Redemption Song | Chords + Lyrics
Intro
||: Guitar melody :|| x8
Verse 1
||: G | Em | C G/B | Am :||
Old pirates yes they rob I, sold I to the merchant ships.
Minutes after they took I, from the bottomless pit.
But my hand was made strong, by the hand of the almighty.
| G | Em | C | D |
We forward in this generation, triumphantly.
Chorus 1
| D | G5 | C D5 | G5 |
Won’t you help to sing, these songs of freedom.
| C D5 | Em | C D5 | G5 | C D5 | G5 | C D |
‘Cause all I ever have, redemption songs, redemption songs.
Verse 2
| G5 | Em | C G/B | Am |
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds.
| G | Em | C G/B | D |
Have no fear for atomic energy, ’cause none of them can stop the time.
| G5 | Em | C G/B | Am |
How long shall they kill our prophets, while we stand aside and look?
| G | Em | C G/B | D |
Ooh, some say it’s just a part of it, we’ve got to fulfill the book.
Chorus 2
| D | G5 | C D5 | G5 |
Won’t you help to sing, these songs of freedom.
| C D5 | Em | C D5 | G5 | C D5 | G5 | C D | G | C D |
‘Cause all I ever have, redemption songs, redemption songs, redemption songs.
Guitar break
||: Em | C D5 :|| x4
Verse 3 (same chords as verse 2)
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?
Ooh, some say it’s just a part of it, we’ve got to fulfill the book.
Chorus 3
| D | G5 | C D5 | G |
Won’t you help to sing, these songs of freedom.
| C D | Em | C D | G5 |
‘Cause all I ever had, redemption songs.
| C D5 | Em | C D5 | Em |
All I ever had, redemption songs.
| C D5 | G | C D | G | C G/B | Am | Am | Am6 | Am6 |
These songs of freedom, songs of freedom.
Redemption Song Chords: Breaking Down the Progressions
Perhaps the ultimate campfire song, Redemption Song stands alongside timeless acoustic guitar classics like Wish You Were Here and Blowin’ in the Wind.
Using only open-position chords in the key of G, it’s one of the best songs for a beginner to learn.
The first verse follows this simple progression:
||: G (I) | Em (VI) | C (IV) G/B (I/3) | Am (II) :|| x3
| G (I) | Em (VI) | C (IV) | D (V) |
This sequence of Roman numerals is quite common, but if every verse repeated exactly the same way, Redemption Song might not have had the same impact.
The next two verses introduce a subtle variation:
||: G (I) | Em (VI) | C (IV) G/B (I/3) | Am (II) |
| G (I) | Em (VI) | C (IV) G/B (I/3) | D (V) :||
The chorus also changes, with the first one playing like this:
| D (V) | G5 (I) | C (IV) D5 (V) | G5 (I) |
| C (IV) D5 (V) | Em (VI) | C (IV) D5 (V) |
| G5 (I) | C (IV) D5 (V) | G5 (I) | C (IV) D (V) |
Later choruses introduce further variations, and the best way to understand them is by looking at the arrangement with chords and lyrics. Since the chords follow the lyrics closely, knowing the words makes it easier to follow the changes.
During the guitar break, the song moves between VI – IV – V, or Em – C – D.
Despite its simple chords, the structure of Redemption Song can make a chord chart look more complex than expected. My solution is to break it into two pages, leaving space between each section for clarity, like this:
Redemption Song Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro
As you can see above, I’ve included all sections while leaving space between them for readability. This made the chart two pages long, which I felt was the best compromise.
If you’d like to download the chart, here’s a PDF: Redemption Song chord chart PDF.
This chart was created using iReal Pro. Here are the links to the files:
- Page 1: Redemption Song chord chart (page 1) iReal Pro
- Page 2: Redemption Song chord chart (page 2) iReal Pro
One of the few drawbacks of the iReal Pro format is that the arrangement can’t be saved as a single file. However, a major advantage is that you can change the key and adjust the arrangement to suit your needs.
In the course, we dive deep into Redemption Song, working through TAB and play-along loops. Below is a preview of what to expect.
Redemption Song TAB | Course Preview
In the video, you’ll see me play Redemption Song with a singer, including the famous intro and all the chords. There are also two additional videos in the playlist at the top of the page featuring second guitar parts.
In the course, we break down every section of Redemption Song using play-along loops for both the main guitar and second guitar parts. With TAB loops, you can follow along by reading the TAB and playing in sync with the track.
After learning the iconic intro, we move on to strumming the verse in the Beginner Acoustic Course. At this stage, I take a more open approach—providing just the chords and rhythms without TAB, encouraging a more natural feel.
Here’s the intro TAB as an image—notice the level of detail in what seems like a simple part!
Next in the lesson series, we cover the chorus, variations in later verses, the middle eight, and the outro. Each section stays within the key, making it a fully diatonic progression.
By step 3, you’re ready to play the song with a singer. From there, we introduce a second guitar part, played with picked notes instead of strumming, and even a third version using a capo. You can check out these second guitar parts now in the playlist at the top of the page.
The course provides practice loops and in-depth video lessons covering every chord and strumming detail in Redemption Song.
Learning the second guitar parts allows you, me, and the singer to play Redemption Song together as an acoustic trio—an excellent way to experience playing with others.
Here’s a link to the 8 step-by-step guitar lessons: Redemption Song – Guitar Lessons with TAB.
When Bob wrote Redemption Song he knew he was dying!
Released on the Uprising album, the original and most famous recording features just one acoustic guitar. However, other versions exist—both live and studio, with and without a full band. When Uprising was re-released in 2001, the band version was included alongside the original acoustic take.
By 1979, Marley was already aware of his cancer and facing his own mortality. How much this influenced the song’s meaning is difficult to say, but there is often a deep connection between timeless songs and profound loss.
The lyrics draw from a speech by Marcus Mosiah Garvey Jr., a journalist, black nationalist, and key figure in the Rastafarian movement. Both Garvey and Marley were deeply invested in fighting against slavery, colonialism, and racism.
With centuries of oppression behind it, Pan-Africanism remains a powerful force, and Redemption Song captures its spirit like no other.
Rolling Stone magazine ranked Redemption Song #66 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Redemption Song Chords: Continue Learning
When learning how to play Redemption Song by Bob Marley, we first break down the individual parts using play-along loops, including a note-for-note guide to the intro.
Once you’ve mastered the full song, we develop a second and even a third part, allowing you to play Redemption Song with others.
Start learning with the full lesson series: Redemption Song – Guitar Lessons with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy: