| "Redemption Song" | |
|---|---|
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| Single by Bob Marley & the Wailers | |
| from the album Uprising | |
| B-side | One Drop |
| Released | 1980 |
| Genre | Reggae, folk rock, folk |
| Length | 3:49 |
| Label | Island Records/Tuff Gong |
| Writer(s) | Bob Marley |
| Producer | Bob Marley |
"Redemption Song" is the last track on Bob Marley and the Wailers' ninth Island music album, Uprising. The song is considered Marley's seminal work, with lyrics derived from a speech given by the Pan-Africanist orator Marcus Garvey.
Contents |
Recording
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".[1]
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 is used. A full band rendition of "Redemption Song" was made available as a bonus track on the 2001 reissue of Uprising, as well as being featured 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.
Meaning and social impact
The song urges listeners to "Emancipate yourself from mental slavery," because "None but ourselves can free our minds". These lines were taken from a speech given by Marcus Garvey in Nova Scotia during October 1937 and published in his Black Man magazine:[2]
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 ...[3]
Cover versions
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- Joe Strummer, formerly of The Clash recorded a version on his last album Streetcore not long before his death. The track featured Rick Rubin on melodica and piano.
- Manfred Mann's Earth Band covered the song on their 1983 album Somewhere in Afrika.
- Punk rock band No Use For A Name recorded a cover for their 1995 album Leche Con Carne.
- A rare cover recorded by Stevie Wonder was included on his 1996 compilation Stevie Wonder - Song Review: Greatest Hits.
- Irish folk music band The Chieftains recorded a cover with Bob Marley's son, Ziggy Marley, on their 2002 album The Wide World Over: A 40 Year Celebration.
- A cover by Canadian artist Chantal Kreviazuk was included on the 2003 compilation Peace Songs.
- Ethiopian-American Neo-Soul artist Wayna recorded a version for her 2004 album 2004
- Serbian bands Bajaga and Baby Doll made a joint cover "Pesma slobode" (the Song of Freedom) in 2005
- In 2009, Angelique Kidjo released a version of the song on the compilation album Oh Happy Day: An All-Star Music Celebration. [4]
- Amazonics performs an 'electro-bossa' cover and it is included in the album Bossa N' Marley.
Live cover performanes
The song has been covered live by a wide and varied group of artists including:
- R&B artist Lauryn Hill, with accompaniment from Bob Marley's own son, Ziggy
- Irish singer and frequent Marley coverer Sinéad O'Connor
- British girl group Eternal on their second album Power of a Woman
- Jackson Browne in 1995; the recording was later included on the 1996 compilation The Concert for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
- Johnny Cash (with Joe Strummer of The Clash)
- John Legend
- Chris Cornell, during a Swedish concert in 2007
- Wyclef Jean, at a 9/11 tribute concert.
- P!nk,on certain dates during her Funhouse Tour
- Dave Matthews, during Dave Matthews Band shows in 1992 and 1993 would perform the song solo.[5]
Appearances in other media
Redemption Song is played during a brief scene in the 2000 film The Beach, and over the closing credits of the 2007 movie I Am Legend.
References
The title Redemption Song has been widely used also, mainly in a black, or African American context. For example, the Ska group Toots & the Maytals recorded a song with the same title. Mike Marqusee's book on Muhammad Ali was called Redemption Song, as was Bertice Berry's book about a book dealer who specialises in African American literature. A biography of Joe Strummer is also called "Redemption Song", as is a book about Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign by Niall Stanage.
References
- ^ [1]
- ^ rasta-man-vibration.com, "Bob Marley and Marcus Garvey"
- ^ Black Man magazine, Vol. 3, no. 10 (July 1938), pp. 7-11; quoted in The Marcus Garvey and Universal Negro Improvement Association Papers, Vol. VII: November 1927-August 1940; Marcus Garvey, author; Robert A. Hill and Barbara Bair, eds.
- ^ "Jon Bon Jovi, Queen Latifah go gospel for "Day"". Reuters. March 27, 2009. http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE52Q6WQ20090327.
- ^ http://www.dmbalmanac.com/SongStats.aspx?sid=112
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