Could You Be Loved

Written in 1979 on an aeroplane while The Wailers were experimenting on guitar, "Could You Be Loved" has been described as a reggae and disco fusion.{{Cite web |last=Eames |first=Tom |date=July 18, 2023 |title=The 50 greatest reggae songs of all time, ranked |url=https://www.smoothradio.com/features/top-songs/reggae-songs-best-ranked/ |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=Smooth |language=en}} In the middle of the song, background singers quote a verse from Bob Marley's first single "Judge Not": "The road of life is rocky; And you may stumble too. So while you point your fingers, someone else is judging you". Instruments used on the original record of this song are guitars, bass, drums, acoustic piano, the Hohner Clavinet and an organ, as well as the Brazilian cuíca.

American magazine Rolling Stone included "Could You Be Loved" at number 363 in their list of "500 Best Songs of All Time" in 2021.{{cite magazine|title= The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time |magazine= Rolling Stone |date= 15 September 2021 |access-date= 18 February 2022 |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-songs-of-all-time-1224767/}}

In 2025, King Charles III partnered with Apple Music to launch a radio show called The King's Music Room to mark Commonwealth Day with a selection of songs that "bring him joy" and "reflects the diversity of the Commonwealth". Could You Be Loved was the first track featured in the program. Additionally, a version of the song performed by the King's Guard band was used in the shows introduction and preceding promotional materials.{{cite web |title=The King reveals his playlist, from Marley to Kylie |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0jg9ej244do |website=BBC |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=11 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250307001548/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0jg9ej244do |archive-date=7 March 2025 |date=7 March 2025}}

On 25 July 2022, the official music video of the song was released on Marley's YouTube channel.{{cite magazine|last1=Peacock|first1=Tim|title=Bob Marley Honored With New Animated Music Video For 'Could You Be Loved'|url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/bob-marley-animated-video-could-loved/|magazine=uDiscoverMusic|date=15 July 2022|access-date=19 May 2024}}

• 7" single

1. "Could You Be Loved" – 3:35
2. "One Drop" – 3:50

• 7" single

1. "Could You Be Loved" – 3:35
2. "No Woman, No Cry (Live '75)" – 3:57

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{{Infobox song

| name = Could You Be Loved

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Joe Cocker

| album = Across from Midnight

| released = 1997

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length = 4:35

| label = CMC International

| writer = Bob Marley

| producer = {{hlist|Chris Lord-Alge|Roger Davies|Jeffery CJ Vanston}}

| prev_title = Into the Mystic

| prev_year = 1996

| next_title = N'oubliez jamais

| next_year = 1997

}}

British singer Joe Cocker covered "Could You Be Loved" on his 1997 album Across from Midnight. The single peaked at number one in Hungary.

• CD single

1. "Could You Be Loved" (Single Version) – 4:35
2. "Could You Be Loved" (Radio Edit) – 4:18
3. "The Way Her Love Is" – 2:44

Marley's four eldest children Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers have performed the song numerous times during their tours. Their performance versions appear on the concert DVDs "Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers Live", "Marley Magic: Live in Central Park at Summerstage", "One Love: The Bob Marley All-Star Tribute", and their live album "Live Vol. 1".

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Category:1980 songs

Category:1980 singles

Category:1997 singles

Category:Bob Marley songs

Category:Island Records singles

Category:Joe Cocker songs

Category:Songs written by Bob Marley

Category:Number-one singles in Hungary