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[miko2]

Today's Song: Redemption Song by Bob Marley

Although I doubt this song was in any way written as a response to Barry McGuire's The Eve of Destruction, for some reason the melody for this song is what caused the Barry McGuire song to get stuck in my head -- and listening to some of the words, I think this song sort of does work as a response to Barry's song. This is a song about hope in spite of the troubles of the world. It's one of Bob Marley's best songs and has been covered many, many times, among others by: Stevie Wonder, Lauryn Hill, Rhianna, Alicia Keys, Arrested Development, U2, Joe Strummer and Johnny Cash (together and each seperately), Sinead O'Connor, Dave Matthews Band, Majek Fashek, Bob Geldorf, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Chris Cornell, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, Jackson Brown, and Annie Lennox. (Woo! What wouold I do without Wikipedia? ^_^ ).

The song quotes Marcus Garvey. "Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery," because "None but ourselves can free our minds". Marcus Garvey was a Pan-Africanist and Black nationalist from the first half of the Twentieth century, and his teachings about all Blacks throughout the world being a part of Africa and about Africa needing to unite and stand up for itself were big influences on the Rastafari faith from the very beginning. He is a Jamaican National Hero and the Rastafari consider him a prophet -- the modern day equivelent of John the Baptist, just as Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia, is considered the messiah, the reincarnated Jesus Christ. (Most Rastafari do not believe that Emperor Selassie is dead). But where Marcus Garvey was talking only about Black people freeing themselves from White oppression, Marley's song takes on a much more universal and spiritual quality, which turns it into a timeless anthem.

At the time he wrote this, Bob Marley was already dying of cancer and in great pain. He was facing his own mortality, which comes through in the song.

I've had this song stuck in my head for a couple of days too, partly because I've been listening to reggae lately and partly because I downloaded the cover of this song by Joe Strummer, formerly of The Clash. He did a duet of this song with Johnny Cash too, which I think I need to download as well.

Bob Marley -- Redemption Song (live)
Bob Marley -- Redemption Song (another accustic live version)

Covers:

Ziggy Marley & The Chieftans -- Redemption Song
Chris Cornell -- Redemption Song
Bono, Bob Geldorf, Youssou N'Dour -- Redemption Song
Annie Lennox -- Redemption Song
Lauryn Hill and Ziggy Marley -- Redemption Song
Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros -- Redemption Song