The group formed in 1969 in Los Angeles, California, Before making it big in the music industry, the group appeared in the popular 1972 blaxploitation film Blacula, which starred actor William Marshall and brought the group in contact with songwriter Waldo Holmes. Holmes would go on to pen "Rock the Boat". The Hues Corporation's four other singles to reach the Billboard Hot 100 were "Freedom For The Stallion" (1973, #63), "Rockin' Soul" (1974, #18), "Love Corporation" (1975, #62), and "I Caught Your Act" (1977, #92).
The group's name was a pun on the Hughes Corporation, with the "hue" being the group's African-American heritage. Interestingly, they initially wanted to call themselves 'Children Of Howard Hughes', but that didn't pan out. The band's members were Bernard "St. Clair" Lee, Flemming Williams, and Ann Kelley.
Despite their initial success, the group disbanded in 1978. But with renewed interest in disco music throughout the 90s, the group reunited for tour dates and special events. This included the popular PBS special Get Down Tonight: The Disco Explosion. Bernard "St. Clair" Lee sadly passed away on March 8th, 2011.
Freedom for the Stallion
Hues Corporation Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Freedom for the baby child who has not grown old enough to vote
Lord, have mercy, what you gonna do about the people who are prayin' to you?
They got men makin' laws that destroy other men, made money, God, it's a doggone sin,
Oh, Lord, you got to help us find the way
Big ship's a-sailin', slaves all chained and bound,
Headin' for a brand new land that someone said he up and found.
Lord, have mercy, what you gonna do about the people who are prayin' to you?
Oh, Lord, you got to help us find the way.
Freedom for the stallion, freedom for the mare and her colt,
Freedom for the baby child who has not grown old enough to vote.
Lord, have mercy, what you gonna do about the people who are prayin' to you?
You know when I look inside my mind searchin' for the truth I find,
Oh, Lord, you got to help us find the way.
Hey, Lord!
Hues Corporation's song "Freedom for the Stallion" is a powerful call for justice and equality. The lyrics speak to the struggles and injustices faced by African Americans and other marginalized groups in society. The song begins by calling for freedom for all, regardless of their age or ability to vote. The chorus repeatedly asks for the Lord's help in finding a way to fight against the laws that destroy and oppress people.
The second verse of the song draws a metaphorical comparison between the transatlantic slave trade and the present-day struggle for freedom. The line "Big ship's a-sailin', slaves all chained and bound" calls back to the slave ships that brought Africans to the Americas. The next line, "Headin' for a brand new land that someone said he up and found," refers to the promise of a better life that lured many people to leave their homes and risk everything in search of freedom. The verse ends with the same call for the Lord's help in finding a way to fight against oppression and injustice.
Overall, "Freedom for the Stallion" is a powerful and emotive song that highlights the struggle for freedom and equality. The lyrics draw on historical events and use vivid imagery to make a strong statement about the ongoing struggle for justice and equality.
Line by Line Meaning
Freedom for the stallion, freedom for the mare and her colt,
Everyone deserves freedom and equality, regardless of their gender or species.
Freedom for the baby child who has not grown old enough to vote
Even the youngest members of society deserve to have their voices heard and their rights protected.
Lord, have mercy, what you gonna do about the people who are prayin' to you?
People are in desperate need of help and guidance, and they are turning to a higher power for assistance.
They got men makin' laws that destroy other men, made money, God, it's a doggone sin,
There are people in positions of power who are using their authority to harm others and enrich themselves, which goes against basic moral principles.
Oh, Lord, you got to help us find the way
There is a need for guidance and direction from a higher power to help society overcome its challenges.
Big ship's a-sailin', slaves all chained and bound,
There are atrocities being committed, such as the slave trade, where individuals are being treated as property and are denied their basic human rights.
Headin' for a brand new land that someone said he up and found.
There are those who claim to have discovered new lands, but often their supposed discoveries come at the expense of others' freedom and well-being.
