Chicago is an American rock band formed in 1967 in Chicago, Illinois. The s… Read Full Bio ↴Chicago is an American rock band formed in 1967 in Chicago, Illinois. The self-described "rock and roll band with horns" began as a politically charged, sometimes experimental, rock band and later moved to a predominantly softer sound, generating several hit ballads. They had a steady stream of hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Second only to The Beach Boys in Billboard singles and albums chart success among American bands, Chicago is one of the longest-running and most successful rock groups in history.

According to Billboard, Chicago was the leading US singles charting group during the 1970s. They have sold over 38 million units in the US, with 22 gold, 18 platinum, and 8 multi-platinum albums. Over the course of their career they have had five number-one albums and 21 top-ten singles.

There are at least two artists with this name:
1. A popular American rock band
2. A psytrance artist
(If you are scrobbling tracks here from Chicago - Music From The Miramax Motion Picture, please fix your tags.)
3. A Japanese vocalist named CHICACO but weirdly gets redirected here. She's been active in LYDIA GRAVE and the touhou arrangement circle ESQUARIA.

The second Chicago is a psytrance artist, the pseudonym of David Potter Christman. He is a member of 1200 Micrograms

Free
Chicago Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I just want to be free
I just want to be free

I want to be free of all the hurt
I want to be free of all the pain
I want to end these lonely hours
I want to end these lonely days, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

I just want to be free
I just want to be free

I just want to be free
I just want to be free
I just want to be free

I just want to be free
I just want to be free

Overall Meaning

Chicago's song "Free" is a slow ballad that expresses the desire to escape from the pain and sadness of life. The recurring phrase "I just want to be free" expresses the singer's need to break free from the emotional turmoil that holds them back. The song is raw and emotional, expressing a genuine longing for happiness and peace. The lyrics repeat themselves, emphasizing the urgency of the singer's desire for freedom.

The first two lines of the song reveal the singer's deepest desires, their need to escape from all the pain and hurt they have experienced in life. The repetition of this line throughout the song emphasizes that nothing else matters to the singer than their freedom from pain. The lines "I want to end these lonely hours" and "I want to end these lonely days" display the sense of isolation and loneliness the singer feels.

Line by Line Meaning

I just want to be free
Expressing a desire to break free from something

I want to be free of all the hurt
Yearning to be free from emotional pain

I want to be free of all the pain
Experiencing physical or mental pain and wanting relief

I want to end these lonely hours
Feeling lonely and wanting to be with someone

I want to end these lonely days, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Feeling lonely and wanting to break free from the situation causing the loneliness

I just want to be free
Expressing a desire to break free from something

Lyrics © Roba Music Verlag GMBH, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Robert William Lamm

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

King Dave

3y↑1

I just want to be free
I just want to be free

I want to be free from all the hurt
I want to be free from all the pain
I want to end these lonely hours
I want to end these lonely days

I just want to be free
I just want to be free

I just want to be free
I just want to be free
I just want to be free

All comments from YouTube:

talkcat10

5y↑35

Very overlooked! One of Chicago's best.

TONY ALLEN

The horns kick ass nuff said 🎺🎷

Judith Johnson

They played it just for me as an encore in Las Vegas! My favorite song! A very happy day!

patg912

5y↑37

If you ever want to hear how good Peter Certra was on Bass?,,look no further,,this is rocking,melodic,and awesome Bass lines

Dale B Cooper

2y↑1

How about terry kaths voice? Powerful

patg912

Ty everyone,,,,

Boat Axe

3y↑1

@MIKECNW They didn’t put a gun to his head and force him to go sappy. They placed a large sum of money in front of him and he took it.

MIKECNW

@Stuart Ross I'm sure he did nothing. It was probably the record company itself.

jasonpp1973

3y↑2

Lowdown on the same LP also has some killer Cetera bass playing!

3 More Replies...

Jeff

3y↑9

Who could give this a t thumbs down?!? This is truly a classic jam!!! Terry Kath R.I.P.

