OVERVIEW

LYRICS

Music Video

Survival (1979) - Bob Marley & The Wailers
Watch Survival (1979) - Bob Marley & The Wailers on YouTube

Featured In

Listen to Survival (2013 Remaster) by Bob Marley & The Wailers
ALBUMSurvival (2013 Remaster)Bob Marley & The Wailers
Listen to Bob Marley Essentials featuring Bob Marley & The Wailers
PLAYLISTBob Marley EssentialsApple Music Reggae
Listen to Kenny Chesney’s Guitars and Tiki Bars featuring Bob Marley & The Wailers
PLAYLISTKenny Chesney’s Guitars and Tiki BarsApple Music
Listen to Bob Marley: Deep Cuts featuring Bob Marley & The Wailers
PLAYLISTBob Marley: Deep CutsApple Music Reggae
Listen to Roots Reggae Essentials featuring Bob Marley & The Wailers
PLAYLISTRoots Reggae EssentialsApple Music Reggae
Listen to Bob Marley: Political Songs featuring Bob Marley & The Wailers
PLAYLISTBob Marley: Political SongsApple Music Reggae
Listen to Bob Marley & The Wailers: Chill featuring Bob Marley & The Wailers
PLAYLISTBob Marley & The Wailers: ChillApple Music Reggae
Listen to Crucial Roots featuring Bob Marley & The Wailers
PLAYLISTCrucial RootsApple Music Reggae
Listen to Kwanzaa Celebration featuring Bob Marley & The Wailers
PLAYLISTKwanzaa CelebrationHoliday
Listen to #TheShowMustBePaused: The Playlist featuring Bob Marley & The Wailers
PLAYLIST#TheShowMustBePaused: The PlaylistApple Music
Listen to Bob Marley: Songs from Best Seat in the House featuring Bob Marley & The Wailers
PLAYLISTBob Marley: Songs from Best Seat in the HouseApple Music

Top Songs By Bob Marley & The Wailers

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Performer
Bob Marley
Bob Marley
Lead Vocals
Al Anderson
Al Anderson
Lead Guitar
Aston "Family Man" Barrett
Aston "Family Man" Barrett
Percussion
Carlton Barrett
Carlton Barrett
Drums
Earl Lindo
Earl Lindo
Keyboards
I-Threes
I-Threes
Background Vocals
Junior Marvin
Junior Marvin
Lead Guitar
Tyrone Downie
Tyrone Downie
Keyboards
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Bob Marley
Bob Marley
Songwriter
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Producer
Alex Sadkin
Alex Sadkin
Producer
Chiao Ng
Chiao Ng
Assistant Engineer
Dennis Thompson
Dennis Thompson
Assistant Engineer
Errol Brown
Errol Brown
Assistant Engineer
Philip Zadie
Philip Zadie
Assistant Engineer
Ted Jensen
Ted Jensen
Mastering Engineer

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
(Ow, ow-ow-ow)
(Ow, ow-ow-ow)
Yeah, yeah, yeah
[Verse 2]
How can you be sitting there tellin' me that you care?
That you care
When every time I look around
The people suffer in the suffering
In every way, in everywhere
[Verse 3]
Say (Na-na-na-na-na, na-na-na)
We're the survivors
Yes, the black survivors
[Verse 4]
I tell you what, some people got everything
Some people got nothing
Some people got hopes and dreams
Some people got ways and means
[Verse 5]
(Na-na-na-na-na, na-na-na)
We're the survivors
Yes, the black survivors
Yes, we're the survivors
Like Daniel out of the lion's den
(Black survivors) Survivors, survivors
[Verse 6]
So I idren, I sistren
Oh, which way will we choose?
(Ooo-ooo-ooo)
We better hurry, oh, hurry, oh, hurry, whoa now
(Oh-oh-oh-oh)
'Cause we got no time to lose
[Verse 7]
Some people got facts and claims
Some people got pride and shame
Some people got the plots and the schemes
Some people got no aim, it seems
[Verse 8]
(Na-na-na-na-na, na-na-na)
We're the survivors
Yes, the black survivors
Tell you what
We're the survivors
Yeah, the black survivors
Yeah, we're the survivors
Like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
(Black survivors)
Thrown in the fire
But you'll never get burned
[Verse 9]
So I idren, I sistren
The preaching and talking is done
(Ooo-ooo-ooo)
We've gotta live up, whoa now, whoa now
(Oh-oh-oh-oh)
Because the father's time has come
[Verse 10]
Some people put the best outside
Some people keep the best inside
Some people can't stand up strong
Some people won't wait for long
[Verse 11]
(Na-na-na-na-na, na-na-na)
We're the survivors
In this age of technological inhumanity
(Black survivors)
Scientific atrocity (Survivors)
Atomic mis-philosophy (Black survivors)
Nuclear mis-energy (Survivor)
It's a world that forces lifelong insecurity
(Black survival)
Together now
[Verse 12]
(Na-na-na-na-na, na-na-na)
We're the survivors
Yeah, we're the survivors
Yes, the black survivors
We're the survivors
A good man is never honored (Survivors)
In his own country (Black survivor)
Nothing change, nothing strange (Survivors)
Nothing change, nothing strange (Black Survivors)
We got to survive, y'all (Survivors)
Written by: Bob Marley

Shazam Footer

Select language:

Company

Legal

Google Play Store
Apple App Store
Chrome Web Store
Galaxy Store

Follow Us

© Copyright 2025 Apple Inc. and its affiliates | Supplier Responsibility
instagramSharePathic_arrow_out