Redemption Song

Words & Music:

Bob Marley

 

This is transcribed in the November 2007 issue of Acoustic Guitar.

 

INTRO:

E|------------|-------------|-------------|------------|

B|------------|-------------|-------------|------------|

G|------------|-------------|-------------|------------|

D|------------|------2-0----|--------0----|------------|

A|-----0-2----|--2/3-----2--|----0-2---2--|-2/3-2-0----|

E|--3------3--|-------------|--3----------|---------3--|

 

G                     Em      C             CM9/B    Am

Oh, pirates, yes they rob I.  Sold I to the merchant ships.

G                  Em     C        CM9/B      Am

Minutes after they took I from the bottomless pit.

G               Em          C      CM9/B         Am

But my hand was made strong by the hand of the almighty.

   G               Em         C         D

We forward in this generation triumphantly.

 

CHORUS:

D                 G     C     D        G

Won't you help to sing, these songs of freedom?

G      C     D       Em   C  D       G      C  D       G

'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 will they kill our prophets while we stand around and look?

Some say it's just a part of it; we've got to fulfill the book.

 

CHORUS:

 

BRIDGE:  Em  C D  [4x]

 

SECOND VERSE & CHORUS REPRISE:

 

C     D    Em   C   D      Em

All I ever had, redemption songs.

C     D         G    C  D         G   C   CM9/B  Am  D7

These songs of freedom, songs of freedom...