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Redemption Song Lyrics
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 hands of the almighty
We forward in this generation
Triumphantly
Won't you help to sing
These songs of freedom
'cause they 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've got to fulfill the book
Won't you help to sing
These songs of freedom
'cause they all I ever had
Redemption songs, redemption songs
Song Info
Submitted by
kevin On May 24, 2001
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I think there have been some good comments on here, but I would like to center on two lines of the song I believe to be improperly treated and, in fact, related in an interesting way. The lines are: "emancipate yourselves from mental slavery..." "we've got to fulfill the book"
Here Bob is engaged in what's called reification critique. That is, he's challenging people to think critically about their surroundings and stop taking as "natural" or "inevitable" events or situations that are products of human agency.
Why would people make such a mistake?
Well, according to (some interpretations of) Marx, the working class, or proletariat, suffers from "false consciousness." This false consciousness causes them to see capitalist expropriation as an inevitable outgrowth of material conditions, and even to identify with their oppressors in one way or another. The proletariat is much stronger than the bourgeoisie, but, because of this false consciousness, the proletariat fails to realize its revolutionary potential.
In other words, in order to achieve political emancipation, the proletariat must first achieve mental emancipation. And only they can do that.
I believe that Bob is referring to Christian eschatology in the second part. The book he is referring to is The Bible, specifically Revelation. There are those that would remain defeated when their leaders are murdered - or might even praise it in a strange way. This is because Revelation predicts things must get much worse before they get better - ie. Jesus returns. Thus, any attempt to better one's position is to go against God's will. One should welcome persecution, because that means The End - and Christian redemption - is nigh.
Bob clearly does not like this attitude.
So, there it is, in both of these lines, he's addressing arguments against a revolution of the proletariat. Get Up, Stand up!
@gnomeklpto - great comments, I appreciate your articulation of things, which happen to reflect, largely, my exact feelings on both Marley's words as well as my personal view of the status quo in our "Western" culture. Unfortunately, the proletariat majority are so far gone that I am not sure redemption is possible.
@gnomeklpto - great comments, I appreciate your articulation of things, which happen to reflect, largely, my exact feelings on both Marley's words as well as my personal view of the status quo in our "Western" culture. Unfortunately, the proletariat majority are so far gone that I am not sure redemption is possible.
Via one of the most insidious tactics used to truly brainwash people, people are led to feel that they have freed their minds, when in reality, they have simply purchased a pre-packaged and slickly-marketed set of beliefs that members of this group believe to constitute "free...
Via one of the most insidious tactics used to truly brainwash people, people are led to feel that they have freed their minds, when in reality, they have simply purchased a pre-packaged and slickly-marketed set of beliefs that members of this group believe to constitute "free thought," sometimes merely because a given belief challenges the current "establishment," whatever they may perceive that to be; a salient example of this would be the monikers of "Republican" and "Democrat" - both of those are just such packages of beliefs. I am surprised people don't realize that it's highly improbable that either of the extremes put forth by those groups could be "right" or "correct."
While it is true that some "established" ideals/practices/theories may need to be revised or thrown out, applied thinking/analysis should be done before doing so, lest the proverbial baby ends up thrown out with the bathwater. In my 37 years, I've observed that extremes in anything are usually poor positions to take - the seemingly sane/rational/logical "answer" is usually to be found somewhere in the middle (equilibrium).
The sad fact is, people simply don't want to think - it is too hard and, besides, there is something good to watch on TV right now, so I will "think" about things later! As long as people are amused/entertained/fed or otherwise distracted, they really don't care to think. To quote Kurt Cobain, singing about this fact, "Here we are now, entertain us."
Now, there are those, when blessed with time/money/opportunity for leisure, spend time thinking about how to solve or mitigate the "hard" problems (hunger, poverty, disease, etc.) of this world, but they seem to be few.
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Regarding your comments on the Book of Revelations, I completely agree that this is what Marley was referring to. And religious people I know do have the tendency to say, regarding the seemingly-downward spiral of society, "well, it's inevitable - it's been prophesied to happen, there's nothing we can do about it." Even if it proves to be true that we are in the "last days" predicted by that Biblical book, we are not justified in throwing our hands up in assumed defeat - we are to fight valiantly so that we can maintain honor. God would not have us hasten the demise of society, he'd have us fight a good fight.
Anyway, that's my 2 cents, for what that's worth. :)
@gnomeklpto
@gnomeklpto
He means we got to fulfill the Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey. No references to the "other" book are made in the song. When Marley sings "emancipate yourself from mental slavery" he is actually quoting Marcus Garvey. In November 1937 Garvey said, "we are going to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery for though others may free the body, none but ourselves can free the mind. Mind is our only ruler; sovereign."
He means we got to fulfill the Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey. No references to the "other" book are made in the song. When Marley sings "emancipate yourself from mental slavery" he is actually quoting Marcus Garvey. In November 1937 Garvey said, "we are going to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery for though others may free the body, none but ourselves can free the mind. Mind is our only ruler; sovereign."
Watch the acoustic version of Redemption Song. When Bob Marley sings "we got to fulfill the book" it is Marcus Garvey's picture...
