Carne was born Sarah Jean Perkins in Columbus, Georgia and was raised in Atlanta. Her talent as a singer became evident from an early age and was encouraged by her parents. Carne's singing ability was so striking that at the age of four she became a member of her church choir. Carne went on to learn to play the piano, the clarinet and the bassoon, mastering all three.
Carne attended Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta, and learned to speak Russian fluently. She received a scholarship after graduating in 1965, to attend Morris Brown College where she was trained in musical theater to opera. Carne planned on furthering her studies at Juilliard School of Music in New York when she met and married Jazz pianist Doug Carn and became a featured vocalist in his jazz fusion band. The couple based themselves in Los Angeles, California, where Carne did three early albums with her husband, "Infant Eyes", "Spirit Of The New Land" and "Revelations". Her work with the band garnered enthusiastic new jazz fans and brought her to the attention of the soon-to-be mega-group Earth Wind and Fire. Her voice helped brighten the group's first two albums, "Earth Wind And Fire," and "The Need Of Love" where she expanded her musical learning with the group and went beyond her jazz work.
In 1976, Carne was signed to Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff's Philadelphia International Records; her debut album Jean Carn was a classy affair that merged the best of '70s soul and jazz with solid song-writing and tight instrumental support (MFSB, Instant Funk). The debut single "Free Love" went to number 23 R&B. Though the follow-up single did not chart, several of the album's tracks received considerable radio airplay. In June 1978, Happy to Be With You, her second album for the label was released. It included the hit single "Don't Let It Go to Your Head."
Carne's third Philadelphia International album When I Find You Love was more of a return conceptually (musically and sonically) to that of Jean Carn. Produced by Dexter Wansel, the album rates as one of Carne's best efforts. The smooth and halting "My Love Don't Come Easy" peaked at number 43 R&B in the summer of 1979. At this time Ms. Carne was switched from the Philadelphia International label to the subsidiary TSOP imprint for her final outing. Released in August 1981, Sweet and Wonderful featured a stunning and classy remake of the Spinners' "Love Don't Love Nobody," which went to number 35 R&B.
Frustrated with her lack of substantial sales and promotion of her previous albums which were artistic and critical successes, if not commercially as acclaimed, Carne moved to Motown Records in 1982, making her label debut with the album Trust Me. The single "If You Don't Know Me By Now," a cover of the Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes hit with backing vocals by The Temptations, went to number 49 R&B. A scheduled follow-up lp was canned and is reportedly in the vaults, following Ms. Carne's leaving the Motown roster. By 1986, Carne signed to Omni Records. Closer Than Close was released in July of that year and the title track went to number one R&B. Her 1988 album You're a Part of Me included a hit cover of Aretha Franklin's "Ain't No Way." Carne later signed with Place One Entertainment, which reunited her with former Omni Records president Steve Bernstein, with her Love Lessons album.
In 2002, Carne toured the United Kingdom with her musical director, Nathan Heathman, with appearances at the London Jazz Cafe in March of that year. 2003 saw the release of Collaborations, an album for the Expansion label, that featured Carne's various musical collaborations over the years. Carne has worked with some of the most prolific soul artists, producers and songwriters over the years, including The Temptations, Glenn Jones, the late Phyllis Hyman, Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff among other stellar musicians. Carne has also acted as producer and arranger on her own projects and for others in the music fraternity.
Free Love
Jean Carne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't be a slave to your passion
I'm talkin' 'bout free love
Ya might get a negative reaction
A child is born
And my love is gone
Where in the world is he?
