I Shall Be Released
Chatham County Line Lyrics
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They say 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 down to the east
Any day now, and day now
They say every man needs protection
They say that every man must fall
Yet I swear I see my reflection
Somewhere so high above this wall
I see my light come shinin'
From the west down to the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released
Now yonder stands a man in this lonely crowd
A man who swears he's not to blame
And all day long I hear him shouting loud
Just crying out that he was framed
I see my light come shinin'
From the west down to the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released
Chatham County Line's "I Shall Be Released" is a powerful and reflective song that captures the essence of having hope and being optimistic about the future despite the difficult situations one may face. The song starts with an observation that everything in life can be replaced, and distance is not necessarily proportional to closeness. The singer remembers every one of the faces of the people who have contributed to his imprisonment, and the overall tone of this verse is that of despair and hopelessness.
The second verse continues in the same vein, describing how we are all in need of protection, but at some point, everyone must fall. The person singing this song, however, feels as though he can see his reflection even though he's trapped behind a wall. This is a glimmer of hope, of light shining through the darkness that is currently surrounding him.
The final verse introduces another man in the crowd who is shouting out that he was unjustly accused and is not to blame. It seems like this chorus is united by their struggle and their longing for freedom, and it is clear that the future looks bright, with the end of their suffering within reach. The overall meaning of this song is that no matter what struggles you face in life, there is always hope for a better future if you hold on to your beliefs and the things that matter most to you.
Line by Line Meaning
They say everything can be replaced
People believe that anything can be replaced
They say every distance is not near
People believe that even though distances may seem short, they are far
So I remember every face
As a result, I keep the face of every man that put me here in mind
Of every man who put me here
Every man who played a role in my confinement is remembered by me
I see my light come shinin'
I am experiencing a moment of enlightenment
From the west down to the east
This light is visible everywhere, from the west to the east
Any day now, and day now
Freedom will come to me very soon
I shall be released
My confinement will come to an end
They say every man needs protection
It is believed that every man requires protection
They say that every man must fall
People believe that every man is bound to fall
Yet I swear I see my reflection
However, I am certain that I can see my reflection
Somewhere so high above this wall
It is somewhere high above this barrier that I can see my image
Now yonder stands a man in this lonely crowd
There is a man standing out there, who is alone among the many people
A man who swears he's not to blame
This man declares that he is not responsible for the situation at hand
And all day long I hear him shouting loud
I have been hearing him shout loudly all day long
Just crying out that he was framed
He is shouting about how he was falsely accused
Any day now, any day now
Only a matter of days before
I shall be released
I will be free
Writer(s): Francesco de Gregori, Bob Dylan
Contributed by Liliana F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Corey
on Lonesome In Caroline
Wrong song