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About This Track
“Redemption Song” is a song by Bob Marley. It is the final track on Bob Marley & the Wailers’ ninth album, Uprising, produced by Chris Blackwell and released by Island Records. The song is considered one of Marley’s seminal works, with some key lyrics derived from a speech given by the Pan-Africanist orator Marcus Garvey.
At the time he wrote the song, circa 1979, Bob Marley had been diagnosed with the cancer that later was to take his life. According to Rita Marley, “he was already secretly in a lot of pain and dealt with his own mortality, a feature that is clearly apparent in the album, particularly in this song”.
Unlike most of Bob Marley’s tracks, it is strictly a solo acoustic recording, consisting of Marley singing and playing an acoustic guitar, without accompaniment. In subsequent live performances, however, a full band was used. A full band rendition of “Redemption Song” was made available as a bonus track on the 2001 reissue of Uprising, as well as featuring on the 2001 compilation One Love: The Very Best of Bob Marley & the Wailers. However, the solo performance remains the take most familiar to listeners.
In 2004, Rolling Stone placed the song at #66 among The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 2010, the New Statesman listed it as one of the Top 20 Political Songs.
Personnel
Bob Marley – vocals, acoustic guitar, production
With Bob accompanying himself on Guitar, “Redemption Song” was unlike anything he had ever recorded: an acoustic ballad, without any hint of reggae rhythm. In message and sound it recalled Bob Dylan.
At the time he wrote the song, circa 1979, Bob Marley had been diagnosed with the cancer that later was to take his life. According to Rita Marley, “he was already secretly in a lot of pain and dealt with his own mortality, a feature that is clearly apparent in the album, particularly in this song”.
Unlike most of Bob Marley’s tracks, it is strictly a solo acoustic recording, consisting of Marley singing and playing an acoustic guitar, without accompaniment. In subsequent live performances, however, a full band was used. A full band rendition of “Redemption Song” was made available as a bonus track on the 2001 reissue of Uprising, as well as featuring on the 2001 compilation One Love: The Very Best of Bob Marley & the Wailers. However, the solo performance remains the take most familiar to listeners.
In 2004, Rolling Stone placed the song at #66 among The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 2010, the New Statesman listed it as one of the Top 20 Political Songs.
Personnel
Bob Marley – vocals, acoustic guitar, production
With Bob accompanying himself on Guitar, “Redemption Song” was unlike anything he had ever recorded: an acoustic ballad, without any hint of reggae rhythm. In message and sound it recalled Bob Dylan.
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Albums featuring this track
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Legend
Bob Marley & The Wailers
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Uprising
Bob Marley & The Wailers Buy- Download Album
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- 7digital $9.99
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- Amazon $28.15
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Bob Marley
Bob Marley Buy- Download Album
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Gold
Bob Marley & The Wailers Buy- Download Album
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Shouts
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MathianSim wrote:
Only Bob Marley is Reggae enough to take (essentially) a folk song & turn it into a Reggae song with just his voice
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ManhausBarber wrote:
Emancipate yourself from mental slavery............
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sankofa24 wrote:
my favorite song! Real talk!
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lzcool wrote:
De arrepiar. Uma de minhas favoritas do mestre.
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beelzebub_7 wrote:
"Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery.None but ourselves can free our mind. "
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antgibbs wrote:
Teacher Bob once again breaking it down for the rest of us. Love ya Bob.
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fuzbox wrote:
amazing song. watch the youtube video performed prior to his death. beautiful.
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CaitlinHall wrote:
beautiful.
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teflon_hearted wrote:
amazing
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pablo323 wrote:
:(
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lancer8922 wrote:
always gets my bones shakin
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FKNA1 wrote:
The voice of many unheard
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zapatosgrandes wrote:
gracias padre
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Jahshbradio wrote:
#1 original
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linzi76 wrote:
Love BoB XXXX
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blreed wrote:
Inspirational as well as humbling. a message from a true prophet
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DZRTsurfer88 wrote:
allegedly, this tune was last one Bob Marley sang to himself before he passed. amaZing
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desertkraut wrote:
JUST GREAT!!!!!
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BadassDuke wrote:
smooth voice!
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runting wrote:
word
Track Stats
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292,734 Listeners
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