Philadelphia Freedom

Album: Elton John's Greatest Hits Volume II (1975)
Charted: 12 1
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  • I used to be a rolling stone you know
    If a cause was right
    I'd leave to find the answer on the road
    I used to be a heart beating for someone
    But the times have changed
    The less I say the more my work gets done

    'Cause I live and breathe this Philadelphia freedom
    From the day that I was born I've waved the flag
    Philadelphia freedom took me knee high to a man, yeah
    Gave me a piece of mind my daddy never had

    Oh Philadelphia freedom, shine on me, I love you
    Shine the light, through the eyes of the ones left behind
    Shine the light, shine the light
    Shine the light, won't you shine the light
    Philadelphia freedom, I love you, yes I do

    If you choose to you can live your life alone
    Some people choose the city (some people the city)
    Some others choose the good old family home (some others choose a good old)
    I like living easy without family ties (living easy)
    Till the whippoorwill of freedom zapped me
    Right between the eyes

    'Cause I live and breathe this Philadelphia freedom
    From the day that I was born I've waved the flag
    Philadelphia freedom took me knee high to a man
    Mm mm, gave me a piece of mind my daddy never had

    Oh Philadelphia freedom, shine on me, I love you
    Shine the light, through the eyes of the ones left behind
    Shine the light, shine the light
    Shine the light, won't you shine the light
    Philadelphia freedom, I love you, yes I do

    Oh, Philadelphia freedom, shine on me, I love you
    Shine the light, through the eyes of the ones left behind
    Shine the light, shine the light
    Shine the light, won't you shine the light
    Philadelphia freedom, I love,
    You know I love , you know I love you
    Yes I do, Philadelphia freedom
    I love you
    Yes I do, Philadelphia freedom
    You know that I love you
    Yes I do, Philadelphia freedom
    Don't you know that I love you
    Yes I do, Philadelphia freedom
    Don't you know that I love you
    Yes I do, Philadelphia freedom Writer/s: Bernard J.P. Taupin, Elton John
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 27

  • Ron Hyatt from Hell GeorgiaKnee high to a man specifically means b****** I don't care what you say
  • Bill from O'ahu, HawaiiI remember it this way: Around the summer of 1974 George Michael, of WFIL 56AM (Philadelphia AM560), was interviewing Elton John on his radio show. During the interview Elton was praising "The City of Brotherly Love", and the many freedoms that Americans have. George suggested, "It sounds like a song in the making" and that maybe Elton write a song commemorating the event. The song came out shortly after that.

