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.
 We forward in this generation
 Triumphantly.
 Won't you help to sing
 These songs of freedom?
 'Cause all I ever have:
 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? Ooh!
 Some say it's just a part of it:
 We've got to fulfill the Book.

 Won't you help to sing
 These songs of freedom?
 'Cause all I ever have:
 Redemption songs,
 Redemption songs,
 Redemption songs.
 ---
 /Guitar break/
 ---
 Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;
 None but ourselves can free our mind.
 Wo! Have no fear for atomic energy,
 'Cause none of them-a can-a stop-a the time.
 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.
 Won't you have 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.