When Shall I Be Free?
Shpongle Lyrics


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When shall I be free?

When I shall cease to be.

No more I, but we...

In perfect harmony.




Overall Meaning

"When Shall I Be Free?" is a song by the English electronic music project Shpongle, which was formed in 1996. This song talks about the search for peace and freedom. The lyrics convey the idea of wanting to break free from the limitations of the ego and the individual self, and become one with the universe. The first line, "when shall I be free?" is a question, a plea, almost a mantra that we keep repeating to ourselves in search of some sort of enlightenment. The next line, "when I shall cease to be" is a reference to the idea of Nirvana, where the self is obliterated and merged with the universe. The third line talks about the dissolution of the individual self into a greater collective consciousness, where the ego is no longer dominant, and the self is subsumed into a bigger whole. The fourth line, "in perfect harmony" is a reference to this greater whole, which is one of perfect harmony and balance.


The tempo of the song is slow and meditative, with layered electronic sounds and pulsating beats that envelop the listener in a cocoon of sound. The lyrics create a sense of longing, almost a desperation for some sort of transcendence. This song is a perfect example of how music can convey complex emotions and ideas without resorting to words. The lyrics are simple, almost cryptic, but the music gives them a depth and richness that is hard to describe.


Line by Line Meaning

When shall I be free?
When will the constraints and limitations of my current existence be lifted?


When I shall cease to be.
Only when I no longer exist as a separate entity and am fully integrated with the universe around me will I truly be free.


No more I, but we...
This freedom will only come when I am no longer singular but rather part of a greater collective consciousness.


In perfect harmony.
This collective consciousness will allow for perfect unity and peace, where all beings and elements work together in balance and harmony.




Contributed by Anthony Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Overstyle 420

When shall I be free?
When I shall cease to be
No more I, but we
In perfect harmony

h7opolo

thanks, simple lyrics, but i always misheard the third line

Amber B

Love this song... <3

Nick

“We’re all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively, there is no such thing as death life is only a dream.”

Crono 333

Here's Nick with the weather!

Luis Miguel

Bill Hicks!

Razi ahmed

Sounds like villians intros bgscore of several Indian films..🔥

Алексей Петров

В 2005 году этот трек отрывал у меня голову.

Серёга Викторович

Полностью солидарен.

Siberian Flow

Я понимаю, что музыка эволюционирует, но сейчас что, не отрывает?) Отличный трек ❤

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