# Redemption Song **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 26, 2002, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redemption-song/134044 "2002-10-26T23:53:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2002, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redemption-song/134044/1 "2002-10-26T23:53:37Z")
In the lyrics of one of my favorite songs, Bob Marley’s [_Redemption Song_](http://www.bobmarley.com/songs/songs.cgi?redemption), we hear the line: _Have no fear for atomic energy Cause none of them can stop the time_ Was accidently stopping time, due to meddling with atomic forces we didn’t understand, ever a widespread fear? Propaganda? By whom? Why? Or was it simply a more figurative allusion, without historical significance, to something along the lines of Rita’s quote (from the same link, above) that “There was a feeling of a whole era coming to a climax. Everyone felt that he knew something was going to happen”? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2002, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redemption-song/134044/2 "2002-10-27T00:00:57Z")
I vote B. ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2002, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redemption-song/134044/3 "2002-10-27T00:17:29Z")
Yeah, I vote B too, but I’d still like to know if there is _any_ historical significance or if it’s purely figurative. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2002, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redemption-song/134044/4 "2002-10-27T08:08:14Z")
Well, I’d vote B as well. But, although I like Bob Marley’s music, he experienced lyrical difficulties at times. The original release of _Redemption Song_ had the line “_Emancipate yourself from anti-slavery_” which I doubt truly expressed Mr. Marley’s sentiments on the subject. So, who knows? ---
**Author:** ![Swinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Swinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swinger)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2002, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redemption-song/134044/5 "2002-10-27T19:15:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ringo \* > **The original release of _Redemption Song_ had the line “_Emancipate yourself from anti-slavery_” which I doubt truly expressed Mr. Marley’s sentiments on the subject.** I know next to nothing about Bob Marley, but I always thought that line was “emancipate yourself from mental slavery”. ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2002, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redemption-song/134044/6 "2002-10-27T20:28:40Z")
_Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery None but ourselves can free our minds_ This makes perfect sense. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2002, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redemption-song/134044/7 "2002-10-27T20:33:25Z")
The lyric was changed after the original release - undoubtably more than a few people brought it to the producers’ attention. ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2002, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redemption-song/134044/8 "2002-10-27T21:12:31Z")
cite? ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2002, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redemption-song/134044/9 "2002-10-27T23:21:17Z")
Most of Bob Marley’s songs clearly reflect his strong religious views. I always thought that Redemption song showed how the actions of man don’t change God’s plan. Hence the title and the fact nuclear weapons (egotism of man etc) don’t matter in the bigger scheme of things. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2002, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redemption-song/134044/10 "2002-10-28T06:06:23Z")
What Dr. paprika said. It’s an illusion to the “time” when… i.e. the end time, the coming of Jesus ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2002, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redemption-song/134044/11 "2002-10-29T08:12:47Z")
Thanks **Diogenes** and **Dr\_Paprika**. I hadn’t considered that “the time” could refer to the second coming.