Discover the story of the song > Redemption Song – Bob Marley and the Wailers

Redemption Song is a song written by Bob Marley and performed by Bob Marley And The Wailers. The song was written in 1980, when Marley was seriously ill with cancer, and was released posthumously in 1981.

The song is a cover of an old religious hymn called "35 Miles from Redemption", which spoke of the need to find redemption before dying. In Marley's song, this idea is taken and expanded to include all human beings. Marley was inspired by his own journey to write the song, and he stated that it was a "very personal" song.
Redemption Song has been very well received by critics and is considered one of Marley's most important songs. The song was ranked #3 on Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and has been described as "one of the most beautiful songs ever written."