Black History Month - I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free - The Power of Jazz
The song "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free" was written by Billy Taylor in 1954 and became one of the most popular songs of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and '60s. Nina Simone covered the song on her 1967 album 'Silk and Soul' and is probably the best known version though this tune has been covered and recorded by over twenty major artists. The tune is also well known as the theme music for BBC1's Film program and also used over the opening and closing credits for the film Ghosts of Mississippi.
There are two videos above, the first of Billy Taylor performing the tune and the second a performance of Nina Simone performing it in 1976.
I wish I knew how it would feel to be free
I wish I could break all the chains holding me
I wish I could say all the things that I should say
say 'em loud, say 'em clear
for the whole round world to hear.
I wish I could share all the love that's in my heart
remove all the bars that keep us apart
I wish you could know what it means to be me
Then you'd see and agree
that every man should be free.
I wish I could give all I'm longing to give
I wish I could live like I'm longing to live
I wish that I could do all the things that I can do
though I'm way overdue I'd be starting anew.
Well I wish I could be like a bird in the sky
how sweet it would be if I found I could fly
Oh I'd soar to the sun and look down at the sea
and I'd sing cos I'd know that
and I'd sing cos I'd know that
and I'd sing cos I'd know that
I'd know how it feels to be free
I'd know how it feels to be free
I'd know how it feels to be free
