Redemption Song
Bob Marley & The Wailer's Lyrics
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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
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
In "Redemption Songs," Bob Marley laments the oppression and subjugation that Black people have faced throughout history. The first verse depicts the transatlantic slave trade, where Europeans captured and sold Africans into slavery. Marley references the "bottomless pit" to symbolize the despair and hopelessness that slaves faced. However, Marley finds hope in the idea that his hand was made strong by the hand of the Almighty, suggesting that strength and perseverance can come from faith. He then speaks of "forwarding in this generation triumphantly," encouraging listeners to continue the fight for justice.
The chorus reinforces the theme of redemption and freedom, calling on the audience to join in the singing of these "songs of freedom." The repetition of the phrase "Redemption songs" emphasizes the importance of these songs to Marley and to the broader context of Black liberation.
The second verse expands on the idea of mental slavery, highlighting the importance of freeing oneself from oppressive ideology. Marley argues that only individuals can free their own minds, rejecting the notion that external forces can grant freedom. The following lines address the fear of nuclear war, suggesting that even in the face of such destruction, the unstoppable force of time will still bring change. Marley continues to question the violence against prophets, with the line "how long shall they kill our prophets, while we stand aside and look?" This line references the assassinations of Black leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, suggesting that their deaths were not just coincidences but part of a larger pattern of violence and oppression.
Overall, "Redemption Songs" is a powerful call to action for Black liberation, emphasizing the importance of perseverance, faith, and unity.
Line by Line Meaning
Old pirates, yes, they rob I,
In the past, I was robbed by pirates.
Sold I to the merchant ships
I was sold to the merchant ships by the pirates who robbed me.
Minutes after they took I
Immediately after I was taken.
From the bottomless pit
I was taken from a very bad situation.
But my 'and was made strong
Despite the bad situation, I emerged stronger.
By the 'and of the Almighty
It was the help of God that made me stronger.
We forward in this generation
We continue to progress in this era.
Triumphantly
We have been successful in our efforts.
Won't you help to sing
Can you please join me in singing?
These songs of freedom?
These are songs that promote freedom.
'Cause all I ever have
I only have one thing -
Redemption songs
Songs about being saved and redeemed.
Emancipate yourself from mental slavery
Free yourself from mental constraints and limitations.
None but our self can free our minds
Only we can liberate our own minds.
Have no fear for atomic energy
Don't be afraid of nuclear power.
'Cause none of them can stop the time
Nuclear power cannot halt the course of time.
How long shall they kill our prophets
How much longer will our leaders and heroes be assassinated?
While we stand aside and look?
Why do we passively observe these injustices?
Some say it's just a part of it
Some people believe that this is an unavoidable aspect of society.
We've got to fulfill de book
We must complete the task or mission laid out before us.
These songs of freedom
These are songs that celebrate liberty.
Songs of freedom
Musical compositions that inspire patriotism and self-determination.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Bob Marley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ommanipadmehum4975
Go ahead
No matter what
Love, be kind, take the suffer give the joy give the smile be the heroes as hard it is, as worth it is
And be inspired by great men and women, by nature and animals, by great creations and arts and music
Make your way
Make your way through life
And at the end of your last breath,
Pay tribute to the steps
All my blessings
And all my power
All my strength and faith
I give you
All your suffering and grief and sorrow
I remove from you
I am arrived i am home
I am solid i am free
In the ultimate i dwell
@ysolomon2168
Old pirates, yes, they rob I
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
These songs of freedom?
'Cause all I ever have
Redemption songs
Redemption songs
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
How long shall they kill our prophets
While we stand aside and look? Ooh
Some say it's just a part of it
We've got to fullfil the book
Won't you help to sing
These songs of freedom?
'Cause all I ever have
Redemption songs
Redemption songs
Redemption songs
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery
None but ourselves can free our mind
Woah, have no fear for atomic energy
'Cause none of them-a can-a stop-a the time
How long shall they kill our prophets
While we stand aside and look?
Yes, some say it's just a part of it
We've got to fullfill the 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
@trillrudeboy
Sadly, you are all wrong.
Believe it or not, people outside of the United States are not concerned with slavery or racism like they are there.
I lived in the Caribbean for a while, people are not controlled by the media as much, which just fuels race hatred.
Race issues are a US thing, because corporations and the government want it to be.
Marley was Rastafarian, which is a cult that broke away from Christianity during war time. It was started by a political activist who made up false claims in order to stir up political unrest. Rastafarians smoked weed while they worshiped God. The were conned to believe the emperor of Ethiopia was the second coming of Christ Jesus. The con artist lied and told the Jamaicans that Christ only came for white people and the emperor was Christ coming back to save African decent people. This was obviously a lie. Christ came to save whoever would believe. The emperor of Ethiopia was a Christian and hated the cult that started up in his name. He fought it and wanted Jamaicans to know Christ had already died for them. He actually commissioned the building of many Christian churches in Jamaica to help save some of those that went astray. Marley was one of these people. When he found out the man they were worshiping rejected being Christ, he prayed for forgiveness to God.
Redemption Song is directed towards Jesus who is named the "Redeemer" sent here to save us from our sins against God the Father.
The pirate ship robbed him from the grave or bottomless pit. Jesus taught us that all who are not saved, are already dead in spirit. Becoming a believer snatches you from darkness and renews your soul. After being saved, he was delivered to the hands of the almighty God. He sings songs of freedom from the punishment of sin. Marley was born many many generations after slavery had been abolished. He is speaking in first person in his song. He was never made a salve physically and rescued.
Jesus tells a story to his disciples not to fear death when they go out into the world. He tells them to not fear him who can destroy the body but to fear Him who can destroy the body and soul in hell. The Atomic weapons verse was directed at this scripture. At the time of this song, nuclear warfare was a worry of many people. Marley is reminding his listeners to not fear death but only fear God.
The creator of the illustration added racism to the song. When Marley talks about killing their prophets, the illustrator shows many African American civil rights leaders but this is not what Marley was speaking of. There are many versus in the bible where God and his disciples speak to the Jews who were persecuting them about how they killed God's prophets. I believe the verse Marley is referencing though is:
Acts 7:52
Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become;
Marley is telling his listeners to "stay strong" even though they may kill them. In this bible verse, Jesus had already been crucified, risen from death and ascended to heaven. The Jewish leaders were rounding up Christians and killing them. One of his disciples told them this verse when they were questioning him. The persecutors picked up stones and threw them at him until he died.
If you do not know enough about scripture or Bob Marley to catch all what I have already said, then the last part should tip you off. "We have got to fulfill the book". The last book of the bible "Revelation" was written by John, one of Jesus's disciples. John was made a prophet and given visions of the future. The book describes all the things that will come to pass as we proceed in time, until things are finished. This book must be fulfilled. Rastafarians believed that the emperor being Christ was one more step in the fulfillment.
@al-mazerhussien3992
Dear person who may be reading this I wish you a beautiful life abundance and health
@garyjones9910
Why thank you
@agansley
Thx
@paradigmshift3879
Love, peace, health, happiness to you and your family Al-mazer thank you for your warm heart, kind words and presence.
@martamoreira1706
That’s so beautiful! Wishing you the same ✨
@karenyoudenvengeruk2897
Much love sweet person, may your life always shine bright with much joy and abundance.
@ypndublin4219
Who is listening in 2024 😢
@DaniloAWGE
me i love bob
@Wayshayna
🦋
@ricardothompson2700
I listen to Bob almost every day.