I Shall Be Released
Bernardo Lanzetti Lyrics


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They say everything can be replaced
Yet every distance is not near
So I remember every face
Of every man who put me here

I see my light come shinin'
From the west unto the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released

They say every man needs protection
They say that every man must fall, ha
Yet I swear I see my reflection
Someplace so high above this wall

I see my light come shinin'
From the west unto the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released

Standing next to me in this lonely crowd
There's a man who swears he's not to blame
All day long, I hear him shout so loud
Crying out that he was framed

I see my light come shinin'
From the west unto the east




Any day now, any day now
I shall be released

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of I Shall Be Released by Bernardo Lanzetti express a deep longing for freedom and release from imprisonment, both physical and emotional. The first two lines of the song, "They say everything can be replaced, yet every distance is not near," acknowledge the fleeting and transient nature of life, while also recognizing the difficulty of being separated from loved ones and the world. The singer reflects on the faces of those who have contributed to his imprisonment, figuratively and literally, and remembers every moment of his personal struggle for freedom. This theme of imprisonment and release is a common motif in folk music and literature and symbolizes the human condition of being trapped and longing for liberation.


The second stanza begins with the assertion that every man needs protection but also falls eventually. The singer, however, believes that he sees his reflection in a place beyond the prison walls, a place where he can be free and live life on his own terms. The recurring lines of "I see my light come shinin' from the west unto the east, any day now, any day now, I shall be released" illustrate a sense of hope and yearning for a better tomorrow - a time when the singer will be liberated from his confinement. The song's powerful imagery portrays the darkness of the prison walls juxtaposed with the hope of the light shining through, a dichotomy commonly used in art to convey themes of hope and redemption.


The final stanza introduces the theme of solidarity and the support of fellow prisoners - a collective longing for freedom. The singer and other prisoners may be physically isolated and alone, but they are not alone in their struggle. The man standing next to the singer insists that he is not to blame for his actions, and his cries illustrate the injustice and lack of control that comes with imprisonment. I Shall Be Released remains a timeless song that speaks to the human spirit's resilience, hope, and longing for liberty.


Line by Line Meaning

They say everything can be replaced
It is said that anything can be substituted or replaced


Yet every distance is not near
But sometimes it's not possible to bridge the gap between people or things


So I remember every face
Therefore, I recollect the faces of all those responsible for putting me in this situation


Of every man who put me here
I remember every individual who contributed to my current predicament


I see my light come shinin'
I am starting to see a glimpse of hope


From the west unto the east
This hope is growing and spreading across my entire being


Any day now, any day now
It could happen anytime soon, just a matter of time


I shall be released
I will finally be free from this situation


They say every man needs protection
It is believed that everyone requires some form of safeguarding


They say that every man must fall, ha
It is also said that every person will face some form of failure or downfall


Yet I swear I see my reflection
Despite this, I am certain that I can see my true self in the midst of this hardship


Someplace so high above this wall
Somewhere beyond the barrier that's keeping me from achieving my release


Standing next to me in this lonely crowd
Even though I am physically surrounded by others, I still feel alone in my struggle


There's a man who swears he's not to blame
There is an individual who claims to be innocent


All day long, I hear him shout so loud
Throughout the day, he consistently protests his innocence with a loud voice


Crying out that he was framed
He is crying out that he was falsely accused




Contributed by Alice V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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