Together with a fourth brother, Vernon, the group performed gospel music until Vernon's death a few years after its formation. After moving to the New York City area in the late 1950s, the group had their first successes during these early years, first coming to prominence in 1959 with their fourth single, "Shout", written by the three brothers. Initially a modest charted single, the song eventually sold over a million copies. In the 1960s, the group recorded songs for a variety of labels, including the top 20 single "Twist and Shout" and the Motown single "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)", before recording and issuing the Grammy Award-winning hit "It's Your Thing" on their own label, T-Neck Records.
Influenced by gospel and doo-wop music, the group began experimenting with different musical styles incorporating elements of rock and funk as well as pop balladry. The inclusion of younger brothers Ernie Isley (lead guitar, drums) and Marvin Isley (bass guitar), and Rudolph's brother-in-law Chris Jasper (keyboards, synthesizers), in 1973 turned the original vocal trio into a complete band and reached the height of their success. For the next full decade, they recorded a string of top-selling albums from 3 + 3 to Between the Sheets, including the number one album The Heat Is On.
The six-member band splintered in 1983, with Ernie, Marvin, and Chris Jasper forming the short-lived spinoff group Isley-Jasper-Isley. The oldest member, O'Kelly, died in 1986 and Rudolph and Ronald released a pair of albums as a duo before Rudolph retired to a life in the Christian ministry in 1989. Ronald reconvened the group two years later in 1991 with Ernie and Marvin; five years later, in 1996, Marvin Isley left the group due to complications of diabetes. The remaining duo of Ronald and Ernie achieved mainstream success with the albums Mission to Please (1996), Eternal (2001) and Body Kiss (2003). Eternal spawned the top twenty hit "Contagious". As of 2019, the Isley Brothers continue to perform under the lineup of Ronald and Ernie.
The Isley Brothers have sold over 18 million units in the United States alone. They have had several hit songs including four Top 10 singles on the United States Billboard chart. With their first major hit charting in 1959 ("Shout"), and their last one in 2001 ("Contagious"), they are among the few groups ever to have hit the Billboard Hot 100 with new music in five different decades. Sixteen of their albums charted in the Top 40 and thirteen of those albums have been certified gold, platinum or multi-platinum by the RIAA. The brothers have been honored by several musical institutions, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which inducted them in 1992. Five years later, they were added to Hollywood's Rockwalk, and in 2003 they were inducted to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. They received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Isley_Brothers
Studio albums
Shout! (1959)
Twist & Shout (1962)
Twisting and Shouting (1963)
This Old Heart of Mine (1966)
Soul on the Rocks (1967)
It's Our Thing (1969)
The Brothers: Isley (1969)
Get into Something (1970)
Givin' It Back (1971)
Brother, Brother, Brother (1972)
3 + 3 (1973)
Live It Up (1974)
The Heat Is On (1975)
Harvest for the World (1976)
Go for Your Guns (1977)
Showdown (1978)
Winner Takes All (1979)
Go All the Way (1980)
Grand Slam (1981)
Inside You (1981)
The Real Deal (1982)
Between the Sheets (1983)
Masterpiece (1985)
Smooth Sailin' (1987)
Spend the Night (1989)
Tracks of Life (1992)
Mission to Please (1996)
Eternal (2001)
Body Kiss (2003)
Baby Makin' Music (2006)
Power of Peace (2017)
Freedom
The Isley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, I wanna say, I wanna tell you
I wanna say when you can do what you wanna do
And go where you wanna go
And live where you wanna live
And love who you wanna love
Join what you wanna join
Well, well, well, that's freedom
Yeah, yeah, freedom, yes sir
When you can learn what you wanna learn
And read what you wanna read
(Free, free, free)
And write what you wanna write
(Free, free, free)
Do what you feel is right
(Free, free, free)
Hey, hey, hey, hey, freedom, freedom
Oh yeah, freedom, freedom, freedom
Oh yeah, freedom, oh that's freedom, freedom
Freedom, freedom, freedom, freedom, oh yeah
Free
When you can eat what you wanna eat
And sleep where you wanna sleep
And say what you wanna say
I like the children play what they wanna play
And work when you wanna work
Flirt when you wanna flirt
Oh, that's freedom, freedom, freedom, freedom
Freedom, freedom, freedom, freedom
When you can laugh when you wanna laugh
And cry when you wanna cry
(Free, free, free)
And don't have to feel ashamed
(Free, free, free)
Sing the song you wanna sing
(Free, free, free)
When you can buy what you wanna buy
(Free, free, free)
When no one to ask you why
(Free, free, free)
Dress the way you wanna dress
(Free, free, free)
Just because you feel the space
(Free, free, free)
Rock the way you wanna rock
(Free, free, free)
Talk the way you wanna talk
(Free, free, free)
Shake the way you wanna shake
(Free, free, free)
No one to put you at
(Free, free, free)
Oh, that's freedom, freedom
Freedom, freedom, oh yeah
Freedom, that's freedom, freedom, freedom
Freedom, freedom, freedom, freedom
Freedom, oh, freedom, freedom, freedom
Freedom, freedom, freedom
The Isley Brothers’ song “Freedom” is an anthem about the fundamental human right to live a life where one can be free to express themselves without fear of judgment and oppression. The song highlights the diverse aspects of freedom that we may take for granted but are essential in living an authentic life. The opening lines of the song, “Freedom, this is what I call freedom,” set the tone for its overall message.
