Redemption Song - Bob Marley

What lyrics stand out to you?

What is the value of music with historical/political/social messages?

What other events or experiences does this song make you think of?

The lyrics that stand out to me are:

"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."

It's deep and many people can relate.

Music allows you to share your message with the entire world. Whether they're historical, political, or social messages, you will be heard. If it's listening to music to relate to someone's experiences or even just to dance, someone will hear it.

Not this song in general, but the lyrics that stood out to me, remind me of what my sister has struggled with. She has gone through a lot of problems emotionally and it is so true that "none but ourselves can free our minds."

If you could ask the artist a question about the lyrics, what would you ask and why?

What does the mood of the song tell you about how the artist wants the listeners to think about slavery?

Redemption Song - Bob Marley

If i could ask Bob Marley a question about the lyrics, I would ask him what his thoughts were while he was writing them. Songs create messages that are decoded differently for every person. I know what i think the song means, I would like to learn another opinion. Who better than the one who wrote the lyrics.

The mood of the song tells us that the artist, Bob Marley, wants the listeners to think of slavery as immoral and wrong. The mood of this song comes off as serious. He is singing about slavery which is also serious.

What is the message the artist is trying to convey in this song?

Why is the message of this song still valid today?

Who do you think is the intended audience for this song?

The message of this song is still valid today because it can be related to so many other things than slavery.

I believe the message that convey through this song is that slavery is not only a physical but a mental pain as well. Mental pain can be so much more of a struggle than physical pain.

I think the intended audience for this song are African Americans because they can relate. But I also think that this song is for anyone that is willing to listen. That's what music is for people; something to relate to, dance to, sing to, and share with.

For example, I'm a gymnast. The constant impact of our joints, hard falls, and torturous conditioning is nothing compared to the mental blocks we can get. I'd rather break a bone during practice then attaining a mental block that can set me back for weeks.