Elisha Johnson

2y↑3

I’m 20 y/o & I like this song ! Good music never die❤️

Nicholas Wininger

3y↑4

Still one of the most insane instrumental songs I've ever heard. 1:26 is an incredible section that blows my mind. I pull this song up every once in awhile just to hear that part and it amazes me 20 years later.

penncentral8885

5y↑17

YES!!!! The boys bring it on this song!!!!

Jose manuel Lezama Carbajal

2y↑1

Un súper rolon que nos trae grandes y muy buenos recuerdos. Con la mejor Banda de todos los tiempos.

Jose manuel Lezama Carbajal

3y↑1

Una súper banda y una súper rola de los mejores tiempos.

Percy Wood

3y↑4

One of the best groups to come out of the 60s-70s

RaincloudmusicTFS6

3y↑7

I was a 26 week Preemie jn 1971...i have played that tune for college, and it is NO picnic! Best. horn. chart. ever!

Robert Garner

4y↑6

Chicago 3 , tremendous album!! Immortal music!!

Michael Ackerman

Perfect blend of everything! Horn’s, guitar, bass, drums, vocals!! This has all the elements of Chicago mixed together perfectly!!! I love this band!!

Anthony Mont

6y↑32

Back when Chicago Rocked, with Terry Kath, on guitar, Great album💫✨🔥💥🙌🔊🔊💣🎼🎵🎶🎹🎺🎤🎤🎧🎻🎷🎸🎸

Rita Rose

@Brandon Callaway , the Magic 7!!

Brandon Callaway

5y↑4

Terry Kath - 🎸
Robert Lamm - 🎹
Peter Cetera - 🎤
Danny Seraphine - 🥁
Lee Loughnane - 🎺
James Pankow - 🎺
Walter Parazaider - 🎷

patg912

So True Bro,, and Yes Terry Kath,, terrific guitarist!

Homo Erectus Semenally Retentive

6y↑1

Just listening to this im pushed to be free of this temporary funk!.had the 45, i think Colour my world was on the other side.

Michael Aldrich

3y↑4

I was 2 in 71 but I’m pretty sure my dad was pumping this day & night.

The Trump News Network

5y↑12

Back in 1976 we played this song in our high school marching band :) I still remember the horn part

Winston Beech

Me too. Fall of 72. We used Free as the entry drill. My first of three years in marching band. Even though we slowed that horn lick down, it was probably the hardest marching tune / drill I ever did. The rest of the show was Beginnings, Fancy Colours (Girls drill team number) and Make Me Smile.

Cameron Watson

5y↑1

Wow really? What band??

KS Huffman

4y↑10

My favorite back in 71 rocked! Freedom is popular in 2020 too

MIKECNW

Some play disagree about freedom today and there were those who felt the same way back them too.

Probably why songs like this were written.

cowboy cowboy 87

4y↑18

Peter cetera should be among the top 10 bass players of all time

Boat Axe

Yeah, too bad he pretty much gave up playing it.

Jacqueline Ward

3y↑1

Chicago is just plain super. I would love to see them on stage with Earth WInd and FIre it would be fenominal, the greates!!!!!!!!!!!

RaincloudmusicTFS6

3y↑2

Yup. Funk. Melody.... All of it.

Richard Leonard

4y↑1

Pretty fair vocalist too. Sure he did some sappy stuff but he could wail.

