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 had
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?
Some say it's just a part of it
We got to fulfill the book

So won't you help to sing
These songs of freedom
'Cause all I ever had
Redemption songs
Redemption songs
Redemption songs

Old pirates, yes, they rob I
Sold I to the merchant ships
Minutes after they took I
From the bottomless pit

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 the book

So won't you help to sing
These songs of freedom
'Cause all I ever had
These songs of freedom
'Cause all I ever had
Redemption songs
These songs of freedom
These songs of freedom


Lyrics submitted by jackfrost

Redemption Song Lyrics as written by Bob Marley

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Redemption Song song meanings
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11 Comments

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    General Comment

    Jesus christ. It's a Bob Marley song and it's CLEARLY about slavery:

    "Old pirate yes they rob I, Sold I to the merchant ships"

    I also think it's about people joining together against emancipation etc.

    I love Strummers's version of this song, it's really simple and beautiful. He's one of the few white singers that could get away with doing a cover of this because of all of his Rock Against Racism work.

    oldskoolpunker23: Just... oh my god. This song is about slavery and you said you're cutting yourself because your parents are fighting. I hate you.

    enkrailon September 07, 2009   Link

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