Lyr ADD: If I Were Free (Travis Edmonson)

Subject: Lyr Req: If I Were Free
From: Franz S.
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 02:32 PM

I've already searched DT and other indices. Should be able to find this, but I can't. There are 4 references to it on other threads, but I already know the chorus:

Subject: Lyr Add: IF I WERE FREE (Travis Edmonson)
From: Marion in Cornwall
Date: 06 Jun 04 - 02:52 PM

I wonder if this is the one you're looking for. It was sung by Peter, Paul & Mary.

All the best
Marion

IF I WERE FREE
Travis Edmonson

Chorus:
If I were free to speak my mind,
I'd tell a tale to all mankind
Of how the flowers do bloom and fade
Of how we've fought and how we've paid.

This weary world has had its fill
Of words of war on every hill
The time has come for peaceful days
And peaceful men of peaceful ways.

Chorus

When all mankind has ceased to fight
I'll raise my head in thanks each night
For this rich Earth and all it means
For golden days and peaceful dreams.

Chorus

---

from Joe Offer 18 Oct 2021

Here are the lyrics from a cache of the Website www.travisedmonson.com

IF I WERE FREE
(Travis Edmonson)

Lyrics to this Travis Edmonson composition which he did not sing on record

The lyrics on the Edmonson Website are exactly the same as what's posted above.

Subject: Lyr Req: If I Were Free To Speak My Mind
From: Franz S.
Date: 07 Jun 04 - 10:56 AM

I swear this song was once almost as commonly sung as Michael Row The Boat Ashore, but I hadn't heard it for many years. Then a week ago I heard someone off somewhere at a campground singing it but couldn't get the words from them. I've googled it and checked DT plus other indices but found nothing but passing references.   I would appreciate words and music ( Iknow the tune, but I can't translate that into chords or key.

Thanks

Subject: Lyr Add: IF I WERE FREE (Travis Edmonson)
From: JennyO
Date: 07 Jun 04 - 11:18 AM

Peter, Paul & Mary - If I Were Free

IF I WERE FREE
(Travis Edmonson)

Chorus:
If I were free to speak my mind,
I'd tell a tale to all mankind
Of how the flowers do bloom and fade
Of how we've fought and how we've paid.

This weary world has had its fill
Of words of war on every hill
The time has come for peaceful days
And peaceful men of peaceful ways.

(chorus)

When all mankind has ceased to fight
I'll raise my head in thanks each night
For this rich earth and all it means
For golden days and peaceful dreams.

(chorus)


And here is a site with the guitar chords.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If I Were Free To Speak My Mind
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Jun 04 - 01:21 PM

It's a nice song. It's the first cut on PP&M's See What Tomorrow Brings album, which says the song was written by Travis Edmonson (Carte Music Co. c/o Larry Shayne Music, Inc. ASCAP). I wonder who Edmonson is/was, and if he's written anything else that's worth learning.
Anybody know anything about Edmonson?

The lyrics for all PP&M recordings can be found at www.peterpaulandmary.com
I wish more artists would do that.

-Joe Offer-

---

I shoulda Googled before I posted. Travis Edmonson was half of the group Bud and Travis. I saw a Bud & Travis CD when I was reorganizing my CD collection last week. I wonder where it is now...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If I Were Free To Speak My Mind
From: Franz S.
Date: 07 Jun 04 - 05:54 PM

Thank you, JennyO. Prompt service from Mudcat as (almost) always. And Joe, remember, always google before and after meals.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If I Were Free To Speak My Mind
From:
Date: 27 Jun 04 - 07:16 PM

I wonder if anyone has the lyrics that PP&M sing to this tune in French, called "Il Faut Qu'il Vienne le Temps"? It's on the "Carry it On" CD. The PP&M website only has the words to "If I were free", although the song on the CD is listed as above. Thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If I Were Free To Speak My Mind
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 27 Jun 04 - 10:45 PM

I used the chorus of this song to tie a medley of several protest songs together. Many of those songs were great songs but may have been from historical movements that might've been discredited, or at least diminished, by revisionist history or just the passing of time---or both. I changed the medley all the time. Current events had a fascinating way of making the old songs mean something again.

