Finish the lyric from 'Three Little Birds': 'Don't worry about a thing, 'cause every little thing gonna be...'

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The lyric from Bob Marley and the Wailers’ “Three Little Birds” finishes with “alright.” The phrase forms the song’s reassuring refrain and gives the track its uncomplicated message of optimism.

Bob Marley wrote the song, which appeared on the 1977 album Exodus. The recording combines a relaxed reggae groove with a repeated vocal hook, making the reassurance feel conversational rather than dramatic. The three birds in the lyric are often understood as a comforting image, though the song does not require a single symbolic interpretation.

The song became one of Marley’s most widely recognized recordings and was released as a single in several markets. Its message is often quoted independently of the rest of the lyric, especially in contexts involving encouragement or calm after a setback.

The Wailers’ music helped introduce Jamaican reggae to a worldwide audience. “Three Little Birds” is sometimes mistakenly treated as a children’s song because of its simple language, but its original setting is Marley’s adult roots-reggae catalogue. The familiar word is “alright,” rather than “fine,” which is a common memory substitution.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Aug. 2026

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