Rhythm in "Three Little Birds"

In "Three Little Birds," the first few bars serve as a good model for the rest of the chart, rhythmically speaking.
                              The instrumental parts shown are all syncopated and serve to de-emphasize the first, traditionally "strong" beat. The guitar plays on the second and fourth beat of every measure. Due to the nature of the song, which feels more like it is in half time, these chords feel like they are placed on the upbeat of every beat, giving the song an positive, energetic vibe. The bass, characteristically of reggae, serves as a percussion instrument. Every other measure, it begins its phrase on the third beat, which feels like the off beat. The drum set emphasizes also the third beat of every measure, with a bass hit, but the more important effect of the drums is created by the high hat. The high hat is played on the back end of each beat, furthering the syncopation used. It also, towards the ends of the measures, switches between being quickly cut off and being allowed to vibrate longer, which creates variety and interest.

The organ/keyboard utilizes syncopation to create energy. In the introduction, this is the only part with a moving line, a line that is felt just as much as it is heard. The moving eighth note refrain shown above drives the beat forward. The impact of this line is created especially by the held eighth note before the downbeat of the next measure.  This held note makes the measures flow more smoothly by connecting the end of one measure to the start of the next, so the song feels like it is non-stop and always pushes on. When the vocalists sing, "Cause every little thing," the first time occurring at 0:20, the organ plays a different phrase.

This new phrase sounds like it consists of an eighth note starting on an upbeat leading to a dotted quarter note, leading again to another eighth and dotted quarter, then another eighth to a staccato quarter note, and finally to two eighth notes.Similar to how the held eighth note in the main riff makes the song flow, so too do the eighth notes used in this pattern. In addition, the longer dotted quarter notes provide a smooth background against the harsh eighth notes of "ev-ery li-ttle thing."

Speaking of the vocals, the melody in "Three Little Birds" switches its rhythmic style between the chorus and verse (of which there is only one, making analysis fairly simple). The chorus consists of these lyrics:
                                 "Don't worry about a thing
                                  'Cause every little thing gonna be alright
                                  Singing' "Don't worry about a thing
                                  'Cause every little thing gonna be alright!"
The only other verse consists of these lyrics:
                                  "Rise up this mornin'
                                   Smiled with the risin' sun
                                   Three little birds
                                   Pitch by my doorstep
                                   Singin' sweet songs
                                   Of melodies pure and true
                                   Saying', ("This is my message to you")"
Bob Marley sings the chorus in a more broken fashion. Each syllable is heavily articulated, and there is space in between each one. In contrast, the verse, while not extremely smooth, is articulated more smoothly and sung more legato than the verse. In the harmony, this switch is reversed. The foundation of the song remains the same, but the smooth organ in the introduction and chorus is replaced in the verse by a choppier guitar lead.