Watch the acoustic version of Redemption Song. When Bob Marley sings "we got to fulfill the book" it is Marcus Garvey's picture that is displayed.
youtube.com/watch
@gnomeklpto well what he is addressing in that particular line is the fear of a nuclear holocaust which is what was consuming the minds of all at that time and still is meanwhile the real issue is that while physical slavery (catching and selling of human beings) might have ended a new type had sprung up, slavery of the mind. Communism, capitalism, feminism, christianity, islam, gay rights all these banners and flags that represent ideas block reason... All idealism ought to have a human face and human feeling but as most minds are enslaved they do not. What Bob...
@gnomeklpto well what he is addressing in that particular line is the fear of a nuclear holocaust which is what was consuming the minds of all at that time and still is meanwhile the real issue is that while physical slavery (catching and selling of human beings) might have ended a new type had sprung up, slavery of the mind. Communism, capitalism, feminism, christianity, islam, gay rights all these banners and flags that represent ideas block reason... All idealism ought to have a human face and human feeling but as most minds are enslaved they do not. What Bob Marley is saying to all of us living in this age of ideas is "Are you master or slave to your ideas?"
The people who ask mankind to see things this way are often hated and persecuted thats why the line "how long shall they kill our prophets while we stand aside and look". as for "have no fear for atomic energy cause no of them can stop the turn", the bible speaks of a day when the doom's day clock will strike twelve. it will come when it must so it is no use living in fear. Better get your freedom from mental slavery and live a happy life.
He is so right, slavery is still on and it is not restricted by skin color anymore. Every race and place has its own variety.
I think that the book Bob is referring to is a supposed lost, second part of the Bible. Basically what it boils down to is that Rastas believe that Ethiopians are descendents of the exiled people of Isreal, and that the coronation of Haile Selassie was predicted in the Bible, and that he is Jesus reincarnated (there is a lot of cool stuff you can read about how they justify this, Google "Lion of Judah" and "Rastafari" to get a better sense of it, I am no expert I'm just giving the gist of it). They believe that among the exiled peoples of Isreal, one of the tribes carried the Arc of the Covenant. According to Rastas, in the Arc of the Covenant is an additional holy book which contains a wealth of African-specific wisdom and spiritual truth.
I've read quite a few comments that claim that Bob was anti-religious. This is so false, he was not only spiritual but extremely religious: a complete zealot of Rastafari. Ratsafarians believe that over history and through many translations that the Bible has been corrupted and anglicized, changed to marginalize Africans and pander to Europeans. They contend that since we know the human species originated in Africa, that Adam and Eve were Africans, and the Garden of Eden and Mount Zion must be in Africa. So when Bob denounces religion (which he does do pretty often, like in "Get Up, Stand Up") he is criticizing the modern, white-washed version of Christianity.
I don't really know how this all fits into the whole song, but I am pretty sure that the book is a lost portion of the bible. I think that "We've got to fulfill the book" is an argument AGAINST "Some say it's just a part of it". In other words, I think he is saying that Africans shouldn't just accept oppression as a part of life, but that they should live up to the ideals of the true message of the bible, a message that has been diluted and corrupted over the course of human history.
The song is incredible, coming from a man who was as white as he was black makes it even better.
The first verse describes the struggle for freedom from the 400 years slavery the black race suffered and savors the victory calling on all men to celebrate with him, with us.
The second verse addresses a new threat to all men, a slavery perhaps worse than any type ever seen before...Mental slavery. While freedom fighters championed the fight for black emancipation, every man must be his own hero in the fight for freedom from mental slavery. You have to be your own Martin Luther King, your own Malcolm X and your own Marcus Garvey all rolled into one... In this age of ideas men were and are getting enslaved by them. Communism vs Capitalism, Islam vs Christianity/ Atheism, Feminism vs The rest of the world.. Its all slavery. In life there are only those who want to make a difference and those who dont, All those isms dont matter.
The nuclear holocaust will come when it must, the bible says so.. Flee fear of nuclear war and focus on living with a mind that is free. All who teach this suffer persecution (Was Marley not shot in his own home) they are the prophets that are being killed while we stand aside and look.
It has come to me trough te Ziggy Marley and The Chieftains version. I think it should be an anthem for all the lost people in this lost generation.
It has come to me trough te Ziggy Marley and The Chieftains version. I think it should be an anthem for all the lost people in this lost generation.
My favorite lines from this song are "Emancipate yourself from mental slavery None but ourselves can free our minds" Bob wasn't just a gnarley stoner, he was a prophet.
The lines "Emancipate yourself from mental slavery None but ourselves can free our minds"
The lines "Emancipate yourself from mental slavery None but ourselves can free our minds"
Is a phase used a lot by Marcus Garvey.
Is a phase used a lot by Marcus Garvey.
These lines were taken from a speech given by Marcus Garvey in Nova Scotia during October 1937 and published in his Black Man magazine
These lines were 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 ..."
"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 ..."
hey natty i think it refers to bob's view of religion and man. that despite man's atomic power it is ultimately the higher being that dictates, that man can't cause the end of creation, because its not in his hands.
what the heck are yo talking about jews killing jesus?
you*
This song serves as Bob's farewell to the world while dying of cancer.