"Redemption Son" by Bob Marley

Words by Bob Marley

Redemption Song

Old pirates yes they rob I
Sold I to the merchant ships
Minutes after they took I from the
Bottom less pit
But my hand was made strong
By the hand of the almighty
We forward in this generation triumphantly
All I ever had is songs of freedom
Won't you help to sing these songs of freedom
Cause all I ever had 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 shall they kill our prophets
While we stand aside and look
Some say it's just a part of it
We've got to fulfill the book

Won't you help to sing, these songs of freedom
Cause all I ever had, redemption songs, 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 shall they kill our prophets
While we stand aside and look
Yes some say it's just part of it
We've got to fulfill the book

Won't you help to sing, these songs of freedom
Cause all I ever had, redemption songs
All I ever had, redemption songs
These songs of freedom, songs of freedom

- - - - - -

This song by Bob Marley is perhaps not an example of the typical kind of raggea. However, it is still a very engaging and interesting piece of music.
In this case I want you to work in pairs and interpret the song from at least two different points-of-view.
Start by giving a kind of historical interpretation of the song, it's great if you link it to the intercurricular activities you are a part of when working with the 'Slave Route Project".
Discuss the text with your partners in Trinidad and, if possible the participants from Ghana. Perhaps they have other ideas, impressions and associations.

Secondly, you are expected to present some thoughts about a more general interpretation. Might it be that the text describes conditions that are relevant to you and me ? Discuss!
Your third task will simply be to find and explain grammatical discrepancies in the text.

Schedule:
1 lesson at school + Internet-activity with your partners abroad + Part of (or an entire) lesson of discussion.
Make decent notes!
Good Luck!

JKM

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