As I'm fond of saying, "History repeats. It just costs twice as much every time around."


Or: "If it wasn't for time, we'd have to do everything all at once."

;-)

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If I Were Free To Speak My Mind
From: Rapparee
Date: 27 Jun 04 - 10:54 PM

Heavens, Art, you're right about that! I find myself walking around these days, singing either out loud or mentally such songs as "Sergeant, I'm a Draftee" and "Small Circle of Friends" and "Lyndon Johnson Told The Nation" (with the names changed slightly) and "Shores of Santo Domingo" and...well, you get the idea. Plus ca change....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If I Were Free To Speak My Mind
From: GUEST,Lyn F
Date: 17 Jan 05 - 06:53 PM

I was looking for the English translation of the French lyrics too. The English version is entirely different. When I found this website, I figured that I'd better brush up on my high school French and translate it myself. So, with the help of my French dictionary and quite a bit of time, I think I have it pretty well. The translation is pretty literal, and not very poetic, but at least you can sing the French lyrics and know what you are singing. Here goes.

  Il Faut Qu'il Vienne Le Temps           The Time Has Come
  
  Je voudrais bien                        I would very much like
  Ouvrir mon coeur                        To open my heart
  Car il est plein                        For it is full 
  De nos malheurs                         Of our misfortunes
  
  Non, jamais plus                        No, never again
  Ne reviendra                            No returning to
  Le temps perdu                          The lost time
  De nos combats                          Of our fighting
  
  Le complet monde                        The whole world
  Est tout couvert                        Is all covered
  Des trous des bombes                    With bomb holes
  Et du poussiere                         And with dust
  
  Il faut qu'il vienne                    The time has come
  Le temps promis                         The promised time
  Le temps du fait                        The time to make
  Le grand devis                          The great accounting
  
  [Repeat chorus]
  
  Quand les coleres                        When the angers
  Seront tombees                           Will be dropped 
  La terre entiere                         The whole world
  Aura chantee                             Will be singing
  
  Des mots nouveaux                        Some new words
  Des mots du paix                         Some words of peace
  Pour lex troupesux                       For the flocks
  Et les bergers                           And the shepherds
  
  [Repeat chorus]

Subject: Lyr Req: if i were free
From: Rasta
Date: 25 Jul 07 - 12:47 AM

howdy all buckaroos n buckaretts its the rastaaaa, who know whrere to find the lyrics for a tune i first heard by Diane and the greenbriar boys , i knoow ppnm also cut it thanx rastaaa

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: if i were free
From: Rasta
Date: 25 Jul 07 - 01:36 AM

forgive me the song is on the thread and its call -if i were free- rastaa

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: if i were free
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 25 Jul 07 - 08:39 AM

IF I WERE FREE, written by Travis Edmonson, has been recorded by The Country Gentlemen; Peter, Paul & Mary; Billy Strange; Dian & the Greenbriar Boys; and possibly others.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If I Were Free To Speak My Mind
From: open mike
Date: 01 Mar 08 - 11:59 AM

see this site for Travis Edmonson I know someone who has sung this song all around the world.
If I were Free to Speak my Mind.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If I Were Free (Travis Edmonson)
From: GUEST,#
Date: 18 Jan 21 - 05:24 PM

Here it is from Dian and the Greenbriar Boys <-----note spelling of Dian

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPyZpDy39B0

The song is at 30:40 on YouTube

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If I Were Free (Travis Edmonson)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Oct 21 - 02:46 AM

Here are the lyrics from a cache of the Website www.travisedmonson.com

IF I WERE FREE
(Travis Edmonson)

Lyrics to this Travis Edmonson composition which he did not sing on record:

This weary world has had its fill
Of words of war on every hill.
The time has come for peaceful days
And peaceful men of peaceful ways.

If I were free to speak my mind,
I'd tell a tale to all mankind
Of how the flowers do bloom and fade
Of how we've fought and how we've paid.

When all mankind has ceased to fight
I'll raise my head in thanks each night
For this rich Earth and all it means
For golden days and peaceful dreams.

If I were free to speak my mind,
I'd tell a tale to all mankind
Of how the flowers do bloom and fade
Of how we've fought and how we've paid.