From songfacts.com:
This was part of The Who's Rock Opera Tommy. Tommy is free because his mother smashed the mirror that he was kind of trapped in. He always gazed at his reflection and this was the only thing he could really see. Now Tommy wants his disciples to follow him ("How can we follow?") and says he's their Messiah.Lyrics:
I'M FREE-I'm free,Hmm... Someone finds freedom and wants to share it with everybody! But perhaps others are still stuck on what was keeping them in captivity? So... what to do?
And freedom tastes of reality,
I'm free-I'm free,
And I'm waiting for you to follow me.
If I told you what it takes
to reach the highest high,
You'd laugh and say "nothing's that simple"
But you've been told many times before
Messiah's pointed to the door
And no one had the guts to leave the temple!
I'm free-I'm free
And freedom tastes of reality
I'm free-I'm free
And I'm waiting for you to follow me.
Chorus:
How can we follow?
How can we follow?
Keep on preachin' freedom, brothers and sisters! And keep on living it out unabashedly and unashamedly!
Holy crap! I've heard that song a hundred times and never really thought about the lyrics.
ReplyDeleteEven Pete Townsend has a God shaped hole that only He can fill.
The truth is Jesus walked onto death row and died for everyone. Upon resurrecting, He walked out of prison opening cell doors as He went. Some will follow Him out into Life as totally free men; some will leave their cells but stay forever within the shadow of the prison walls afraid of true freedom, and some will sit and stare at their open cell door believing that freedom is not for them, unable to accept Life. Unfortunately, the prison walls exist only in people's minds.
ReplyDeleteJohn,
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's one of those things that just hit me one day. For years, I've listened to the song not really understanding what the lyrics were saying. I simply liked the song.
On another note, I was watching "Myths and Legends" on TV Land last night, and they showed The Who on The Smothers Brothers, when they had loaded the drums explosives, and they put a little bit too much of a charge in it! Everyone was ok, but the legend was that this is what made Pete Townsend go deaf in one ear. But he revealed that that's not true. He says all the years of wearing headphones and listening to music loudly is what gave him problems, but he says he quit touring and quit listening to music loudly and saved his hearing that way.
RJW,
ReplyDeleteYep, it's sad but true. The prison is only in the mind. Sadly, the preaching and teaching that happens in much of the church today only propagates it all, in varying degrees. My hope and prayer, always, is to help others find the freedom for which Christ set them free! (Gal 5:1)
Joel,
ReplyDeleteI was a Who fan from way back, and I've watched the video of Keith and the exploding drum kit. VERY funny. Keith was a nut. ;-)
The difference with Pete's hearing damage is that its a painful condition. Too bad.
Did you ever look at the Black Sabbath lyrics I mentioned? Since you are posting so many, other people might be interested in something like that coming from Black Sabbath.
Also, Thin Lizzy (most people know them from the Boys are Back in Town), but they are so much better than that song), put out one of my favorite albums of the '70's, Bad Reputation.
The singer/songwriter, Philip Lynott (a black Irishman!) wrote some of these lyrics, obviously from a man searching for something outside of himself:
DEAR LORD
Dear Lord this is a prayer
Just let me know if you're really there
Dear Lord come gain control
Oh Lord come save my soul
Give me dignity restore my sanity
Oh Lord come rescue me
Dear Lord my vanity is killing me
Oh Lord it's killing me, it's killing me
If you give your soul to heaven
And your soul begins to bleed
Remember all the sevens
Don't turn up when you need
If you do believe in glory
Then please believe a fact
Give your soul to heaven
You won't get it back
I'm down deep and I need your help
There's no one to turn to and I can't help myself
Dear Lord hear this call
Oh Lord save my fall
I'm scared I doubt
Dear Lord help me out
I despair my Lord my prayer my Lord
Care my Lord
Dear Lord take the time
I believe your story now you believe mine
Oh Lord I'm on my knees
Oh Lord please please beware
My Lord oh care my Lord
Give me dignity
Restore my sanity
My vanity is killing me
If you give your soul to heaven
And your soul begins to bleed
Remember all the sevens
Don't turn up when you need
If you do believe in glory
Then please believe a fact
Give your soul to heaven
You won't get it back
And Downtown Sundown from the same album:
If you want your freedom
There is nothing planned
If you really need him
I will understand
Please believe in love
I believe there is a God above
For love
And He's coming, yes He's coming
If you want to fly
Then fly away
All the cloudy skies
Belong to yesterday
Please believe in love
I believe there is a God above
For love
And He's coming, yes He's coming
In the shadows the swallow dies
No one knows the hobo hides
There is no need to apologize
This is the story of a downtown sundown
If you climb the mountain
You will see
There is no great distance
Between the Lord and me
Please believe in love
I believe there is a God above
For love
And He's coming, yes He's coming
In the shadows a swallow dies
No one knows the hobo hides
There is no need to apologize
This is the story of a downtown sundown
Hope you don't mind the length here.
BTW, the Ohio venue is a 12 hour (min) drive from Atlanta. Ouch.
John,
ReplyDeleteYep I looked at the Sabbath lyrics. Those were great... I knew they had had some lyrics such as those but I don't think I'd ever actually heard or read them. These Thin Lizzy lyrics are great too. I think many people are searching for something more than what they see.
Only found in Christ!
Ohio... our drive is about ten hours, I think. RJW is a little farther than that. I think we're planning on going part way one day, and arriving the next morning in Ohio. We'll see. Anyway, I understand the distance issue for just a day or two of getting together with folks. Hoping you can make it (!) but will understand if it's not doable.