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I Want to Be Free

Rating:
4.1 / 5

Words & Music: Jerry Leiber Mike Stoller

There's no joy in my heart,
only sorrow
And I'm sad
as a man can be
I sit alone in the darkness
of my lonely room
And this room
is a prison to me

I look at window
and what to I see
I see a bird
way up in the tree
I want to be free free
Free - ee - ee - ee
I want to be free
like the bird in the tree

What good are my eyes,
they can't see you
And my arms,
they can't hold so tight
I have two lips
that are yearning,
but they're no good to me
Cause I know I can't kiss you tonight

I look at window
and what to I see
I see a bird
way up in the tree
I want to be free free
Free - ee - ee - ee
I want to be free
like the bird in the tree
I want to be free
like the bird in the tree

Recordingdate: 1957/05/03, first released on: Jailhouse Rock (EP)

Musicians

Musicians who contributed to the first recording of I Want to Be Free:

(guitar)
(guitar)
(bass)
(drums)
(piano)
(piano)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)

Availability

Find available albums with I Want to Be Free.

Gorse wrote on December 16, 2012
Like no other song in his repertoire, using that clipped vocal phrasing and that youthful, slightly strained voice to hit the higher notes. Marvellous backing, and an atmospheric engaging performance all round - 5 stars all the way from me.
sugartummy wrote on March 16, 2013
The instrumental backing is not really well on this record. Elvis sings it with passion, but the musicians sound bored.
Natha wrote on January 03, 2014
One of those fabulous songs from the fifties. Already at that tender age he managed to express the right voice-content-emotional awareness in a song. Listen how he is using his voice! Full five stars, like most fifties songs: with a bang.
DerekH wrote on January 03, 2014
Specially written for the Jailhouse Rock movie, but unlike movie songs in the sixties that were specially written this one was good, given the Elvis treatment and really did fit the movie.
shawnrw wrote on January 04, 2014
Dramatic ballad delivered as such. Not among my very personal favorites, but a minor classic nonetheless.
ElvisSacramento wrote on January 04, 2014
This is such a terrific, underrated and overlooked song and it should definitely be better known than it actually is. Elvis' rendition of it was spectacular and dramatic. It's one of 24 songs that Elvis recorded that was written by the brilliant and iconic songwriting duo Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.
Deano1 wrote on September 20, 2015
Not one of my personal favorites, but not a song I skip. A well-written song by L&S and Elvis' performance is emotional and dramatic, but a bit choppy on the verses.
GEORGE (GK) wrote on September 20, 2015
Would love to hear this one overdubbed.. With a contemporary sound.. and staying close to rhythm and flow of his vocals.
Cruiser621 wrote on October 04, 2017
From the movie "Jailhouse Rock" back in 1957. One of those tunes which stays in my mind. The start of soundtrack filler to fit a certain scene from the movie.
JerryNodak wrote on November 18, 2018
Not one of my faves. Although, I will listen to it on occasion. 2 stars. The only songs I like from the JR soundtrack are the the record versions of Jailhouse Rock/Treat Me Nice.
Steve V wrote on January 17, 2020
One of those rock-a-ballads that he did so well in the 50's. I wore this EP out. Love it, 5 stars
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