The most profound song in Bob Marley's catlogue

Bob Marley and the Wailers : Redemption Song

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In November of 1980 Bob Marley released "Redemption Song", perhaps the most profound song in the entire Marley catalogue. It's inspired by a speech Black nationalist Marcus Garvey made entitled "The Work That Has Been Done", directly quoting some of the speech "We are going to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery because whilst others might free the body, none but ourselves can free the mind."

 Neville Garrick, who created the artwork on many Bob Marley and the Wailers albums, including 1980's Uprising,  told Bob Marley: The Untold Story  biographer Chris Salewicz

 "One of the most celebrated things Marcus Garvey ever said was 'Uplift ye mighty race: you can accomplish what you will. To me, 'Redemption Song' is an update of that: it really lives with you ; you have to make the move; you have to free your mind first, before you can attain anything.

 

The single emerged as rumors of Marley's health made headlines. There was speculation that Marley had cancer but Marley's people said it was just exhaustion. Marley himself recorded a personal message sent out by Island Records to radio stations. In the message he said

 "You think anything can raas kill me? I understand that writers and people in the press are very interested and concerned about my health. I want to say thank you for your interest and I'll be alright and I'll be back on the road again in 1981 -really , performing for the fans we love. Beautiful, y'know it's Bob talking to ya, have no doubt. Seen? Good".

Marley died in May of 1981.

Uprising: the last studio album Bob Marley would release in his lifetime

Bob Marley and the Wailers : Could You Be Loved

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On June 10, 1980 Bob Marley and the Wailers released Uprising, an album that bounced back and forth between  the joy of living and loving and the gloom of pessimism and dread. Sometimes the songs answer each other. "Real Situation" suggests "total destruction" in the only solution. But that's immediately followed by "Forever Loving Jah", where Marley sings of a  faith that "will cast away the fears forever".

The single "Could You Be Loved" is one of Marley's biggest hits. 

When Marley handed Uprising in, label exec Chris Blackwell felt something was missing. The next day Marley played him "Redemption Song", an acoustic number that encapsulates Marley's philosophy. Rolling Stone critic Chris Morris took note in his review:

Bob Marley leaves us with a stark testament: “Redemption Song,” which he sings solo, accompanied only by his acoustic guitar. As the artist performs this folk ballad (with its aching cry of “Won’t you help to sing, these songs of freedom/’Cause all I ever had, redemption songs,” so reminiscent of the young Bob Dylan), one feels a man reaching out and grappling with the dreadful possibilities of liberation and disaster. Such a tour de force, like much of Uprising, is as moving as it is deeply troubling.

From Robert Christgau a grade of A -. It's not clear whether this review occurred before or after Marley collapsed on a jog through Central Park in September and learned his cancer had spread to his brain. Marley had been given three weeks to live but the grim news was not made public.

Except for "Jamming," a title that sums up the period perfectly, nothing since his solo-with-band debut Natty Dread has had the instant-classic immediacy of two very different offerings here: the dancy pop shot "Could You Be Loved" and the spirit anthem "Redemption Song." "Real Situation" ("It seems like total destruction/ The only solution") and "We and Dem" (need dey say more?) are apocalyptic enough to scare the bejezus out of Babylonian well-wishers, "Coming in From the Cold" and "Forever Loving Jah" mellow enough to hold out hope. Pray for him. Pray for all of us.