You know when I look inside my mind searchin' for the truth I find,
When individuals examine their thoughts and beliefs, they may be confronted with uncomfortable truths and a need to improve society.
Hey, Lord!
This is a call for help and intervention from a higher power to address the injustices and oppressions present in society.
Contributed by Jasmine M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@robtempe
I always loved this song and this group. Saw them live when this song was released back in the 1970s. It is a great song to welcome in our new national holidy...FREEDOM DAY aka Juneteenth.
Happy Freedom Day everyone!
The Hues Corporation - Freedom for the Stallion
Freedom for the stallion,
freedom for the mare and her colt,
Freedom for the baby child
who has not grown old enough to vote.
mercy, mercy what you gonna do
about the people who are prayin' to you?
They got men makin' laws that destroy other men,
made money, God, it's a doggone sin,
Oh, Lord, you got to help us find the way.
Big ship's a-sailin', slaves all chained and bound,
Headin' for a brand new land
that someone said he up and found.
mercy, mercy, what you gonna do
about the people who are prayin' to you?
They got men makin' laws that destroy other men,
made money, God, it's a doggone sin.
Oh, Lord, you got to help us find the way.
Freedom for the stallion,
freedom for the mare and her colt,
Freedom for the baby child
who has not grown old enough to vote.
mercy, mercy what you gonna do
about the people who are prayin' to you?
You know when I look inside my mind searchin' for the truth I find,
Oh, Lord, you got to help us find the way.
freedom, freedom, freedom, freedom
freedom for my brother
freedom for my mother, yeah
you know we gotta have
you know we need a little
gotta have a little
FREEDOM
Hey, Lord!
@kentrichardson8375
Hues Corporation : Freedom For The Stallion
lyrics (Toussaint) RIP Allen Toussaint 11/10/2015 ...writer of this tune
Freedom for the stallion
Freedom for the mare and her colt
Freedom for the baby child
Who, has not grown old enough to vote.
Mercy, what say what you gonna do about the people who are praying to you?
They got men making laws that could destroy other men,
made money "God"
It's a dog gone sin,
Oh, no, you got to help us find the way.
Big ship's sailing, slaves all chained and bound,
Heading for a brand new land, that, some someone said he upped and found. Mercy,
What say you gonna do, about the people who are praying to you?
They got men making laws that destroy other men, made money "God"
It's a dog gone sin.
Oh, no, you got to help us find the way.
Freedom for the stallion
Freedom for the mare and her colt
Freedom for the baby child
Who, has not grown old enough to vote.
Mercy, what say what you gonna do, about the people who are praying to you?
You know when I look inside my mind searching for the truth I find
Oh, no, you got to help us find the way.
Freedom, freedom, freedom, freedom for my brother
freedom, freedom, freedom for my mother
Freedom, You know we gotta have it
Freedom, You know we need a little
Freedom gotta have a little……
Freedom for……….(fade)
@user-ep3sd9dc3y
They don’t make music videos like this anymore!!
@MichaelBrown-fk2gt
Freedom for the Black stallion, who else is not afraid to say it ?
@grannyrule9227
Another big one in Jamaica to this day.
Kool Fm plays this one regularly.
Love it.
@bsm666
You talking truth! Love it!
@kayedramallama
One of the most amazing and beautiful pop songs ever. Love this!
@donaldthompson3082
Remind me of back in the days back home in jamaica listening to the Evening People show on RJR with Neville Willoubhy
@grannyrule9227
Oh yes Donald.
Now it's Kool Fm that is blazing this one now.
Love it.
@semajstuart8762
....humanity and all the silliness that comes with it
@willieacrawfordsr2640
I'm almost in tears. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful music!!!
@alcidesguedes
Tinha me esquecido desta linda canção, que encantou muita gente na década de 70. Eu inclusive. Dancei muito nos assustados lá no bairro de Casa Caiada, Olinda... Ô saudades!