We Play Requests

There was a little discussion at the end of last nights session at Hedsor about the title of my request, which was played as the last tune of the evening. I HATE to say this, but my title "I wish I knew how it would Feel to Be Free" is the correct one. Billly Taylor first recorded it in 1963 and later as an instrumental around 1967, and it's original title was "I Wish I Knew". Later both Nina Simon and The Lighthouse Family recorded it with slightly differing lyrics, and the longer title. Reproduced below are both versions Lyrics.

  As 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
and I'd sing cos I'd know that
and I'd sing cos I'd know that
I'd know how it feels to be free
I'd know how it feels to be free
I'd know how it feels to be free

LIGHTHOUSE FAMILY LYRICS

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 wide world to hear 






I wish I could share


All the love that's in my heart 

Remove all the bars that keep us apart

And I wish you could know how it is to be me

Then you'd see and agree that every man should be free 








I wish I could be like a bird in the sky


How sweet it would be if I found I could fly

Well I'd soar to the sun and look down at the sea 

And I'd sing cos I know how it feels to be free








I wish I knew how it would feel to be free


I wish I could break all the chains holding me

And I wish I could say all the things that I wanna say 

Say 'em loud say 'em clear

For the whole wide world to hear 

Say 'em loud say 'em clear

For the whole wide world to hear 

Say 'em loud say 'em clear

For the whole wide world to hear 








One love one blood


One life you've got to do what you should 

One life with each other

Sisters, brothers








One love but we're not the same


We got to carry each other Carry each other

One One One One One...








I knew how it would feel to be free


I knew how it would feel to be free




The instrumental version was of course used by Barry Norman as his intro to "The Film Program" on BBC TV.




I know that my request caused some consternation at the end of the evening, but I was glad I asked for it, and they did play it rather well.




Don't forget, tickets are now on sale for October 4th, the Simon Spillett evening in the Big Room at Hedsor. As well as from The Stationery Depot in Cookham, they can be purchased on Thursday at Hedsor.