By my side (by my side)
To ease the pressure that's on my mind
Because enjoyed the happiness
But forgot about all the rest
Of his responsibility
Oh, that's what I get for
Free love
Don't be a slave to your passion
I'm talkin' 'bout free love
Ya might get a negative reaction
Experience again
Proves to be the best teacher
Oh, strong get stronger, uh-huh (strong as me)
And the weak get weaker (weaker and weaker too)
Im tryin' to tell ya that its no good (it's no good)
To let your heart
Control all the moves you make
'Cause there's a difference between right and wrong
Being loved and strung along
I'll know better, I'll know better the next time
Free love
Don't be a slave to your passion
Oh yeah, talkin 'bout free love
Ya might get a negative reaction
You gotta take it from me, listen to me
Don't go round givin' ya love to just anyone
Don't go round givin' ya love to just anyone
You gotta find somebody who loves ya not just for your body
Find somebody who loves ya not just for your body
Free love
Don't be a slave to your passion
I'm tryin' to tell ya that it's no good (it's no good)
To let your heart
To just anyone
Because I thought I was having fun
Now I'm the lonely one
I'll know better I'll know better the next time
Free love
Don't be a slave to your passion
I'm talkin' 'bout free love
Ya might get a negative reaction
You gotta take it from me, listen to me
Don't go 'round givin' ya love to just anyone
Don't go 'round givin' ya love to just anyone
You gotta find somebody who loves ya not just for your body
Find somebody who loves ya not just for your body
Free love, free love
Free love, oh, ooh
(Free love)
(Free love) free love
(Free love) free love
(Free love)
Jean Carn's "Free Love" is addressing the idea that in order to truly experience love, one must not be enslaved to their passions. The first verse suggests that the singer had a lover who had disappeared, leaving her alone with a newborn child. She expresses a desire for this person to be by her side to ease the pressure on her mind. However, the main message of the song is revealed in the chorus when Carn sings, "Don't be a slave to your passion." She warns that giving into passion alone can have negative consequences and suggests that people should instead find somebody who loves them for more than just their body.
Line by Line Meaning
Free love
A call to embrace a love that is not bound by restrictions
Don't be a slave to your passion
Admonition against being controlled by one's desires
I'm talkin' 'bout free love
Further emphasis on the desire for an unrestrained kind of love
Ya might get a negative reaction
Warning of the possible backlash that may come with such love
A child is born
A new life comes into the world
And my love is gone
But the love that was once there is gone
Where in the world is he?
The object of this love is now absent and unknown
Now's the time I need him to be
At this moment, he is needed badly
By my side (by my side)
To be present and supportive
To ease the pressure that's on my mind
To lighten the burden on her mind
Because enjoyed the happiness
The singer once enjoyed happiness in this love
But forgot about all the rest
But failed to recognize the other responsibilities that come with it
Of his responsibility
The responsibilities that the partner had to fulfill
Oh, that's what I get for
This is the consequence of seeking free love
Experience again
Past experiences have taught a lesson
Proves to be the best teacher
These lessons are valuable and instructive
Oh, strong get stronger, uh-huh (strong as me)
This lesson strengthens those who are strong already
And the weak get weaker (weaker and weaker too)
And weakens those who already suffer weakness
I'm tryin' to tell ya that its no good (it's no good)
The singer is trying to convey the message that giving in to passion is not a good idea
To let your heart
To yield to the whims of one's heart
Control all the moves you make
And let it dictate all actions
'Cause there's a difference between right and wrong
Because there is a clear difference between what is right and wrong
Being loved and strung along
Also, there is a difference between true love and being led on
I'll know better, I'll know better the next time
The artist has learned the lesson and will act differently in the future
You gotta take it from me, listen to me
The singer is imploring others to learn from her experience
Don't go round givin' ya love to just anyone
Do not give love freely to anyone
You gotta find somebody who loves ya not just for your body
One must identify someone who loves them not just for their physical attributes
Free love
Once again, the desire for an unrestrained kind of love
I'm tryin' to tell ya that it's no good (it's no good)
The same message is reiterated
To let your heart
The heart should not be allowed to rule every decision
To just anyone
It is not safe to entrust one's love to just anyone
Because I thought I was having fun
The artist naively thought that this was a fun experience
Now I'm the lonely one
But now she is left with a broken heart and loneliness
Free love
The song ends with the same call for unrestricted love
Lyrics Β© Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KENNETH GAMBLE, KENNY GAMBLE, LEON HUFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rochiggidy
Strong message in March 2024 πΉHappy 77th Birthday to Jean Carn
@jeshun7071
The queen of Phiily soul is at it again with another scorcher from her 1976 debut solo album on the Philadelphia label, it was the start of a remarkable journey
@benjamincarter1884
What makes you sure Jean Carn was or is the Queen of Philly Soul ? Or is this is how you personally feel?
@a1artist
Loved the song in 1976 and still love it in 2021!! Thank you Jean Carn Gamble and Huff, and Bobby Martin.
@d.fattyadams1313
I like everything Jean Carn sings. She can do no wrong. The musicianship is amazing.
@robertisaac3723
Down to Earth Artist with Songs of Inspiration and Love Much Respect
@petetherealtreatdurose7733
Love this song love this beautiful lady. Love that Philly sound I canβt get enough. Iβm 66 from the UK and still trying to get the complete back catalogue.
@louisgonzalez8846
Those "announcing horns" are what get you hooked to this classic.!!!!!
@Cas82958
A song with a message that is still relevant today!
@lakeisharobinson2132
Absolutely!!