Bob Marley's Songwriter Goes to 'War' for Jah ... Bob's Label Stiffed Me

One of Bob Marley's BFFs is getting screwed out of money for 2 of the reggae star's iconic tracks ... according to the lawsuit he's filed to get cash for the heirs of rasta messiah Haile Selassie.

Allan Cole is suing Island, Universal and Tuff Gong music over the copyright on "War" and "Natty Dread." Cole was a Jamaican soccer star who reportedly managed Bob briefly, and says he co-wrote the songs in the '70s.

In the docs, Cole says he was promised a copyright credit, but only got props for co-writing the tracks. He says he noticed the mistake when he tried to transfer half his interest in "War" to the family of former Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I.

Little background: The lyrics for "War" are lifted almost verbatim from a famous speech by Selassie ... who Rastafarians worship as Jah Rastafari.

Cole is suing for his share of the copyright, profits from the songs and lawyers fees.

"Now, everywhere is war ..."