sauquoit13456

4y↑3

On this day in 1971 {April 5th} Chicago appeared in concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City, it was the first night of a six night stand, and all six nights were sold out...
Six months later their album 'Chicago at Carnegie Hall' was released, and on January 9th, 1972 it peaked at #3* {for 1 week} on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart and it spent forty six weeks on the chart...
At the time of their appearance at Carnegie Hall their "Free" was at position #37 on Billboard's Top 100 chart, the week before it had peak at #20, it stayed on the Top 100 for nine weeks...
Between 1969 and 1997 the group had fifty records on the Top 100 chart, twenty made the Top 10 with three reaching #1, "If You Leave Me Now" {for 2 weeks in 1976}, "Hard To Say I'm Sorry" {for 2 weeks in 1982}, and "Look Away" {for 2 weeks in 1988}
The never had a record peak at #2 but they did have five reach #3, "Saturday In The Park" {1972}, "Hard Habit To Break" {1984}, "You're The Inspiration" {1984}, "Will You Still Love Me?" {1986}, and "I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love" {1988}...
* And from the 'For What It's Worth' department; the week 'Chicago at Carnegie' was at #3, the #2 album was 'American Pie' by Don McLean and the #1 album was 'Music' by Carole King...

Bill Ingersoll

3y↑1

Was in 8pc horn band did a lot of Chicago tunes l still think one of the very best bands ever. I also agree that they lost there fantastic edge later on with to much milk toast music, but still absolutely love all of their early edgie stuff. Thanx for the fantastic music guys!!!

WiseGuy5674

4y↑4

Leonid and Friends knock this out of the park! I just listened to their version and it blew me away.

WiseGuy5674

@Glenn McGeoch true, but they don’t speak English.😊

Glenn McGeoch

3y↑1

Not quite the soulful subtlety of Terry Kath's voice, bust still nice.

slevine356

Vasily's vocals take it there.

Diane Pante

3y↑1

Without question

RaincloudmusicTFS6

3y↑1

Yeah, they DO‼️‼️‼️🎼🎹🎵

Ruben Delgadillo

5y↑73

Who else was listening to this in 1971!

Larry Toothbrush

2y↑1

Millions

ID odi et amo

2y↑1

WLS use to play this every morning right before heading out the door for school,yep.

TONY ALLEN

2y↑2

1and 2 and 3 albums were Chicago !!!!🎺🎷

Michael Kronk

2y↑1

Everybody?

Runnin’ Rebel

2y↑2

I was just born that year but yeah my parents had this on the record player I’m sure 🤙🏼

9 More Replies...

Dave King

4y↑3

Listening in 2020 ! One of the first Chicago LPs I bought... I think it came out in 1969 or 1970 when I was a Freshman in high school. I still have this LP and my turntable/ stereo

MIKECNW

3y↑1

71.

Raymond Malcuit

3y↑1

This Song Went To Number 20 On The Billboard Hot-100 Chart In 1971.

Paul

5y↑18

This was Chicago (CTA!) at their very best before they lost their edge and melted into syrupy pop.

bgfootlover2

So true!

MIKECNW

4y↑3

They were just Chicago by this time.

Rita Rose

5y↑5

The Terry Kath years....those are the fab cool, great years!!

Sock

3y↑2

The marching band I’m in played this at a Chicago thanksgiving day parade!

Vernon Brooks

I'm a guitarist thinking about the phenomenal horn lines on this track in 2022!

Strat Cat

Peter outdid himself on this bass track. I do wish it had that extra bit that the Russian cover band adds to this tune.. but yeah.. Rocking hard!!!

Justin case

I don't know about anyone else,....but one of the very few songs by anyone.....that
I can remain seated while hearing. Energy like no other....have to get up from my seat and move..
...dance....whatever...just move!!!

Jacqueline Ward

You definitely got that right . Chicago's best.i could see them on stage with Earth WInd and FIre ,the earth would rock from miles away!!!!!!!!

manco82

5y↑7

What an intro!

RaincloudmusicTFS6

Born the year this came out. One of my favorites.

Don Jaeger

3y↑1

Their BEST Album

Midtownkitten

3y↑1

I am visiting the city of Chicago for the first time and felt obligated to listen to one their songs while in town. I tried to buy a t-shirt for my dad with the band’s logo but they were all sold out.

Keith Neale

4y↑1

Back in the summer of ‘71 when I was at Oklahoma Boys State in Stillwater the juke box played this song almost non-stop.

Dan Carroll

3y↑1

Super song that radio no longer plays.

