Favorite Song of the Day: Redemption Song

On May 11, 1981 Raggae great Bob Marley's body succumbed to cancer. Twenty-six years later, his spirit still endures through his music.

Redemption Song (Uprising - 1979) is one of his most spiritual efforts, and it's always been one of my favorite Marley tunes. The powerful vocal yearns for freedom, and the overcoming of limitations physical, mental and spiritual. Listening to it is the best way I can commemorate Bob Marley's exceptional but too short life.

Redemption Song by Bob Marley

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
Some say it's just a part of it
We've got to fulfil 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
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
Yes, 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 all I ever had
Redemption songs
All I ever had
Redemption songs
These songs of freedom
Songs of freedom