*
Below is a youtube video/recording of Nina Simone singing “I wish I knew how it would feel to be free….I wish I could break all the chains holding me” … I think the words to this song and the way Nina Simone sings it are beautiful and very moving…and I think they contain a wonderful aspiration and intention….
This song was popular in the late 1960’s. I found it to be so expressive then…and it continues to inspire me now.
(the actual singing of the song starts at 30 seconds into the video…piano intro)
*
“How it feels to be free”
written by Billy Taylor, sung by Nina Simone
I wish I knew how it would feel to be free
I wish I could break all the chains holding me
I wish I could say all the things that I should say
say ’em loud, say ’em clear
for the whole round world to hear.
I wish I could share all the love that’s in my heart
remove all the bars that keep us apart
I wish you could know what it means to be me
Then you’d see and agree
that every man should 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 that I could do all the things that I can do
though I’m way overdue I’d be starting anew.
Well I wish I could be like a bird in the sky
how sweet it would be if I found I could fly
Oh I’d soar to the sun and look down at the sea
and I’d sing cos I’d know that
I’d know how it feels to be free
8
I suppose many of us have our own “chains”…
I wish us all steady progress
in letting go of those chains,
whatever they might be….
and I also wish us steady progress
in developing and embracing the joys
of offering love,
speaking our own truth,
giving,
sharing,
living
and doing….
all that we are longing to do.
Pocket Perspectives 
i also wish i knew how to be free, but unfortunately im swimming in the same state of confusion and imprisonment as you.. And like you say ” we all have our own chains”.. the trick is breaking free..thanx for the nice post.. 😀
LikeLike
Thank you…and you’re very welcome…Oh yes…the sense of feeling restrained…sometimes, at least for me, by a few chains of my own habits, repetitive patterns etc…and yes, to be persistent at breaking free… patience and persistence are needed, I guess.
LikeLike
This is beautifully done. I am typing this comment while listening to the music. I too have my own chains of habits and patterns some which I let go, others which I am working day by day… The message is very uplifting! Thank you for creating these messages.
LikeLike
You’re very welcome….I now find it uplifting, too.
The image/page was actually a bit difficult as I was creating it…in January, because it came out of my own frustration with a few limitations I seemed to be perpetuating “in” myself ..and the real longing to move past those…so it was an expression of that frustration, but also an affirmation that I can let go of them…or learn to work toward that. Isn’t the song so beautiful and powerful? The way she sings the words…. “longing to give” and “longing to live”…and “how sweet it would be if I found I could fly”…love that line… remarkable…
LikeLike
Between the wish and the thing . . . life lies waiting. 😉
I love this song by Cat Stevens:
If you want to sing out, sing out
If you want to be free, be free
There’s a million ways to be . . .
You know that there are.
LikeLike
Yes…life lies waiting… : ) And thanks for the words to that Cat Stevens song…(Morning Has Broken is one of my favorites….) I saw that it was on your blog yesterday (?) and forgot to go back and listen….so I just did….great message! thank you….a million ways to be…. : ) Anyone want to hear Cat Stevens singing the song?…. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha3Rm4MSX-g&feature=player_embedded#! I’ll go back and listen to a few more: http://nrhatch.wordpress.com/2011/09/06/10-favorite-songs/
And Nancy, you have such a heartfelt post today…”Spirit Just Smiles” very special…..http://nrhatch.wordpress.com/2011/09/08/spirit-just-smiles/ …I wish you well…
LikeLike
Thanks, Kathy! Right back at you! 😀
LikeLike
My first time here and enjoying Nina a bunch! Looking at your list of titles, I see that I am going to do some snooping. Freedom is a very big deal in my life. When it is hampered, I know I have to make a decision. Sometimes that means changing me and sometimes it means changing priorities. The chance to do an inventory is always refreshing. Thanks, PP!
LikeLike
You’re very welcome….happy you found your way here. There’s lots in the site…an easy way to view the pages/images is by clicking on the “home” tab and just scrolling down though and browsing…most of the images speak for themselves…..one of the posts will lead you to some youtube “booklets” that I’ve created over the years. https://pocketperspectives.wordpress.com/2011/08/31/pocket-perspectives-booklets-viewable-on-youtube/ Happy browsing… : )
LikeLike
Happy to see you two making each other’s acquaintance. 😀
LikeLike
Pingback: Surprising ourselves….”Mystery School”….Bevie and Bo…away we go! | Pocket Perspectives