death, Bob was given a state funeral in Jamaica, with Prime Minister Edward Seaga giving the final eulogy.

He said: "His voice was an omnipresent cry in our electronic world. His sharp features, majestic looks, and prancing style a vivid etching on the landscape of our minds.

"Bob Marley was never seen. He was an experience which left an indelible imprint with each encounter. Such a man cannot be erased from the mind. He is part of the collective consciousness of the nation."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: World News, Celebrity, Music