Listening description of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song”

November 11, 2009 jerryorbachfan

Good evening everyone!!

On a side note, I would like to share one of my favorite songs by the Police. Another one of my favorites is called “King of Pain”. It is heavily influenced by reggae. The guitar riffs are reggae based. Enjoy!

For this blog post, I will be speaking about Bob Marley’s classic “Redemption Song”. This version is entirely acoustic! It’s just the Bob singing by himself playing the acoustic six string guitar. “Redemption Song” is an extremely powerful song. It is a social and political advocacy song. For example, he sings:
“Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;
None but ourselves can free our mind.
Wo! Have no fear for atomic energy,
‘Cause none of them-a can-a stop-a 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 fulfil de book.
Won’t you help to sing
Dese songs of freedom? -
‘Cause all I ever had:
Redemption songs -
All I ever had:
Redemption songs:
These songs of freedom,
Songs of freedom”

Wow!
This song reminds me of the power of John Lennon’s “Imagine”.

Bob Marley is speaking to his listeners! He is asking them to be a part of his songs of freedom. He wanted to engage people.
He talks a man about being taken away and put in slave trade.
“Old Pirates oh yes, the rob I
Sold I to the merchant ships”
the words are so powerful…the social commentary is present in the lyrics!

Bob Marley was a master poet along with John Lennon.
The song starts off with a slow and consistent melody. Then the guitar riffs start with Bob’s vocal. This song is in verse chorus form. His voice is so clear and he holds the notes so masterfully!

Then around 1.30 there is a short guitar solo. It’s amazing! I noticed that he does not use a pick on the acoustic guitar. The acoustic guitar goes together well with his vocals. After the guitar solo in the middle, he sings the last verse and then repeats “Redemption Song” phrase a few times. The song ends with another short acoustic solo. I noticed that he jives and grooves with the music as he plays the guitar. The song is consonant. This song is will always represent Bob Marley’s legendary career.

The sounds of the acoustic guitar relate to the power of the song. It’s so magical…just Bob sitting there in the studio with the Wailers…strumming on his acoustic. It relates to the storytelling of the song. The music is so powerful yet soft…letting the lyrics carry the song. The performance is astounding!
Rock on Bob!

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