Origin: I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to be Free

Subject: Chord Req: Wish I Knew How to be Free- Mary T
From: Ebbie
Date: 30 Aug 05 - 02:04 AM

I have a friend who used to have the songbook 'Mary' that Mary Travers put out but here book never returned from loan.

She knows the lyrics to 'I Wish I Knew How to be Free' but she is interested in suggested chords. I can't help- I've never heard the song.

Help, please? Thank you.

Eb

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Wish I Knew How to be Free- Mary T
From: Nick
Date: 30 Aug 05 - 12:36 PM

There are chords at Guitar Guy site but I don't know how accurate they are. My son has the sheet music at home somewhere if the above link is no good

Subject: ADD: I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to be Free
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 Aug 05 - 12:58 PM

Here are the chords from the Guitar Guy site Nick linked to. I wonder if I can get them to line up right.
-Joe Offer-

I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to be Free

Words & Music by Billy Taylor & Dick Dallas

Recorded by Nina Simone, 1967

  E  A   A6     A7            D9  Dm6     A   E7
  I wish I knew how it would feel to be free;
  
     A   A6      F#m            B7            E   E7
  I wish I could break all the chains holding me.
  
     A   A6      A7            D9       Dm6        A   E7
  I wish I could say all the things that I should say
  
           A    C#7      F#m  Bm       D9          Dm6      A
  Say 'em loud, say 'em clear for the whole round world to hear.
  
  
  E  A   A6       A7            D9         Dm6     A   E7
  I wish I could share all the love that's in my heart,
  
      A   A6     F#m        B7            E   E7
  Remove all the bars that keep us apart.
  
     A   A6         A7           D9   Dm6   A   E7
  I wish you could know what it means to be me
  
              A  C#7   F#m      Bm     D9  Dm6       A
  Then you'd see and agree that every man should be free.
  
  
  E  A   A6       A7          D9     Dm6     A   E7
  I wish I could give all I'm long - ing to give;
  
     A   A6      F#m           B7           E   E7
  I wish I could live like I'm longing to live.
  
     A       A6          A7        D9       Dm6     A   E7
  I wish that I could do all the things that I can do
  
              A  C#7       F#m  Bm      D9     Dm6  A
  Though I'm way o - ver - due, I'd be start - ing anew.
  
  
  E       A   A6      A7         D9  Dm6     A   E7
  Well I wish I could be like a bird in the sky;
  
       A    A6      F#m        B7           E   E7
  How sweet it would be if I found I could fly!
  
           A   A6      A7           D9  Dm6     A   E7
  Oh, I'd soar to the sun and look down at the sea
  
            A     C#7       D9   Cdim
  Then I'd sing 'cause I'd know, yeah,
  
            A     C#7       D9   Cdim
  Then I'd sing 'cause I'd know, yeah
  
            A      C#7       D9      Cdim          A    C#7   D9
  Then I'd sing 'cause I'd know, I'd know how it feels, 
  
      Cdim         A    C#7    D9
  I'd know how it feels to be free,
  
       B7          A    E  D9   A
  I'd know how it feels to be free.

Subject: RE: Chords: Wish I Knew How to be Free- Mary Trav
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 Aug 05 - 01:04 PM

Hmm. I've heard the recording by Nina Simone, and I see it was also used in the film Ghosts of Mississippi. I recall the song very well, but I thought it was recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary as a group - but it's not listed on their website, so I must have learned it from the Mary album - there were a lot of songs I liked on that album.

Anybody know of other recordings? When was it written?

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Chords: Wish I Knew How to be Free- Mary Trav
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 Aug 05 - 01:50 PM

Look here at the Library of Congress to find this:

This manuscript is a holograph score for strings of "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to be Free" composed by jazz pianist and educator Dr. Billy Taylor. Although penned in 1954, the piece did not enjoy popularity until the Civil Rights Movement of the late 1950s and throughout the decade of the 1960s. The title expresses one of the fundamental themes of the Movement: the wish to live free in America with dignity. A vocal rendition sung by Nina Simone brought attention to the piece, during her 1967 RCA Records album release of Silk and Soul. Seated at upright piano, Dr. Taylor is surrounded by fellow musicians in what appears to be a rehearsal session during the early 50s.

