I'm not so sure you're wrong Joe. I think we have the folk process at work here--a protest song reworked from an old spiritual. When I got home Thursday night and played it for Hyp, she started singing along on the choruses right off. She didn't remember it, but she knew it anyway, if you know what I mean. We suspect that she probably sang it at MYF camp as a kid--maybe as "Give Me Jesus," but if "Give Me Freedom" is old enough, they might've sung it as such at the MYF camps she went to. They sang "We Shall Overcome" and such; MYF made her, and I quote, "a George McGovern South Dakota Methodist."

[Of course I like to point out to her that George's background is actually Wesleyan, since my ancestors were Ohio Wesleyan abolitionists, but she rightly accuses me of splitting hairs.]

So I went out looking for MIDIs of "Give Me Jesus" on the Web and found a passel of 'em. They range from very spiritual-sounding to very churchy to very Southern-Harmony-ish. But they all sound pretty darned similar, though not at all identical. We even found an MP3 (all hail Napster, if used in moderation :-)) of a Contemporary Christian singer named Fernando Ortega from New Mexico singing it. The melody he sings is similar as well; Beth described it as "the white boy version" of the tune.

The melody Drew sang for "Give Me Freedom" is the folkiest of them all, and the one I like the most--it's fairly suited to my voice. But I believe that they're related. The notes aren't all identical, but the chord structure and the feel of it are pretty much the same. So even if Drew's is not the "original" tune, I think I'll use it for "Give Me Jesus" when I'm in a gospelly mood. It fits. But I will be very interested to hear the melody you know "Give Me Jesus" by, Joe, when it hits the MIDI archive.

I'll PM Marymac and ask her to impart to us what she might know about the song and its origins.

But anyway, without further ado, yes, Joe, I've transcribed the lyrics from the Radio and here they be:

Give Me Freedom
by ?? (maybe Drew Calvin)

In the morning when I rise
To alarms and babies' cries
And the sun says who's this guy
Give me freedom

When I walk out in this world
And the teardrops shine like pearls
And the day is a flag unfurled
Give me freedom

Chorus:
Give me freedom
Give me freedom
As I make my way
Give me freedom

Give me freedom
Give me freedom
You can have this whole world
Give me freedom

Cause I earn my daily bread
And the bossman cuts me dead
I wish I could bust his head
Give me freedom

When I know I've done it right
And someone will sleep tonight
Because I have fought their fight
Give me freedom

[Chorus]

When the riches of this life
Are laid out before my eyes
I need only pay the price
Give me freedom

When my sweet one makes reply
To my complaints and alibis
With a love that I can't buy
Give me freedom

[Chorus]

When my fondest dreams and hopes
Blow away in a puff of smoke
And my life's a cruel joke
Give me freedom

When my body falls apart
Find a place to lay my heart
Til I make another start
Give me freedom

[Chorus]

So I'm going to learn me up both songs. If you haven't listened to Drew's "Give Me Freedom," by all means get thee to a Mudcat Radio archive and listen to Episode 44. It appears at about 1:46 into the episode. Correct my transcription of the lyrics, if you catch anything I've misheard. Learn it, sing it, spread it. It's a marvelous song.

Chris