Which Bob Marley song opens with the lyric “Old pirates, yes, they rob I”?

“Redemption Song” opens with the lyric “Old pirates, yes, they rob I.” Bob Marley wrote and recorded the song for his 1980 album Uprising.

Unlike many of Marley’s recordings with a full backing band, the album version is primarily a solo performance featuring his voice and acoustic guitar. Its lyrics move from historical enslavement toward mental freedom, drawing on themes associated with Marcus Garvey’s ideas.

The song became one of Marley’s most widely recognized compositions and has been covered by artists including Joe Strummer, Johnny Cash, and Rihanna. Its stripped-down arrangement helped listeners focus on the words rather than a reggae rhythm section.

“Redemption Song” is sometimes mistaken for “Get Up, Stand Up” because both are associated with resistance and liberation. They are separate songs, recorded for different albums and built around different musical approaches.