Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Derek Trucks took up the guitar at age 9, and it was quickly apparent that he was a child prodigy. He was playing with a band and touring within two years. His early repertoire was heavily blues-based, obviously inspired by The Allman Brothers Band, of which his uncle, drummer Butch Trucks, is a founding member. Older bluesmen like Howlin' Wolf, jazz musicians Miles Davis, Sun Ra, John Coltrane, Charlie Christian and later Wayne Shorter and many others, became an influence for Trucks a few years later. Eastern Music, mainly Indian Classical, also affected Trucks's musical development, primarily his slide guitar playing, which is often compared to that of Duane Allman but is also heavily influenced by sarod players like Ali Akbar Khan. In 2003, he was the youngest guitarist on Rolling Stone magazine's list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All-Time, and has been hailed as one of the greatest slide guitarists since Duane Allman.
Trucks formed his first band at age 12, and played his first gigs with them as "Derek and the Dominators". Later, Atlanta's jazz and blues bassist Todd Smallie joined Trucks in 1994, and became the first member of what is now the current version of The Derek Trucks Band. When Trucks really set about assembling a lasting band, he was by his reckoning about 14 years old. Smallie, on bass, was the first to join him. As a result, Trucks feels that he's "kind of grown up with him." A year later in 1995, drummer Yonrico Scott completed the band's early rhythm section. The band released its self-titled debut album, The Derek Trucks Band, in 1997, and followed with Out of the Madness in 1999. Scott has been playing with Trucks for over 16 years as of 2008. According to Derek Trucks: "We've developed a kind of 'musical ESP'.. it's nice to have somebody that you don't have to look at...he's just right there with you."
Kofi Burbridge joined the band shortly thereafter, contributing to the band's sound as a multi-instrumentalist, with his versatility on keyboards, flute, and vocals. Like his brother, whom Trucks plays with in the Allman Brothers Band, bassist Oteil Burbridge, Kofi Burbridge's education was primarily rooted in classical and jazz music. In an interview upon the release of their 2002 album, Joyful Noise, Trucks laughingly commented, "Kofi Burbridge has been with us maybe 2-3 years, and he's one of the few musical geniuses that I've had the chance to work with, he's totally insane"... continuing, "I'm really anxious to see in the next few years to see where he takes this, because he's definitely a huge part of what's going on right now."
In 2002 the band's producers, Craig Street and John Snyder recommended singer Mike Mattison to the band. Mattison performed several shows with the band, and Trucks decided Mattison's soulful voice and calm stage presence completed the band's identity. Trucks said of Mattison, "He's got a huge range, so that helps us out a lot when we stretch into some of the different material we cover. It's like having three different vocalists onstage at times. It's a tough piece of the puzzle to find, you know -- a good singer who fits with what you're doing -- so we were very fortunate to hook up with Mike." Mattison had a previous band as well-- a vocal duo, called Scrapomatic, with Paul Olsen, a guitarist and vocalist, whom he still performs with at occasional gigs, including some opening sets for The Derek Trucks Band. The band's final member, Count M'Butu is the only band member that does not appear on every tour. M'Butu, the group's eldest member, plays a variety of African drums. Trucks mentions casually that he had known M'Butu for many years before he joined the Derek Trucks Band, as M'Butu was a regular musical fixture in Atlanta; one of the bastions of the Allman Brothers fan bases.
Trucks' guitar playing is unusual in a number of respects. He steadfastly avoids processing and effects, preferring to get the purest tone possible by connecting his guitar directly to his amplifier, a 1964 Fender Super Reverb. He modifies his tone with the controls on the guitar. He plays without the use of a plectrum (pick), using his fingers instead, plucking primarily with the thumb, index and middle fingers, but also using the ring finger on occasion. He developed his technique himself. His guitar is always tuned to 'Open E'. From the low to high string, (i.e., EBEG#Be) he slightly detunes his low E string (a technique he and Jimmy Herring developed while playing together). Open E is a normal tuning for slide players, as it allows them to form chords more easily, but over the years he has become a highly acclaimed straight lead player without switching to standard tuning (EADGBe).
In 2001, Trucks married singer/guitarist Susan Tedeschi. The couple have two children: Charles Kahlil Trucks (born March 8, 2002), and Sophia Naima Trucks (born August 9, 2004). Charles is named for saxophonist Charlie Parker and guitarist Charlie Christian; his middle name is taken from author Khalil Gibran. The name Sophia has mystic overtones (meaning "Wisdom" in Greek), and the unusual middle name comes from the John Coltrane ballad, which Coltrane named after his first wife, Naima.
In 1999, Derek Trucks joined his uncle, drummer Butch Trucks, as a member of The Allman Brothers Band, while continuing to lead his own band. With the Allman Brothers Band he has performed on 2000's Peakin' at the Beacon, 2003's Hittin' the Note, 2003's live DVD At the Beacon Theatre, and 2004's One Way Out.
As of early 2006, Trucks is an accompanying guitarist in Eric Clapton's 2006-2007 touring band. In early 2006, Trucks lost equipment, as an equipment trailer was stolen. Some of the gear was recovered on May 18, 2006, as reported in the Columbia Records Derek Trucks Forum. Gear that was reported as recovered from a field outside Atlanta, GA includes Derek's "1965 BFSR, the amp he's been playing since he was a young boy; Derek's 1968 SFSR (one of the backup amps),the DTB's Hammond B-3, two Leslies, a Hohner E-7 Clavinet, and a few other minor items."
