Redemption Song
Johnny Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴Old pirates, yes, they rob I
Sold I to the merchant ship
Minutes after they took I
From the bottomless pit
But my hand was made strong
By the hand of the Almighty
We forward in this generation triumphantly
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 fullfil the book
So won't you help to sing
These songs of freedom cause all I ever had
Redemption songs redemption songs
Redemption songs
Old pirates, yes, they rob I
Sold I to the merchant ships
Minutes after they took I
From the bottomless pit
How long shall they kill our prophets
While we stand aside and look?
Yes, some say it's just a part of it
We've got to fulfill the book
So 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
Overall Meaning
"Redemption Song" by Johnny Cash is a song filled with powerful lyrics about freedom and redemption. The song begins with the singer stating that pirates have taken him and sold him as a slave to a merchant ship. The singer then mentions that his faith in the Almighty has strengthened him over time, and he urges his generation to continue moving forward triumphantly. The chorus urges listeners to help sing songs of freedom to aid in the singer's redemption.
The song then shifts to the idea of mental slavery and how it can only be emancipated by oneself. The singer urges the listener to have no fear of atomic energy, as time cannot be stopped. In the third verse, the singer raises the question of how long prophets shall be killed while the people simply watch. The song ends with the singer once again urging the listener to help sing songs of freedom as a way to achieve redemption.
The song is full of powerful symbolism, such as the pirates representing the oppressive forces of the world, the singer's faith representing his source of strength, and the idea of fulfilling the book representing the need to fulfill one's destiny. The lyrics are a call to action for listeners to fight for their freedom and the freedom of those around them.
Line by Line Meaning
Old pirates, yes, they rob I
I was a victim of the brutality of old pirates who robbed and took me away against my will.
Sold I to the merchant ship
I was sold to the merchant ship like an item of trade, not treated as a human being.
Minutes after they took I
They didn't waste any time before taking me after robbing me.
From the bottomless pit
I was taken from a place so dark and deep that it seemed bottomless.
But my hand was made strong
The hand of the Almighty gave me strength to endure and overcome my struggles.
By the hand of the Almighty
It was the hand of the Almighty that strengthened me and kept me going.
We forward in this generation triumphantly
We must keep moving forward with triumph and determination to make things better for ourselves and future generations.
Won't you help to sing
I urge you to join me in singing these songs of freedom to inspire others and bring about change.
These songs of freedom cause all I ever had
These songs of freedom are all I've ever possessed and they're worth everything to me.
Redemption songs, redemption songs
These songs of redemption and hope have the power to save us from our struggles and bring us together in harmony.
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery
We must free ourselves from the mental chains that hold us back and limit our potential for growth and success.
None but ourselves can free our minds
We are the only ones who have the power to break free from mental slavery and unlock our full potential.
Have no fear for atomic energy
We must not fear the power of atomic energy because it is no match for the power of the human spirit and will to survive.
Cause none of them can stop the time
No one has the power to stop time or the progress of humanity towards a better future.
How long shall they kill our prophets
Call to question how long the killing of those who inspire and lead us towards a better future will continue.
While we stand aside and look?
Are we going to stand idly by and let these killings continue without taking action?
Some say it's just a part of it
Some justify the killing of prophets as a natural part of the struggle for change.
We've got to fulfill the book
It's our responsibility to bring about the change prophesied in the book and make it a reality.
Redemption songs, redemption songs
These songs of redemption and hope will guide us along the way towards a better future.
Redemption songs
These songs of freedom and hope are our salvation and redemption from the struggles of life.
These songs of freedom cause all I ever had
I am willing to risk everything for the cause of freedom, and these songs are all I have to offer.
Redemption songs, all I ever had
These songs of redemption and hope are all I need to continue fighting for freedom and change.
Redemption songs, these songs of freedom
These songs of redemption and hope are the sound of our freedom and the hope for a better tomorrow.
Songs of freedom
These songs are the anthems of our freedom and our struggles to overcome oppression and injustice.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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