High Tide or Low Tide

## Song by Janelle Monáe

"**High Tide or Low Tide**" is a song by Bob Marley and The Wailers, released as a bonus track for their fifth studio album, *Catch a Fire* (1973).

Monáe covered the song for Spotify's Singles Series, initially planning on Migos "Stir Fry". She started listening to Bob Marley because of her musical inspiration, Lauryn Hill, who was featured on his remastered version of "Turn Your Lights Down Low" (1999). Monáe told the *Under Cover* podcast, "*Catch a Fire* is one of my favorite albums. I heard it for the first time when I was in Jamaica. I was in Montego Bay, and I heard it and I cried. I was so moved, I could not understand how he was able to capture exactly how I want someone to treat me, exactly how I want to treat somebody else." They continued, "I wanna be more kind, I wanna be more accepting, I wanna be more forgiving. I want friends who are there for me during those high tides or low tides, all the ups and downs or highs and lows of life."

Stephen Daw of *Billboard* praised the cover version, writing, "The new cover remains mostly faithful to the original track, keeping the familiar guitar licks and cool pace, while also adding in Monáe's gospel and soul flair, with an organ playing in the background and a bevy of soulful backup singers joining her on the song's choruses." *Uproxx* noted, "Monáe keeps things pretty straightforward for her rendition of the song, which was released as part of the Spotify Singles series, keeping it in a relatively no-frills reggae style. Like much of Marley’s output, it’s a captivating a well-written song, and that’s what shines here, serving as a testament to Monáe’s chameleonic abilities as a performer to thrive in any number of musical situations."

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Chorus]

In high seas or in low seas

I'm gonna be your friend, I'm gonna be your friend

In high tide or in low tide

I'll be by your side, I'll be by your side

[Verse 1]

I heard her praying, praying, praying

I said, I heard my mother

She was praying in the night (Praying, praying, praying, praying)

And the words that she said (The words that she said)

They still linger in my head (Linger in my head)

She said

"A child is born in this world, He needs protection

God, guide and protect us

When we're wrong, please correct us

(When we're wrong, correct us)

And, and, and stand by me"

[Chorus]

In high seas or in low seas

I'm gonna be your friend, I'm gonna be your friend

In high tide or in low tide

I'll be by your side

I'll be by your side

[Verse 2]

I said I heard my mother

She was crying in the night (I heard her crying, crying, crying)

And the tears that she shed (The tears that she shed)

They still linger in my head (Linger in my head)

"A child is born in this world

She needs protection, oh I, oh I, I, I

God, guide and protect us

When we're wrong, please correct us

(When we're wrong, correct us)

And stand by me

[Chorus]

In high seas or in low seas

I'm gonna be your friend, I'm gonna be your friend

In high tide or in low

I'll be (I'll be by your side, I'll be by your side)

I'll be by, be by your side

## References

1. ↑ Martoccio, Angie (April 18, 2019). "Janelle Monae Was Going to Cover Migos, But Then She Took a Trip to Jamaica". *Rolling Stone*.
2. ↑ Daw, Stephen (November 14, 2018). "Janelle Monáe Covers Bob Marley, Strips Down 'I Like That' For Spotify Singles: Listen". *Billboard*.
3. ↑ Rossignol, Derrick (November 14, 2018). "Janelle Monae Honors Reggae King Bob Marley With A Cover Of 'High Tide Or Low Tide'". *Uproxx*.