That musical might was captured in the lyrics of many Marley songs, but perhaps no better than in "Trenchtown Rock," a Marley anthem born from the Kingston, Jamaica ghetto in which he grew up and learned about reggae music.
"One good thing about music," Marley sang. "When it hits, you feel no pain. ... So hit me with music."
That oft-quoted line personifies the approach that Marley took to the stage and to life. He was much more than a singer and songwriter, and over a quarter-century after his death, the power of music is something people will always attribute to his legend.
Bob's widow, Rita Marley, attempts to describe this in an exclusive video for the new BobMarley.com.
"The power of music is why he always said his weapon was his guitar," she says.
"We were looking forward to the end of physical war, where people used guns to kill each other. We don't want to see that. I don't think God made His world for war. It's a beautiful world, and if we can go along without killing each other, it would make it a better place."
With those thoughts in mind, Marley's legacy lives on through many charitable organizations including the Bob Marley Foundation, the Rita Marley Foundation and Africa Unite, among others.
"We're building studios in Africa and in Jamaica where those who feel that they can do it or they want to be a Bob Marley, we're hoping to teach," Rita says.
"We're hoping that a lot of the people that are working with us can maintain that Bob Marley cry of freedom. We're hoping that it will be positive for the generations to come, because they're the future of tomorrow."
Rita says it's all about young people "because you can't resist those little children."
"God bless the children," she says with a big smile. "To see them happy, to see the joy come up in their eyes and their smiles, it's amazing. You just have to give them your heart."
Rita concludes the video by saying that the truth in Bob's music is "what makes it live after his life died."
"The reality," she says. "It happened then and it's still happening now, 25, 26 years after. It's the same message that's relating to everyone."