Redemption Song

I think this is Joe's epitaph. This song was released on his posthumous album Streetcore, and to me, it's Joe having his final say. He didn't know he was going to die, but hearing this, it doesn't matter. He's left us with something to think about. He wrote protest music when he was with The Clash - he was always politcially minded, but this song feels like the words of a man who knows he's too old (or in Bob Marley's case, too sick) to stomp around angrily, but who hasn't finished saying what he wanted to say.

They should have put these words on his gravestone: "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 These songs of freedom"

And so now it's up to everyone else. Keep singing the songs of freedom. Keep fighting the good fight. Continue Joe and Bob's (and everyone else's) good work.

this is a bob marley song that a lot of bands have done. the one strummer did was originally with johnny cash.

oldskoolpunker23, i think you're wrong. i think it's basically a peace/unity/hope song with a lot of religous connotation to it.

the joe strummer and J cash version is much better than marly's song, in my opinion. Their vocals really um..click, if that makes sense. Bob's just doesnt feel as real to my ears.

hearing this song done by them, puts shivers down my spine. rest in peace to the men in black.

This version and the one with Johnny are the same take, with a different instrumental mix. You can hear it in Joe's delivery. Both are great but for some reaon Joe on his own is the more emotional for me. With the video, it had me in tears. I'm forever kicking myself that I didn't see him at his last gig in Liverpool when I had the chance but I suppose I always thought there would be another time.

ah, I Love this song, His and Johnny's Verison I thought was better, Two Legends meeting in a song by another legend, all ascending from diffrent kinds of music. Joe and Cash kinda had similar attitudes if you think about it

I downloaded a video of this. The video was a tribute to Joe and had a man painting a huge picture of him on a wall as onlookers watched. Then laid candles, it ended with shots of Joe in full flight at concerts. I showed to my brother who's not much of a Clash or Strummer fan he watched walked abot a meter and broke in tears.
He brings a song to a whole new leval. If you wana see the video you can see it on Wikipedia it is on Joe Strummer's page there under sound sample here's the address http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Strummer a really recomend espeically for strummer fans.

i agree with static burn, this is a wonderfull song love strummers version as well as him and cash's version. they put a lot of soul behind this song and make it compare with imagine by john lennon. as for the meaning it is very obvious, join me in the quest for love and peace on earth.

I never got a chance to see him he died before i realised he excisted that still makes me sad. Oh well guese i just gota try to play awesome music so i can at least do decent tribute to him at some stage. He my hero his songs have actually lifted me from depressions minor ones but still i was down i listened to one of his songs (this is England) and by halfway i ahd a smile on my face.

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.

One of my favorite songs done by one of my favorite artist. RIP Joe