The Roots, also known as The Legendary Roots Crew, The Square Roots and The… Read Full Bio ↴The Roots, also known as The Legendary Roots Crew, The Square Roots and The Foundation, are an influential, Grammy winning hip hop group based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, famed for a heavily jazzy sound and live instrumentation. Inspired by the "hip-hop band" concept pioneered by Stetsasonic, the Roots themselves have garnered critical acclaim and influenced later hip-hop and R&B acts.

The Roots' original lineup included Black Thought (MC vocals) and Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson (drums), who were classmates at the Philadelphia High School for Creative Performing Arts. As they began to play at school and on the streets, they added another MC named Malik B., bassist Leonard Hubbardand keyboardist Scott Storch. Another MC, Dice Raw, frequently made album appearances with the group from 1995 to 1999 before leaving to record a solo album. Scott Storch also left to pursue career as a producer following the Do You Want More?!!!??! album, He produced songs such as Still D.R.E. by Dr Dre. The Roots filled his void with another keyboardist, Kamal who is still a member. A beatboxer named Rahzel also joined the group and contributed from 1995-1999. Alongside Rahzel was vocal turntablist, Scratch who greatly contributed to The Roots' sound, most notably in live concerts. He left the group in 2003. Malik B. left the group in 2000. A guitarist, Ben Kenney, enjoyed a short stint with the group and contributed to their Phrenology album, but left to join Incubus. A percussionist, Knuckles, was added in 2002 and guitarist, Kirk Douglas (a.k.a. "Captain Kirk") repleaced Kenney. A vocalist, Martin Luther toured with The Roots in 2003 and 2004 and contributed to their album The Tipping Point. The current members of The Roots are Black Thought (MC vocals), ?uestlove (drums), Hub (bass), Kamal (keyboard), Knuckles (percussion), and Captain Kirk (guitar).

The Roots' debut album, Organix released in 1993, was actually a live recording from a concert in Germany that the Roots sold at their shows. The album earned enough industry buzz to earn the Roots offers from major record labels, and they signed with DGC records, which at the time was better known for its grunge music releases.

The Roots' first album for DGC, Do You Want More?!!!??! (recorded live without the use of samples), was a moderate hit on alternative radio. Their 1996 release Illadelph Halflife was the group's first album to crack the Top 40 on Billboard's album chart, spurred in part by MTV's airplay of the video for "What They Do", a parody of rap video clichés such as the "beatdown shot," and "Clones" which was their first to single to reach the top five on the rap charts.

In 1999, The Roots released Things Fall Apart (named after a novel by Chinua Achebe), their breakthrough album. The track "You Got Me", duet with R'n'B singer Erykah Badu, earned them a Grammy award for Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group.

In 2000, Dice Raw left the group to record his solo debut album, Reclaiming the Dead.

The Roots' reputation as a hip-hop live band made Jay-Z call on them for his MTV Unplugged album in 2002. The album featured good recreations of many of his great songs, played by the band with a little help from female vocalist Jaguar Wright.

2002's Phrenology introduced a more mainstream sound for the Roots, earning a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album. The album's sales were boosted by radio and TV airplay for two duets on the album, "Break You Off" (featuring Musiq Soulchild) and "The Seed 2.0" (featuring Cody ChestnuTT). The video for "The Seed 2.0" earned a nomination for the MTV2 Award at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards. "The Seed" was also featured on the soundtrack to the Mandy Moore movie Chasing Liberty. Phrenology was certified gold (signifying U.S. sales of at least 500,000 units) in June 2003.

The Roots' 2004 release, The Tipping Point, took its name from a 2000 book by Malcolm Gladwell. The album earned two more Grammy nominations: one for Best Urban/Alternative Performance for the track "Star", and another for Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group for the track "Don't Say Nuthin'". The album was an immediate hit, debuting at #4 on the Billboard album chart and selling over 100,000 copies in its first week of release.

On November 15, 2005 The Roots released two compilation albums, Home Grown! The Beginner's Guide To Understanding The Roots, Volumes 1 & 2. These two separately sold discs are a compilation of past hits, live performances, and rare remixes compiled by ?uestlove himself. They also feature 70 pages of liner notes written by ?uestlove. These two albums marked the Roots' last releases on Geffen Records.

The Roots' album, Game Theory, was released on August 29, 2006. The album, which features a track that samples the song "You and Whose Army" by Radiohead, was released on Jay-Z's Def Jam.

The Roots next album 'Rising Down' was released on April 29th 2008. Features tracks with Common, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Saigon, and other greats.

The Make Me Songfacts reports that The Roots' eleventh album, undun, is their first concept album. It tells the story of a man called Redford Stephens who died in 1999 at the age of 25. We hear Redford retelling his life post-mortem and attempting to deconstruct what led to his undoing.

The Roots are also the house band on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon airing first on March 2nd, 2009.

