Bob Marley Redemption Song Analysis

. Despite the attack and much deliberation, Marley still played at the show. The motivation behind the attack was never uncovered, and Marley fled the country after the concert. Living in London, England, Marley worked on Exodus, which was released in 1977. The title track draws an analogy between the biblical story of Moses and the Israelites leaving exile and his own situation. The song discusses returning to Africa. The concept of Africans and descendents of Africans repatriating their homeland can be linked to the work of Marcus Garvey. Released as a single, “Exodus” was a hit in Britain, as were “Waiting in Vain” and “Jamming,” and the entire album stayed on the U.K. charts for more than a year. Today, Exodus is considered to be one of the best albums ever made. Marley had a health scare in 1977. He sought treatment on a toe he had injured earlier
One line from the song reads: “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; none but ourselves can free our minds.” On tour to support the album, Bob Marley and The Wailers traveled throughout Europe, playing in front of large crowds. The group also planned a series of concerts in the United States, but the group could play only two concerts at Madison Square Garden in New York City, before Marley became ill. The cancer discovered earlier in his toe had spread throughout his body. Traveling to Europe, Bob Marley underwent unconventional treatment in Germany, and was subsequently able to fight off the cancer for months. It soon became clear that Marley didn’t have much longer to live, however, so the musician set out to return to his beloved Jamaica one last time. Sadly, he could not manage to complete the journey, dying in Miami, Florida, on May 11,