Meaning of lyrics to Redemption Song - Bob Marley

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wubb

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So I was listening to Redemption Song for about the hundredth time over the weekend and every time I hear it, I always wonder what is the meaning behind the lyric:

"Have no fear for atomic energy
Cause none of them can stop the time"

I actually wondered if I was maybe hearing it wrong, but that does appear to be the correct line.
 
"At the time he wrote the song, circa 1979, Marley had already been diagnosed with the cancer that was to later take his life, and according to Rita Marley, he was already, secretly, in a lot of pain, and was dealing with his own mortality, a feature which is clearly apparent on the album, and particularly on this song."~Wikipedia

I was actually wondering the same thing because I love that song but never knew what those parts were about. Maybe it's about his treatment or something?
 
Chemo = atomic energy sort of. Could be.

I was also thinking that maybe he was saying don't worry about nuclear reactors or nukes blowing up the world because nothing will happen that will prevent 'fulfilling the book'.
 
i always figured the song was a call for people to drop generations old fueds and wars and to peacfully coexist. i assumed he wrote it about the trenchtown struggles or the threat of major wars during the cold war.

on a related note, i love the joe strummer and the mescaleros cover of this song, and there was a great video made just after he passed away.

EDIT: link to joe strummer video http://youtube.com/watch?v=TRwmZ2bp_B0&search=redemption song
there's a little talking intro strummer gives that might give some insight, at least to his thoughts on the song.
 
[quote name='wubb']Chemo = atomic energy sort of. Could be.[/QUOTE]
if the song is about cancer, i'd think it would refer to radiation therapy, as chemo is chemical therapy.
[quote name='camoor']The US military was always dropping huge-ass bombs on the territories down there (like Guam).

So to answer your question: I don't know.[/QUOTE]
not to nitpick about geographical details, but guam is in the south pacific, jamaica is in the tropical atlantic. from what i can tell no atomic tests were conducted in that region, but marley seems like the sort of guy that cared about the world in general, not just his island.
 
Have no fear for atomic energy,
'Cause none of them can stop the time.

i think hes saying not to worry because even if the worst happens, it'll pass, and that with time you'll be fine again.
 
"Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds"

Love that lyric!
 
Likely he had received targeted radiation in an attempt to slow the tumor's growth. Actually killing the tumor wasn't a hope back then, before the gamma knife and other innovations.

So treatment could delay the inevitable but not stop it. His time was coming.

Reminds me of the older cousin who had a fatal brain tumor in 2006. By the time it was diagnosed he was so far gone mentally there was nothing to be gained from trying to stretch things out. It was like his reset switch was being hit every ten minutes, leading to a repeat of the same conversation over and over.

Like Marley, he was a lifelong toker. A friend of his had already seen three other friends of the same generation all go down the same way.
 
I think this actually refers to Rastafarian Eschatology (end of the world) theories.....

Basically, Marcus Garvey said that when 'a time go dread' or 'time a go dread'....then everyone should head to the hills and go back to their roots. This is the time when Babylon (in the Rastafarian sense) would kill itself.....an atomic/nuclear cataclysm. Slightly similar to what Protestant Christian churches refer to as the 'tribulation' (and about as Scriptural). You see this referred to in a lot of Reggae songs, especially from musicians most entwined with Rasta theology:

http://www.lyricsdir.com/the-mighty-diamonds-i-need-a-roof-lyrics.html

So, Marley's saying there is no use opposing Nuclear weapons or power(s?).....cause we know it will end the same regardless ('we've got to fulfill the book'). God, who they generally call by name (Jah - shortened form of Jehovah or I & I) has said these things will happen, and nothing is going to prevent/stop it.
 
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