The song talks about freedom in different contexts. It covers emotional, physical, and intellectual freedom. The lyrics speak about the freedom to do what you want to do, love who you want to love, and live the life you want. It also speaks to the freedom to read, write, learn, and explore without boundaries. The song also delves into the freedom to express oneself in different forms, such as speaking, singing, and dressing however one pleases.
The song “Freedom” is a powerful piece that speaks to the essentiality of being human. It highlights that freedom isn’t just about being able to make choices, but, more importantly, it's the right to live one’s life, respecting upholding their dignity as human beings. The Isley Brothers’ anthem is a nod to freedom in its purest form.
Line by Line Meaning
Freedom, this is what I call freedom
The true definition of freedom is being able to do what you want.
Well, I wanna say, I wanna tell you
I need to express the following thoughts:
I wanna say when you can do what you wanna do
You get freedom once you have the ability to do things that you desire.
And go where you wanna go
One must have the freedom to travel where they choose to go.
And live where you wanna live
Freedom empowers individuals to settle anywhere they choose.
And love who you wanna love
Freedom enables people to love whoever they wish.
And be what you wanna be
A person must have the right to be whoever they want to be.
Join what you wanna join
Joining groups or communities should be a free choice.
Well, well, well, that's freedom
All of the above are what true freedom is defined by.
When you can learn what you wanna learn
Freedom is the ability to learn whatever subject interests an individual.
And read what you wanna read
Being able to read and gather information of one's choosing is a representation of true freedom.
And write what you wanna write
In freedom, an individual must be allowed to express their own thoughts and write as they please.
Do what you feel is right
Following one's intuition and being allowed to do what one thinks is correct is true freedom.
Hey, hey, hey, hey, freedom, freedom
Freedom is a call to action.
Oh yeah, freedom, freedom, freedom
Freedom needs to be repeated as its importance cannot be overemphasized.
When you can eat what you wanna eat
Freedom is expressed when one can choose what they want to eat freely.
And sleep where you wanna sleep
A person should be free to sleep wherever and whenever they choose.
And say what you wanna say
In Freedom, people are allowed to voice their own opinions without fear.
I like the children play what they wanna play
Children must be allowed to play whatever they desire without outside control.
And work when you wanna work
People must be allowed to work when they feel it is necessary.
Flirt when you wanna flirt
Individuals should be free to flirt whenever and however they want.
When you can laugh when you wanna laugh
Laughter is a free expression and must be allowed whenever and as often as desired.
And cry when you wanna cry
Individuals should be allowed to cry without fear at any time of their choosing.
And don't have to feel ashamed
Freedom is represented when individuals do not have to feel shameful for expressing themselves authentically.
Sing the song you wanna sing
Freedom empowers individuals to sing any song they desire.
When you can buy what you wanna buy
Buying whatever an individual desires is a reflection of freedom.
When no one to ask you why
Individuals must have the right to purchase things without anyone asking questions.
Dress the way you wanna dress
Freedom allows people to dress in the fashion they desire.
Just because you feel the space
Clothing choices must be free and made based on personal feelings and preferences.
Rock the way you wanna rock
Individuals ought to play music the way they choose in true freedom.
Talk the way you wanna talk
People should be allowed to express themselves however they feel in freedom.
Shake the way you wanna shake
Individuals must be allowed to dance freely in whatever manner they choose.
No one to put you at
No one should feel they have the right to compromise someone else’s freedom.
Oh, that's freedom, freedom
The aforementioned are what makes up true freedom.
Freedom, freedom, oh yeah
Freedom is important and must be respected.
Freedom, that's freedom, freedom, freedom
It needs to be said again that Freedom includes all the aforementioned aspects.
Freedom, freedom, freedom, freedom
Freedom is reiterated again for emphasis, with each repetition representing an aspect of freedom.
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing
Written by: R ISLEY, K ISLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind