Redemption Song

Song from Bob Marley

I came late to hearing reggae music, or Bob Marley, although I am a big fan. The first time I heard this song on an FM station in metropolitan D.C. was in 1981 or ‘82, and Marley might have already passed away. The lyrics took me aback. It is not a song for the black man alone, but the very cry of mankind in the last 7000 years of denying men respect. So todayI am just going to post the lyrics from “Redemption Song”. It is my song, and everyone’s song.

Redemption Song

(Bob Marley lyrics taken from Marcus Garvey)

[Verse 1]

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

[Chorus]

Won't you help to sing

These songs of freedom?

'Cause all I ever have

Redemption songs

Redemption songs

[Verse 2]

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 fulfill the book

[Chorus]

Won't you help to sing

These songs of freedom?

'Cause all I ever have

Redemption songs

Redemption songs

Redemption song

[Verse 3]

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery

None but ourselves can free our minds

Whoa! Have no fear for atomic energy

'Cause none of them-ah can-ah stop-ah 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 fulfill the book

[Chorus]

Won't you help to sing

These songs of freedom?

'Cause all I ever have

Redemption songs

[Outro]

All I ever have

Redemption songs

These songs of freedom

Songs of freedom