I Wish I Knew How It Felt To Be Free
Jools Holland Lyrics

I wish I knew how
I wish I could understand what it truly feels like

It would feel to be free
To have complete liberty and independence in life

I wish I could break
I yearn to shatter and escape from

All the chains holding me
The shackles and limitations placed on me by society, others, and myself

I wish I could say
I desire to speak out and articulate

All the things that I should say
All the thoughts and feelings that I've kept hidden

Say 'em loud say 'em clear
Communicate them forcefully, so there's no ambiguity

For the whole round world to hear
So that everyone everywhere will be able to hear my message

I wish I could share
I crave the ability to give

All the love that's in my heart
My deep feelings of fondness, attachment, and affection towards others

Remove all the bars
I wish to abolish all the barriers and obstructions

That keep us apart
That result in our separation and division

I wish you could know
I profoundly long for you to comprehend and experience

What it means to be me
My innermost self, my identity, my being

Then you'd see and agree
Once you fully understand, you'll concur

That every man should be free
That everyone, regardless of any characteristics, should have the right to freedom

I wish I could give
I hope to bestow and provide

All I'm longing to give
Everything I deeply yearn to offer and provide

I wish I could live
I also desire to exist and experience life in a certain way

Like I'm longing to live
Living the way I yearn to live

I wish I could do
I aspire to carry out

All the things that I can do
Everything I'm capable of doing

And though I'm way over due
Even though it's long overdue for me to start doing these things

I'd be starting a new
I would be commencing a fresh beginning

Well I wish I could be
I wish I could exist as

Like a bird in the sky
Free to soar and fly through the air like a feathered creature

How sweet it would be
How wonderful and pleasurable it must be

If I found I could fly
If it turns out that I have the ability to levitate and maneuver through the air

Oh I'd soar to the sun
I'd ascend high towards the blazing and powerful celestial body

And look down at the sea
And glimpse down at the vast and deep ocean surface below

Than I'd sing 'cause I know, yea
Then I'd sing due to the fact that I'm aware and certain

I'd know how it feels
I would understand what it truly feels like

Oh I know how it feels to be free
I comprehend what it means to have complete liberty and autonomy in life

Yea yea! oh, I know how it feels
Yes, I fully know the sensation

Yes I know
Yes, I have an understanding

Oh, I know
Oh, I'm fully aware

How it feels
What it's like, the sensation

How it feels
The experience of having complete autonomy and freedom in life

To be free
To have the right to make our own choices and live our lives as we see fit