S Travis

6y↑20

...this should be the Anthem for Humankind...

Bill Smith

it's mankind..... man is the species.

Judith Johnson

Of all the songs they created this one is my favorite. So glad you feel it rates as an Anthem!

Photo Not Available

4y↑1

Steadfast Johannes Humankind desperately wanting to escape the death grip of tRump.

Kelli Erin

Feeling you 🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼🔼

Tim Grimes

6y↑12

What’s better than this? Nothing

Amir Hojabr

5y↑1

Tim Grimes , South California Purples is also great .

King Dave

3y↑1

Amie Hawthorne

My anthem song!

Steven Orsolini

3y↑1

2021 and I still do too.

David Cooley

4y↑5

I sure miss Terry!

Gary Giampa

5y↑1

hi great song I love it thank you the best

tom n

I looked up Free, in the dictionary and this song played.

Kelli Erin

5y↑3

Bongs out. ;✌️✌️✌️🌞🌞🌞Funkyyyy
😎😎😎😎

Dave Morrison

5y↑10

No dislikes as of 4/28/19

Rick Bourdier

5y↑1

7/1/19

Bob Bennert

3y↑1

leonid and friends reminded me how good this song was/is.

ID odi et amo

4y↑3

Damn that was quick...I would typically hear this before walking out the door going to school I Illinois on wls am....outta Chicago..

Brandon Callaway

5y↑3

Yay! No Dislikes!

Victor Dieleanora

3y↑1

So relevant now...

Kelli Erin

4y↑1

Big bong rattling bad😄🎶🎹 Massive cool

the countdown

Damn bro!!!!!!!!!

Duff Baker

The horns are mixed a little too high whereas the bass is too low, but that's my ears for you..

Jhonny Trujillo

5y↑3

El show del Loco Valdés me trajo aqui. 😎

tom n

🇺🇦

fucheduck

5y↑1

maniacally non subduing.

James Halbach

Free's opening is equivalent to "Call me Ishmael."

Martin LeRoy

6y↑2

Finallly ...

Steve Hart

An apropos song, today, for our lying socialist administration, coronavirus fears, pain, loneliness and false promises. Save the country.

bunny lefluf

lol.. yeah.. b/c fascist trump.. did i great job.. telling ppl covid id a hoax.

Alark Albass

6y↑3

Thanks Chuck

Tom Wagner

5y↑1

Like I said to Brett Dalesky, although I was a huge fan of the band (I saw them live in concert six times; the only other band I saw that often live was Oingo Boingo), this song never appealed to me, then or now. They – and we – are Americans: you can’t get more free than that, even back in 1971. Visit any Third World country and you’ll understand what I mean. And if they were already free, why sing so passionately about it? Now, if these guys were from Jamaica or Haiti, it would have made a hell of a lot more sense. I can name a dozen Chicago songs off the top of my head that I think are much, much better than this.

Glenn McGeoch

3y↑1

You have to understand the song within the context of the suite of which it is a part: Travel Suite. He sings about being free of all these lonely hours as he is on the road with the band. In other words, he is missing his significant other. Nothing political here.

DavidRagan1734

Is Terry Kath singing this one?

DavidRagan1734

@Chicago Infinity Interesting. I hear Peter in the chorus but couldn't tell in the verses.

Chicago Infinity

2y↑1

I think its Peter and Terry is backing vocals.

Brett Dalesky

5y↑1

Who's the lone person who doesn't like this song as of 10/11/2019?

bunny lefluf

a person with no taste.

Tom Wagner

Brett Dalesky Me. Although I was a huge fan of the band (I saw them live in concert six times; the only other band I saw that often live was Oingo Boingo), this song never appealed to me, then or now. They – and we – are Americans: you can’t get more free than that, even back in 1971. Visit any Third World country and you’ll understand what I mean. And if they were already free, why sing so passionately about it? Now, if these guys were from Jamaica or Haiti, it would have made a hell of a lot more sense.