"Redemption Song" was the last track on Bob Marley's final album, Uprising. Marley was a pioneer in spreading the reggae music of Jamaica throughout the world; however "Redemption Song" is a simple folk song.

At the time he wrote the song, circa 1979, Marley had already been diagnosed with the cancer that was to later take his life, and according to Rita Marley, he was already, secretly, in a lot of pain, and was dealing with his own mortality, a feature which is clearly apparent on the album, and particularly on this song.

The song, like most of Marley's, took on his Rastafarian religious convictions head on, but also urges people to free themselves from their self-imposed mental shackles.

The song has been covered by a wide and varied group of artists, including Lauryn Hill, U2, Joe Strummer, Johnny Cash, Stevie Wonder and Christy Moore, which in itself bears testament to the huge fan base Marley had, and also the power of the song itself. At the 'Tribute to Heroes' concert, the concert held after the September 11, 2001 attacks, Wyclef Jean sang the song while drapped in an American flag.

The Name

The name Redemption Song has been widely used also, mainly in a black, or African American context. For example, 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.

Sound samples

• Redemption Song.ogg of Bob Marley's original version from Uprising (1980)
• StrummerCashRedemptionSong.ogg of a duet between country legend Johnny Cash and punk rock pioneer Joe Strummer of The Clash
• ArrestedDevelopmentRedempti.ogg of alternative hip hop crew Arrested Development
• U2RedemptionSong.ogg of a live performance by U2
• BenHarperRedemptionSong.ogg of a live performance by rock musician Ben Harper
• TheChieftainsRedemptionSong.ogg of The Chieftains and Ziggy Marley
• StevieWonderRedemptionSong.ogg of soul singer Stevie Wonder
• NoUseforaNameRedemptionSong.ogg of punk rock band No Use for a Name
• DaveMatthewsRedemptionSong.ogg of jam band Dave Matthews Band
• MollyOohChildRedemptionSong.ogg of jazz singer Molly Johnson's cover of both "Redemption Song" and Nina Simone's "Ooh Child"
• IndigoGirlsRedemptionSong.ogg of a live performance by folk-rock duo Indigo Girls
• LaurynHillRedemptionSong.ogg of a live performance by nu soul singer Lauryn Hill
• IanBrownRedemptionSong.ogg of indie rock singer Ian Brown