"Jah Live" was released as a single in 1975, recorded within days of the announcement of Haile Selassie I's death. Rastafarians consider Selassie I to be the reincarnation of God, whom they call Jah. Bob Marley wrote this song to assert that Selassie I had not died, countering claims by the Ethiopian government and detractors of the Rastafarian religion. The song directly addresses those who doubted the Rastafari movement following the apparent death of Selassie I, with Marley stating, "Yuh cyant kill God" when no body was found.