I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free
The Roots Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I wish I knew how, it would feel, to be free
I wish I could break, all the chains, holding me
And I wish I could say, all the things, that I should say
Say 'em loud, say 'em clear, for the whole world to hear

I wish I could share, all the love, that's in my heart
Remove all the bars, that keep, us apart
And 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, I'm longing to give
And I wish I could live, like I'm longing to live
And I wish I could do, all the things I can do
Though I'm way overdue, I'd be starting to move

Well I wish I could be, like a bird up in the sky
How sweet it would be, if I found I could fly
Well I'd soar to the sun, then I'd look down at the sea
Then I'd sing cause I'd know
Yes I'd, sing cause I'd know
Sing cause I know

I know I'm free, yeah
Yes I know I'm free

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Roots' song "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free" express a longing for freedom and the desire to break free from the chains that hold the singer back. The first verse begins with a wish to understand the true feeling of freedom, expressing a desire to break free from the constraints and limitations. The chains mentioned here can be seen as metaphorical barriers that prevent the singer from expressing themselves fully.

The second verse continues the theme of breaking down barriers, but this time the focus is on love and connection. The singer wishes to share the love in their heart and remove the barriers that create division among people. By removing these bars, the song suggests that unity and understanding can be achieved. The wish for others to truly understand the experiences and struggles faced by the singer emphasizes the importance of empathy and the belief that freedom should be universal.

In the third verse, the song takes a more personal tone. The singer expresses a longing to give and live freely, suggesting a sense of unfulfilled potential and a desire for self-expression. The line "Though I'm way overdue, I'd be starting to move" implies a sense of stagnation or being held back for a long time. The lyrics convey a feeling of restlessness and impassioned desire to break free from the current circumstances and embrace a life of freedom.

The final verse introduces a bird as a symbol of freedom and liberation. The singer wishes they could be like a bird flying freely in the sky, symbolizing the ultimate freedom from earthly constraints. The imagery of soaring to the sun and looking down at the sea portrays a sense of liberation and experiencing life from a new perspective. The song concludes with the affirmation of freedom, stating that the singer knows they are free. This serves as a powerful declaration, embracing the longing for freedom expressed throughout the song.

Overall, "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free" conveys a strong desire for personal and universal freedom. The lyrics depict a yearning to break free from societal, emotional, and personal limitations, as well as a deep longing for self-expression and the ability to live freely. The song encourages listeners to reflect on the importance of freedom and the barriers that need to be overcome in order to achieve it.

Line by Line Meaning

I wish I knew how, it would feel, to be free
I long to understand the indescribable sensation of liberation

I wish I could break, all the chains, holding me
I yearn to shatter the figurative bonds that confine me

And I wish I could say, all the things, that I should say
I desire to express every thought that should be voiced

Say 'em loud, say 'em clear, for the whole world to hear
Utter them with volume and clarity, so the entire world may listen

I wish I could share, all the love, that's in my heart
I want to offer the immense affection residing within me

Remove all the bars, that keep, us apart
Eradicate the barriers hindering our unity

And I wish you could know, what it means, to be me
I hope you could comprehend the essence of my existence

Then you'd see, and agree, that every man, should be free
Upon realization, you would concur that freedom should be granted to all individuals

I wish I could give, I'm longing to give
I yearn to bestow, to be generous with my offerings

And I wish I could live, like I'm longing to live
I aspire to embrace the way of life I deeply desire

And I wish I could do, all the things I can do
I wish to utilize my potential to accomplish countless endeavors

Though I'm way overdue, I'd be starting to move
Despite the delay, I would commence my journey

Well I wish I could be, like a bird up in the sky
I yearn to experience the freedom of a bird soaring in the heavens

How sweet it would be, if I found I could fly
The delight I would encounter upon discovering my ability to fly

Well I'd soar to the sun, then I'd look down at the sea
I would ascend towards the sun and admire the vastness of the sea beneath me

Then I'd sing cause I'd know
Subsequently, I would rejoice in song for I would be aware

Yes I'd, sing cause I'd know
Indeed, I would sing because I would possess the certainty

Sing cause I know
Sing to express my knowledge

I know I'm free, yeah
I am conscious of my freedom

Yes I know I'm free
Certainly, I am aware that I am liberated

Lyrics © NAVARROPHONIC MUSIC, Royalty Network
Written by: Ken Navarro, Roberto Vally

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Александр Ненилин

5y↑4

And I wish I knew how
It would feel to be free
I wish I could break
All the chains holdin' me
I wish I could say
All the things that I should say
Say 'em loud say 'em clear
For the whole 'round world to hear
I wish I could share
All the love that's in my heart
Remove all the doubts
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 longing to live
I wish I could do all the things that I can do
And though I'm way over due
I'd be startin' a new
Well I wish I could be
Like a bird up in the sky
How sweet it would be
If I found out I could fly
So long to my song
And look down upon the sea
And I sing because I know yeah
And I sing because I know yeah
And I sing because I know
I would know how it feels
I would know how it feels to be free
I would know how it feels
Yes, I would know
I would know how it feels, how it feels
To be free, no no

All comments from YouTube:

Александр Ненилин

5y↑4

Cristian Carreño León

7y↑2

Amo esta canción ;)

JZMTV

Wow loved this! How wonderful to have "stumbled" across this Civil Rights Anthem written by the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master and co-founder of Jazzmobile - Dr. Billy Taylor! Always a joy to hear it interpreted by different artists; I am also fond of Nina Simone's, and Andra Day's (2018) performances! "I Wish I Knew How it Will Feel to Be Free" is still relevant for so many at home and around the globe.