I Shall Be Released
Rowley Beth Lyrics
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Yet every distance is not near
Yet I remember every face
Of every man that put me here
I see my light come shining
From the west unto the east
Any day now any day now
They say that every man needs protection
They say that every man must fall
Yet I swear I see my reflection
Some place so high above this wall
I see my light come shining
From the west unto the east
Any day now any day now
I shall be released
Standing next to me in this lonely crowd
I see a man who swears he's not to blame
All day long I hear him crying alone
Saying that he's been framed
I see my light come shining
From the west unto the east
Any day now any day now
I shall be released
The lyrics of Rowley Beth's song “I Shall be Released” depict the pain and tribulations that come with being in bondage. Beth starts the song by questioning the replacement of everything but the distance, challenging the fact that all things can be replaced. This could be interpreted in different ways, but with respect to the theme of freedom delivered in the song, it is possible to see it as Beth bemoaning the fact that even though every other thing can be replaced, the distance between one and their freedom cannot just be wished away.
She then goes on to remember every face of every man that put her there, signifying that she has been imprisoned or kept in bondage. The imagery created by the lyrics portrays the pain and trauma she has had to go through being in bondage, seeing every face that put her through the situation she is in.
The second stanza of the song alludes to the protection that every person needs and the fall that must come, regardless of who you are. The reflections that she sees and the words of the man crying alone resonate with the pains and the yearnings for freedom to be unshackled from whatever binds one's soul. The repetition of the line "Any day now, any day now, I shall be released" creates a sense of strong conviction that she would be liberated from her present situation soonest.
In conclusion, “I Shall be Released” is a poignant song that addresses themes of imprisonment, freedom, tyranny, and hope. Beth's expression through the lyrics symbolizes a frustrated soul, that even though all may appear dark, there is still hope on the horizon.
Line by Line Meaning
They say that everything can be replaced
People say that anything can be replaced but not every problem can be solved.
Yet every distance is not near
Even though two things may seem similar, they might be completely different.
Yet I remember every face
I recall every person who has caused me pain and put me in this situation.
Of every man that put me here
Every person who has caused me to end up in this situation is remembered by me.
I see my light come shining
I can feel hope coming my way.
From the west unto the east
This feeling of hope is coming from every direction.
Any day now any day now
Soon, very soon, I will be able to break free from this situation.
I shall be released
I know that someday, I will be free from all of this pain and suffering.
They say that every man needs protection
Many people believe that it is important for everyone to take care of themselves.
They say that every man must fall
It is widely believed that everyone will suffer at some point in their lives.
Yet I swear I see my reflection
Despite the difficult times, I can still see myself and my worth.
Some place so high above this wall
I envision a place beyond my current struggles where I can truly be free.
Standing next to me in this lonely crowd
Even though I feel alone, there are others with me in similar situations.
I see a man who swears he's not to blame
I see someone who is also in a challenging situation but insists that it is not their fault.
All day long I hear him crying alone
I can hear their pain and see how much they are suffering even if no one else can.
Saying that he's been framed
They believe that they have been wrongly accused and punished.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Duncan King
What a voice, she's so talented - catch her on Jools Holland tour