During the 2008 presidential election, John Legend and The Roots were inspi… Read Full Bio ↴During the 2008 presidential election, John Legend and The Roots were inspired to work on a collaborative album together and the product of their efforts, Wake Up!, was released on September 21, 2010. The album features the prolific soul singer and hip-hop band covering protest songs and conscious soul classics from a variety of artists from the 60s and 70s, with guest appearances from Common and Melanie Fiona. Produced entirely by Legend, songs covered on the album include Marvin Gaye's Wholy Holy, Donny Hathaway's Little Ghetto Boy, Baby Huey and the Babysitters' Hard Times, and Mike James Kirkland's Hang on in There. The first single, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes Wake Up Everybody, features guest spots by Common and Melanie Fiona.

I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free
John Legend & The Roots Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I wish I knew how, it would feel, to be free
I wish I could break, all the chains, holding me
And I wish I could say, all the things, that I should say
Say 'em loud, say 'em clear, for the whole world to hear

I wish I could share, all the love, that's in my heart
Remove all the bars, that keep, us apart
And I wish you could know, what it means, to be me

Then you'd see, and agree, that every man, should be free

I wish I could give, I'm longing to give
And I wish I could live, like I'm longing to live
And I wish I could do, all the things I can do
Though I'm way overdue, I'd be starting to move

Well I wish I could be, like a bird up in the sky
How sweet it would be, if I found I could fly
Well I'd soar to the sun, then I'd look down at the sea
Then I'd sing cause I'd know
Yes I'd, sing cause I'd know
Sing cause I know

I know I'm free, yeah
Yes I know I'm free

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of John Legend & The Roots's song I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free convey a deep desire to break free from the chains of oppression and prejudice and to live a life that is free and equal. The song invokes powerful emotions that make the listener question what it means to truly be free.

The first verse of the song expresses a longing to break free from the limitations that society has placed on the individual. The chains that are referred to may be physical or metaphorical, but the message is clear: the singer wishes for liberation from whatever is holding them back. They also wish to be able to express themselves fully and honestly, without fear of judgment or retribution.

In the second verse, the singer wishes for all people to experience the same freedom and love that they desire for themselves. They recognize that there are barriers that separate us, and they wish for those to be removed so that we can all come together in harmony. The singer hopes that if others could see the world through their eyes, they would understand the importance of freedom and equality.

The final verse speaks to the desire for a fuller, more fulfilling life. The singer wants to be able to give freely, to live fully, and to explore all the possibilities that life has to offer. They wish to be unencumbered by the past and to move forward with the knowledge that they are free.

Overall, the song is a powerful message about the importance of freedom, love, and equality. It encourages listeners to examine their own lives and consider the ways in which they may be holding themselves or others back from a life that is truly free.

Line by Line Meaning

I wish I knew how, it would feel, to be free
I desire to know the sensation of liberation

I wish I could break, all the chains, holding me
I yearn to break free from all the physical and emotional restrictions that prevent me from being truly free

And I wish I could say, all the things, that I should say
I aspire to voice all the thoughts and feelings that I have been holding back for so long

Say 'em loud, say 'em clear, for the whole world to hear
I want to express my thoughts and feelings loudly and clearly so that everyone can hear and understand me

I wish I could share, all the love, that's in my heart
I wish to spread the immense love that I harbor in my heart to everyone around me

Remove all the bars, that keep, us apart
I want to eliminate all the physical, social, and cultural barriers that are responsible for keeping us apart

And I wish you could know, what it means, to be me
I desire for you to have an understanding of my life experiences, struggles and joys to understand who I am

Then you'd see, and agree, that every man, should be free
I believe that if someone understands my challenges, then they would agree that everyone should be entitled to freedom

I wish I could give, I'm longing to give
I wish to share my possessions, wealth, and knowledge with those who are in need of it

And I wish I could live, like I'm longing to live
I yearn to live life on my own terms, free from the obligations and restrictions imposed by society

And I wish I could do, all the things I can do
I want to complete all the tasks that I am physically and mentally capable of doing

Though I'm way overdue, I'd be starting to move
Even though I'm late to the party, I'm still willing to take a step forward in the right direction

Well I wish I could be, like a bird up in the sky
I yearn to be as free, lightweight and flexible as a bird that is capable of soaring in the sky

How sweet it would be, if I found I could fly
It would be a delightful experience to be able to fly and have the power to move in any direction without any physical limitations

Well I'd soar to the sun, then I'd look down at the sea
Once I am capable of flying, I'd fly to the sun and look down at the sea to experience the thrill of freedom

Then I'd sing cause I'd know
Once I feel the essence of freedom, I'd sing in happiness

Yes I'd, sing cause I'd know
I'd express my joy of being free through singing

Sing cause I know
I'd sing since I would be aware of what it means to be free

I know I'm free, yeah
I am convinced that I am free from all physical, emotional, and social restraints, and that feeling of liberation would be immeasurable

Yes I know I'm free
I am sure that I am free and that nothing can take this sense of liberty away from me

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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