🕊️ About the Song
Released in 1977, Three Little Birds is one of Bob Marley’s most beloved tunes — and one of the most peaceful songs ever written.
Marley wrote it at home in Kingston, Jamaica, inspired (allegedly) by three real birds that perched outside his window each morning.
Other stories say the “three little birds” were actually three female backing singers — The I Threes — who harmonised with him onstage. Either way, it’s a song about reassurance: the simple idea that the world might be chaos, but you can still choose calm.
It’s easy to forget how radical that message was in the late ’70s, when Jamaica was politically turbulent and Marley was recovering from an assassination attempt. He didn’t sing about ignoring problems — he sang about rising above them.
🎸 Ukulele Playing Tips
- Chords (in G):G – C – D.
- Verse: G – C – G – D – G,
- Chorus: C – G – D – G.
- Strumming pattern: Reggae offbeat — (mute) Down (pause) Up (pause). Emphasise the 2 and 4 beats only.
- Count it: “1 [chop] 2 [up] 3 [chop] 4 [up].”
- Tone: Play lightly near the fretboard; let those chords pop.
- Feel: This is reggae — it’s all about space. Leave air between the strums.
- Optional flourish: Mute with your fretting hand right after each upstroke — gives you that signature reggae “skank.”
- Singalong tip: Everyone knows this one, so lean into the crowd vocals on the chorus.
🧠 Trivia You Can Drop Casually
- The song was released as the B-side to One Love / People Get Ready — and went on to eclipse it in popularity.
- It became Marley’s unofficial anthem of reassurance, often mis-titled as “Don’t Worry About a Thing.”
- It’s been covered by everyone from Maroon 5 to Billy Ocean, but none touch the original’s effortless serenity.
- The Exodus album (which it’s on) was named Album of the Century by Time Magazine.
🌈 Final Word
Play Three Little Birds like you’re sitting on a porch somewhere tropical, strumming without a care in the world.
Keep it easy, keep it light, and — most importantly — keep smiling.
If you don’t feel your shoulders drop by the second chorus, you might actually be one of the little birds.
