Unlike most of Bob Marley's tracks, it is strictly a solo acoustic recording, consisting of Marley's singing and playing an acoustic guitar, without accompaniment.
The song also urges listeners to "Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery," because "None but ourselves can free our minds". These memorable lines appear to have been taken from a speech given by Marcus Garvey in Nova Scotia during October 1937 and published in his Black Man magazine:
We are going to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery because whilst others might free the body, none but ourselves can free the mind. Mind is your only ruler, sovereign. The man who is not able to develop and use his mind is bound to be the slave of the other man who uses his mind....[1]
A full band rendition of "Redemption Song" was made available as a bonus track on the 2001 reissue of Uprising, as well as being featured on the 2001 compilation One Love: The Very Best of Bob Marley & the Wailers. However, the solo performance remains the take most familiar to listeners.
In 2004, Rolling Stone placed the song at #66 among The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Redemption Song
Bob Marley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sold I to the merchant ships
Minutes after they took I
From the bottomless pit
But my hand was made strong
By the hand of the Almighty
We forward in this generation
Triumphantly
Won't you help to sing
Another song of freedom?
'Cause all I ever have
Redemption song
We sing a song for emancipation
The words fill your soul, your every frame
Out with the day with anticipation
We harmonize on the very same song
Won't you sing along
We still so far, we are, we are
(?)
Redemption song
Won't you help to sing
Another song of freedom?
'Cause all I ever have (all I ever have)
Redemption song
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery
None but ourselves can free our minds
Have no fear for atomic energy
'Cause none of them can stop the time
(?)
(?)
(?)
(?)
Won't you help to sing
Another song of freedom?
'Cause all I ever have ('cause all I ever have)
Redemption song
Won't you help to sing
Another song of freedom?
'Cause all I ever have
Redemption song
Redemption song
Redemption song
Redemption song
Redemption song
The song "Redemption Song" by Bob Marley is a powerful anthem that speaks to themes of courage, freedom, and self-determination. The song begins with an acknowledgement of the injustices and violence inflicted upon the singer and their community by colonial powers and slave traders. Despite this trauma, the singer declares that their "hand was made strong by the hand of the Almighty," indicating a sense of resilience and inner strength that they draw upon in the face of adversity.
The second verse calls upon listeners to seek their own liberation from mental slavery and to recognize that only they can free their own minds. This is an empowering message that suggests that change and transformation must start with individual action and self-reflection. The third verse touches upon the struggles of resistance movements and the persecution of those who speak out against injustice. The phrase "how long shall they kill our prophets while we stand aside and look?" is a powerful condemnation of the complicity and inaction that can allow oppressive structures to continue unchecked.
Overall, "Redemption Song" is a beautiful and stirring call to action that speaks to universal human experiences of struggle, resilience, and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Old pirates, yes, they rob I
I have been robbed by the old pirates before
Sold I to the merchant ships
They sold me to the merchant ships
Minutes after they took I
They took me within minutes
From the bottomless pit
I was taken from a dreadful place
But my hand was made strong
My hand was made stronger
By the hand of the Almighty
By the grace of God
We forward in this generation
We continue forward in this current generation
Triumphantly
With great victory and success
Won't you help to sing
Could you please join me in singing
These songs of freedom?
These liberating songs?
'Cause all I ever have
Because all I've ever had
Redemption songs
Are songs of redemption
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery
Free yourselves from the shackles of your own minds
None but ourselves can free our minds
Only we can liberate ourselves from our own mentality
Have no fear for atomic energy
Do not be afraid of nuclear power
'Cause none of them can stop the time
Because no one can stop time
How long shall they kill our prophets
How much longer will they continue to assassinate our prophets?
While we stand aside and look?
As we stand there and do nothing about it?
Some say it's just a part of it
Some people insist that it's an inevitable part of life
We've got to fulfill the book
But we must fulfill our destiny
All I ever have
All I've ever had
Redemption songs
Are songs of salvation
These songs of freedom
These songs of liberation
Songs of freedom
Songs that encourage our liberty
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bob Marley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Godknows Obi
i love all the songs
Kara Bouni
J'adore, ce grand génie, qui a su donner à sa musique, le respect que l'on doit aux grands maîtres !
Mishika Enotsnevel
Happy Emacipation Day 2016!!
Old pirates, yes, they rob I,
Sold I to the merchant ships
Minutes after they took I
From the bottomless pit
But my 'and was made strong
By the 'and of the Almighty
We forward in this generation
Triumphantly
Won't you help to sing
These songs of freedom?
'Cause all I ever have
Redemption songs
Redemption songs
Emancipate yourself from mental slavery
None but our self can free our minds
Have no fear for atomic energy
'Cause none of them can stop the time
How long shall they kill our prophets
While we stand aside and look?
Some say it's just a part of it
We've got to fulfill de book
Won't you help to sing
These songs of freedom?
'Cause all I ever have
Redemption songs
Redemption songs
Redemption songs
Emancipate yourself from mental slavery
None but our self can free our mind
Have no fear for atomic energy
'Cause none of them can stop the time
How long shall dey kill our prophets
While we stand aside and look?
Some say it's just a part of it
We've got to fulfill de book
Won't you help to sing
These songs of freedom?
'Cause all I ever had
Redemption songs
All I ever had
Redemption songs
These songs of freedom
Songs of freedom
Gustavo Viana
o verdadeiro hino de Bob Marley...
Juan Carlos Velasquez Lopez
research origiting resources chysler sources.
Anthony Lee
love and respect forever bob
Jinos Reyes
oooooh
Veronica Gonzalez Fabris
los sonidos de la libertad...escuchalos
Janio Loccas Silva
e sim o regger
Flores Santos Silva
O MELHOR DE TODOS OS TEMPOS...