Freedom

Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé

About Freedom

"Freedom" is a song recorded by American singer Beyoncé featuring American rapper Kendrick Lamar for her sixth studio album, Lemonade (2016). The song was written by Jonny Coffer, Beyoncé, Carla Marie Williams, Dean McIntosh and Kendrick Lamar; it contains samples of "Let Me Try", written by Frank Tirado, performed by Kaleidoscope; samples of "Collection Speech/Unidentified Lining Hymn", recorded by Alan Lomax in 1959, performed by Reverend R. C. Crenshaw; and samples of "Stewball", recorded by Alan Lomax and John Lomax, Sr. in 1947, performed by Prisoner "22" at Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman. Its production was handled by Beyoncé, Coffer and veteran hip hop record producer Just Blaze. Upon its release, "Freedom" managed to appear on various music charts. It peaked at number 35 in the US, on the Billboard Hot 100 and 40 in the UK. The song's music video is part of a one-hour film with the same title as its parent album, originally aired on HBO. Beyoncé performed the song live as part of the set list of The Formation World Tour (2016) and at the BET Awards 2016. It received a nomination for Best Rap/Sung Performance at the 2017 Grammy Awards. 


Year:
2016
4:49
7,033 
#17

 Struggling with Freedom? Become a better singer in 30 days with these videos!

Tryna rain, tryna rain on the thunder
Tell the storm I'm new
I'm a wall, come and march on the regular
Painting white flags blue

Lord forgive me, I've been running
Running blind in truth
I'ma rain, I'ma rain on this bitter love
Tell the sweet I'm new

I'm telling these tears, go and fall away, fall away
May the last one burn into flames

Freedom
Freedom
I can't move
Freedom, cut me loose
Singin', freedom
Freedom 
Where are you?
'Cause I need freedom too
I break chains all by myself
Won't let my freedom rot in hell
Hey! I'ma keep running
'Cause a winner don't quit on themselves

I'ma wade, I'ma wave through the waters
Tell the tide, "Don't move"
I'ma riot, I'ma riot through your borders
Call me bulletproof

Lord forgive me, I've been runnin'
Runnin' blind in truth
I'ma wade, I'ma wave through your shallow love
Tell the deep I'm new

I'm telling these tears, go and fall away, fall away
May the last one burn into flames

Freedom
Freedom
I can't move
Freedom, cut me loose
Singin', freedom
Freedom
Where are you?
'Cause I need freedom too
I break chains all by myself
Won't let my freedom rot in hell
Hey! I'ma keep running
'Cause a winner don't quit on themselves

Ten Hail Marys, I meditate for practice
Channel nine news tell me I'm movin' backwards
Eight blocks left, death is around the corner
Seven misleadin' statements 'bout my persona
Six headlights wavin' in my direction
Five-O askin' me what's in my possession
Yeah I keep runnin', jump in the aqueducts
Fire hydrants and hazardous
Smoke alarms on the back of us
But mama don't cry for me, ride for me
Try for me, live for me
Breathe for me, sing for me
Honestly guidin' me
I could be more than I gotta be
Stole from me, lied to me, nation hypocrisy
Code on me, drive on me
Wicked, my spirit inspired me
Like yeah, open correctional gates in higher desert
Yeah, open our mind as we cast away oppression
Yeah, open the streets and watch our beliefs
And when they carve my name inside the concrete
I pray it forever reads

Freedom
Freedom
I can't move
Freedom, cut me loose
Singin', freedom! Freedom! Where are you?
'Cause I need freedom too
I break chains all by myself
Won't let my freedom rot in hell
Hey! I'ma keep running
'Cause a winner don't quit on themselves

What you want from me?
Is it truth you seek? 
Oh father can you hear me?
What you want from me?
Is it truth you seek? 
Oh father can you hear me?
Hear me out

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com


Beyoncé

Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter (born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she performed in various singing and dancing competitions as a child, and rose to fame in the late 1990s as lead singer of R&B girl-group Destiny's Child. Managed by her father, Mathew Knowles, the group became one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time. Their hiatus saw the release of Beyoncé's debut album, Dangerously in Love (2003), which established her as a solo artist worldwide, earned five Grammy Awards and featured the Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles "Crazy in Love" and "Baby Boy". more »

68 fans

Written by: Alan Lomax, Beyonce Gisselle Knowles, Carla Maria Williams, Dean Carlos Mcintosh, Frank Tirado, John A. Lomax, Jonathan Charles Coffer, Kendrick Duckworth, Robert Crenshaw

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, T.R.O. INC., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


14 facts about this song

Album
"Freedom" is a song from Beyonce's sixth studio album "Lemonade" which was released in 2016.
Collaboration
The song features prominent American rapper Kendrick Lamar, marking their first musical collaboration.
Production Team
"Freedom" was co-written and co-produced by Beyoncé herself along with a number of notable contributors, including Jonny Coffer and British musician Arrow Benjamin.
Themes
The song has a strong feminist and empowerment theme, with lyrics that speak to the hardship of women, particularly women of color.
Music Style
Musically, "Freedom" has a blend of genres, with elements of soul, blues, and funk. It has been hailed for its bold, fiery, and intense style.
Critical Acclaim
The song has received significant critical acclaim, with many praising its rallying cry for women and powerful collaborative performance.
Chart Performance
Despite not being released as a single, "Freedom" did manage to chart in numerous countries. In the United States, it reached No. 35 on Billboard Hot 100.
Performances
The song was performed by Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar at the BET Awards in 2016, where they delivered a powerful rendition complete with a stage that was flooded with water.
Video
The music video features a montage of black women who have influenced the Black Lives Matter movement, including the mothers of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown.
Cultural Impact
Beyoncé's "Freedom" has been embraced as an anthem for the Black Lives Matter movement and has been used widely at protests and rallies since its release.
Grammy Award
The song earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap/Sung Performance in 2017.
Samples
"Freedom" samples a speech "Let us Be Free" from A. Humphrey Walcott Jr. and "Stewball" by Prisoner “22” at Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman (recorded in 1947 by Alan Lomax).
Commercial Usage
The song was used in a commercial for the Apple Music streaming service.
Modern Interpretation
Some interpreters see the song as an update to the Civil Rights anthem "We Shall Overcome," comparing its themes of liberation and freedom to the struggles faced by African Americans in the modern age.

Discuss the Freedom Lyrics with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Freedom Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/32874289/Beyonc%C3%A9/Freedom>.

    Missing lyrics by Beyoncé?

    Know any other songs by Beyoncé? Don't keep it to yourself!

    Watch the song video

    Freedom

    2.1M
    27,161     975

    Browse Lyrics.com

    Quiz

    Are you a music master?

    »
    Complete the lyrics: "The sun goes down, the... ".
    A bars come out
    B guitar gets loud
    C stars come out
    D stars come up

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant explanation for any lyrics that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant explanation for any acronym or abbreviation that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Don't miss Beyoncé's

    Upcoming Events

    »
    Beyoncé tracks

    On Radio Right Now

    Loading...

    Powered by OnRad.io


    Think you know music? Test your MusicIQ here!

    Movies soundtrack

    Freedom

    »