I Wish I Knew
The Derek Trucks Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It would feel to be free
I wish I could break
All the chains holding me
I wish I could say
All the things that I should say
Say 'em loud say 'em clear
I wish I could share
All the love that's in my heart
Remove all the bars
That keep us apart
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
All I'm longin' to give
I wish I could live
Like I'm longin' to live
I wish I could do
All the things that I can do
And though I'm way over due
I'd be starting a new
Well I wish I could be
Like a bird in the sky
How sweet it would be
If I found I could fly
Oh I'd soar to the sun
And look down at the sea
Than I'd sing 'cause I know, yea
Then I'd sing 'cause I know, yea
Then I'd sing 'cause I know
I'd know how it feels
Oh I know how it feels to be free
Yea yea! oh, I know how it feels
Yes I know
Oh, I know
How it feels
How it feels
To be free
"I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free" is a song about freedom and wanting to break free from personal chains that are holding the singer back. It's a plea for change and the opportunity for the singer to be able to give all that they long to give and do all the things they want to do. The first few lines of the song express the singer's desire to experience the feeling of being free, and goes on to describe the things they would do if they were given the chance: to speak their mind, to share their love, to remove the barriers that hinder human connection, and to have the freedom and ability to do all that they want to do.
The song highlights the singer's longing for self-expression and to be able to live their life fully. It's a powerful message of hope, resilience, and the deep human desire to be free. The repetition of the phrase "I wish" at the beginning of each new stanza emphasizes the singer's desire and feeling of being trapped. The song concludes on a hopeful note, with the singer imagining the freedom that comes with being able to do what they want and soar high like a bird in the sky.
Line by Line Meaning
I wish I knew how
I want to understand how it would feel to be liberated from limitations
It would feel to be free
To feel emancipated from anything that binds or constricts you
I wish I could break
I want to sever and destroy all the physical and emotional shackles that bind me
All the chains holding me
Any and all barriers or obstructions that stand in the way of living a free and authentic life
I wish I could say
Would like to have the opportunity to express myself freely and truthfully
All the things that I should say
Everything that weighs on my mind and heart that I need to say to be free and live an authentic life
Say 'em loud say 'em clear
Express them in a manner that is loud and clear, without being hindered or held back
For the whole round world to hear
I want to express myself and live a free life, no matter what anyone else says or thinks
I wish I could share
I want to impart my experiences with everyone, and have them understand me and what I'm going through
All the love that's in my heart
The love that I have for others, and that others might have for me
Remove all the bars
To annihilate any and all barriers that will prohibit humans from coexisting harmoniously
That keep us apart
References people being cut off from one another by physical or psychological barriers
I wish you could know
Desires others to learn how to truly understand each other
What it means to be me
No one can really understand how I experience the world but myself and understanding that leads to more empathy
Then you'd see and agree
If someone could see what it truly means to be me, then they would understand and support me
That every man should be free
If everyone had the chance to experience total freedom, it would only lead to greater understanding, empathy, and unity
I wish I could give
Desired to be able to give freely, whether that means love, acceptance, or other resources
All I'm longin' to give
To provide and fill others' needs and desires without being limited
I wish I could live
Desired to lead a life free from conventions and restraints
Like I'm longin' to live
The way I want to live, according to my own personal hopes and wishes
I wish I could do
To have the ability to do anything I want, without fear of judgment or reprisals
All the things that I can do
The wide range of activities and experiences that might be considered taboo or unconventional by society's constraints
And though I'm way over due
I probably waited too long to start shaking off societal norms and restraints.
I'd be starting a new
To start living according to my own choices and desires rather than previous limitations
Well I wish I could be
Unrestricted and able to fly wherever and whenever I wanted
Like a bird in the sky
Like a bird that travels wherever it wishes to
How sweet it would be
It would be sweet to feel free and unchained
If I found I could fly
If only I could break free from my limitations and fly away
Oh I'd soar to the sun
I would go as far as I possibly could, as Up and as high as possible
And look down at the sea
To gain a new perspective that can only be made visible by rising above everything.
Than I'd sing 'cause I know, yea
I would sing praises to the feeling, loved ones and to the universe
Then I'd sing 'cause I know, yea
To express gratitude for finally breaking free from limitations
Then I'd sing 'cause I know
Expressing full gratitude for being free
I'd know how it feels
To know what it actually means to feel free
Oh I know how it feels to be free
I finally and truly know and understand what being free is and means.
Yea yea! oh, I know how it feels
An exclamation affirming that the knowledge of truly being free.
Yes I know
Full comprehension of the feeling of freedom
Oh, I know
A deep understanding of the meaning of freedom
How it feels
The emotions one experiences once they have achieved real freedom
How it feels
The emotions one experiences once they have achieved real freedom
To be free
Freedom from all of life's limitations, societal or otherwise.
Lyrics © NAVARROPHONIC MUSIC, Royalty Network
Written by: Ken Navarro, Roberto Vally
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
JJNITROFAN
Every time I listen to this masterpiece and the way this band plays it I love it even more!
Tony Nottonson
This album has stayed in my car player for years and always will
Kim Cory
I have loved this version of this Billy Parker, Nino Simone tune for so long. Thank you Mike Mattison, Derek Trucks and miss Sussn Tedeschi for taking this to a higher level
Dr. Francois Clemmons
A Super Version right up there with Nina Simone's which is the very best!!!!! I wish Billy Taylor were still alive to share what folks are doing with this song!!!!!!
MalONProject
I agree with what you wrote @Dr.Francois Clemmons ! Thank you so much !
Crapweeds
Thanks for the upload. This is superb.
miked765
Worthy! Easy enough to play on the 6-string razor and so much feelz!
George Gherkin
I have just made this my ringtone.
MalONProject
Gorgeous @George Gherkin :-)
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