---

Click here to get to the Website of the composer, Dr. Billy Taylor - there's a link for downloading free sheet music, and a jazz MP3 by the composer.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Chords: Wish I Knew How to be Free- Mary Travers
From: Ebbie
Date: 30 Aug 05 - 05:40 PM

Thanks, guys! Joe, I just remembered that my friend said it is credited to 'Taylor and Dallas'.

She says that on the recording, Mary sings the song by herself.

I'll pass those chords on to my friend, Joe- I don't know if she'll do all those 6s and 9s and Diminished on there but I'm sure she'll work something out.

Many thanks.

Eb

Subject: RE: Chords: Wish I Knew How to be Free- Mary Travers
From: Nick
Date: 30 Aug 05 - 07:23 PM

In the Uk it is best known as an instrumental piece as it is the theme music to a long running TV progamme about Films called Film 2005 (or whatever year)

Subject: RE: Chords: Wish I Knew How to be Free- Mary Travers
From: Nick
Date: 31 Aug 05 - 04:25 AM

This is how it is on the sheet music from home. I've transposed it out of Ab as it seems easier in G

    G    B7 Em   G7          C    D9    G
  I wish I knew how it would feel to be free; 
    C    G                     D      A       D
  I wish I could break all the chains holding me.     
    G    B7      Em   G7      C          D9       G
  I wish I could say all the things that I should say          
   C#dim   G    B7      Em    C#dim    G          D9sus4   G
  Say 'em loud, say 'em clear for the whole round world to hear.
  

Subject: RE: Chords: Wish I Knew How to be Free- Mary Travers
From: Ebbie
Date: 31 Aug 05 - 03:44 PM

Thanks, Nick. I'll add that to the print out I'm giving my friend. Most songs she sings in E or A or G, so she's sure to find one of these workable.

Subject: RE: Chords: I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to be Free
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Nov 20 - 04:25 PM

Here's just the lyrics, from the PP&M Website:

I WISH I KNEW HOW IT WOULD FEEL TO BE FREE
Bill Taylor & Dick Dallas
©1964, 1968 Duane Music Inc.
I wish I knew how it would feel to be free
I wish I could break all these chains holding me
I wish I could say all the things I know I should say
Say 'em loud say 'em clear
For the whole wide world to hear

I wish I could share
All the love that's in my heart
Remove all the bars that still keep us apart
I wish you could know what it means to be me
Then you'd see and agree every man must be free

I wish I could give
All I'm longing to give
I wish I could live like I'm longing to live
I wish I could do all the things I know I can do
Though I'm way over due
I'd be starting anew

I wish I could be like a bird that's in the sky
How sweet it would be if I found that I could fly
I'd soar to the sun and look down at the sea
Then I'd sing 'cause I'd know how it feels to be free
Then I'd sing 'cause I'd know how it feels to be free

Subject: RE: Origin: I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to be Free
From: Nick
Date: 16 Nov 20 - 04:56 PM

How strange is that. Sat down first thing this morning and started working out how to play it as a solo guitar piece and here it turns up

Subject: RE: Origin: I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to be Free
From: voyager
Date: 16 Nov 20 - 06:44 PM

Nina Simone owns this song (in my collection) -
Nina Simone's Version - I Wish I Knew How It Felt To Be Free

Subject: RE: Origin: I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to be Free
From: voyager
Date: 16 Nov 20 - 07:46 PM

repost (hate the Blue Clicky Thing).   Let's get Mudcat into the 21st Social Media world -

Nina Simone's Version - I Wish I Knew How It Felt To Be Free

voayger

Subject: RE: Origin: I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to be Free
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 16 Nov 20 - 10:20 PM

John Denver recorded a version on his very first RCA album, as well.

Subject: RE: Origin: I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to be Free
From: RunrigFan
Date: 18 Nov 20 - 09:54 AM

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjwvJ62rIztAhUwRxUIHWA-Cv8QyCkwAHoECAYQAw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DTeCAkrg4fNE&usg=AOvVaw13x85l7I3bShmE3A11qtoa

Lighthouse Family version

Subject: RE: Origin: I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to be Free
From: keberoxu
Date: 18 Nov 20 - 08:33 PM

In the early '70's, there was a short-lived public television series
called the Great American Dream Machine.
And Nina Simone sang "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to be Free"
live in concert on one episode of the show,
that was my first contact with the song as well as the singer.