    I do not doubt that he gave the song, or dedicated it, to Billie Jean King as they were very close and had a lot in common. But I do not believe the song was written exclusively for her. George Michael went on to host "George Michael's Sports Machine" and later he became a sports anchor on a local D.C. TV station. He was a great interviewer, music and sports personality. May he rest in peace.
  • Seventhmist from 7th Heaven"Dance hit?" I was 14 when this came out and I never thought of it as a song to dance to. But if someone did, ok by me.
  • Dave from Philadelphia, PaAll I know is that the local high school choir came to our elementary school and sang it and was fixated on the third girl front row on the end and it took me knee high to a man in 4 minutes. Great song that lifted up the City of Brotherly Love.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyExactly forty five years ago today in 1975 {January 12th} "Mandy" by Barry Manilow peaked at #1 {for 1 week} on Billboard's Top 100 chart...
    "Mandy" was the first of twelve consecutive records that reached #1 and stayed in the top spot for only one week...
    Elton John's covered version of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" peaked at #1 for two weeks on December 29th, 1974, then the following records peaked at #1 for only one week:
    "Mandy" by Barry Manilow
    "Please Mr. Postman" by The Carpenters
    "Laughter in the Rain" by Neil Sedaka
    "Fire" by Ohio Players
    "You're No Good" by Linda Ronstadt
    "Pick Up the Pieces" by Average White Band
    "Best of My Love" by The Eagles
    "Have You Never Been Mellow" by Olivia Newton-John
    "Black Water" by The Doobie Brothers
    "My Eyes Adored You" by Frankie Valli
    "Lady Marmalade" by Labelle
    "Lovin' You" by Minnie Riperton
    And then it was Elton John who broke the string when his "Philadelphia Freedom" peaked at #1 for two weeks on April 6th, 1975...
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn this day in 1975 {May 17th} Elton John performed "Philadelphia Freedom" on the nationally syndicated television program, 'Soul Train'...
    At the time the song was at position #11 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart, five weeks earlier it had peaked at #1* {for 2 weeks} and it spent twenty one weeks on the Top 100...
    And one month later on June 15th, 1975 it reached #32 {for 1 week} on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart...
    Between 1970 and 2000 he had sixty-three records on the Top 100 chart, twenty-seven made the Top 10 with eight reaching #1...
    He just missed having four more #1 records when his "Daniel" {1973}, "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" {1973}, "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" {1974}, and "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That" {1988} all peaked at #2...
    Elton John, born Reginald Kenneth Dwight, celebrated his 72nd two months ago on March 25th {2019}...
    * And from the 'For What It's Worth' department; on January 5th, 1975 Elton John's "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" was in it's second of two weeks at #1, then for the next twelve weeks there were twelve different records occupying the #1 spot, and it's was Elton John's "Philadelphia Freedom" that broke the streak when it reached #1 and remained in the top spot for two weeks...
  • Groovus Maximus from Boston, MaHey, Tg from AZ, sorry to burst your bubble, but even though you're 100% correct on "knee-high," you're clearly confused about Taupin's lyric "gave me peace of mind my daddy never had." What a stretch to think it could possibly have been such a nonsensical string of words! It makes absolutely no sense, and shows that you're no better than the 'folks' you chastise and ridicule. P.S.: "in the south were I'm originally from" should have been "where," which I realize may have been a simple typo, but shows your carelessness and lack of attention to detail. Also, "life time" is actually one word, not two separate ones... Have a nice day!
  • Fire Marshal Bill from ChicagoRight on, Dexter! It is actually, "Gave me peace of mind my daddy never had"
  • Tg from AzHey, folks please don't start or spread rumors based on your great hearing abilities. A Lot of Elton John's vocals can be hard to discern. That doesn't make your 2 cent opinion correct. Call a spade a spade and a shovel a shovel.
    #1) It's clearly "...gave me a piece of mama, daddy never had;"which refers to the "you've come a long way baby," attitude of some women in the 70's, (if you weren't alive during that period, then how would you know?)... and
    #2) "...took me knee-high to a man" refers to growing from a boy to a man. I almost feel flattered, since in the south were I'm originally from, we say "knee-high" when referring to kids, all of the time.
    I'm not gay or even pro gay at all... but I do respect great songwriters and admire Elton John and Bernie Taupin for the bulk of their work in my life time. ....and i despise pretension when it comes to so-called faux "musical intellectuals."
    Plato said, "A wise man speaks because he has something to say, and a fool, because he has to say something."
  • Surrie from Texas"LET THE LIGHT SHINE THROUGH THE EYES OF THE ONES LEFT BEHIND"
    Any Diehard fan of the words and music of Elton John and Bernie Taupin should not have missed the Historical Knowledge of Taupin. The Songs are full of History and intense understand of Life. Philadelphia Freedom is no exception! In the Greek there are 3 words for Love. 1 is Eros Love - needy love like a child who would die without it's mother who meets it's needs. 3. Agape Love - the unconditional love we here so much about without the necessary training as to how to get from Eros to Agape.

    This leaves #2 Philo Love - brotherly love - the training of young sons.
    Please go read the words for yourself again! Have you ever sat outside and Heard the faint calling of a Whippoorwill? You can almost miss it! The faint calling of the Spirit has given me peace of mind that my daddy never had. It has always been there guiding me even when I was Knee High to being a man. In other words just a kid.

    The Holy Scripture follows the same pattern. If you want to have Agape Love you must apply the training of the Old Testament it is the prescription for the training of Sons of God! Philadelphia Freedom was the intent of the founders of America and I wish Jefferson & Adams were here to listen to the live version of this song and discuss it with me.

    This runs deeper than Flag Waving Patriotism, it resides at the root of the Human Heart and the hope of being all we can become!

  • Dexter from Chicago, IlWhoever added the lyrics added the "misheard" lyrics - the line is NOT "Yeah gave me a piece of mama, daddy never had" it is "Yeah, gave me a peace of mind my Daddy never had - look it up - http://www.kissthisguy.com/26misheard.htm
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 4th, 1975 Elton's "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" became #1 for two weeks. Then for the next 12 weeks there was 12 different songs by 12 different artists who claimed the #1 spot. On April 12th the string was broken and it was Elton who did it, his "Philadelphia Freedom" became #1 for two weeks!!!
  • Mike from Hastings, Ne"knee-high to a man" is NOT any kind of veiled reference to anything sexual. It merely means that the proclaimed "Philadelphia Freedom" of the song was such a strong inner spirit that it sustained the singer from his years being a child (knee-high) to his adult life.
  • Rudolf from Vancouver, CanadaI think the date of the CD that has this song on it should be noted in the title, along with a note that it is not on the original album, since it is not on either my Captain Fantastic LP or CD.
  • Ashley from Somerset, KyThe title is connected with a tennis team that Billie Jean King was on before going pro in tennis.
  • Darrell from Eugene, United StatesAn Englishman singing and writing a song about the Bicentennial? My god, the British lost the Revolutionary War!
  • Ken from Louisville, KyThis was originally a stand-alone single and was credited to the "Elton John Band". It is now available as a "bonus" track on Captain Fantastic, and on several greatest hits CD's.
  • Ken from Louisville, KyDusty Springfield sang backup vocals on this song. Elton was a HUGE fan of hers, and even sang at her funeral.
  • Rafael from Pasadena, CaAnother song that takes me back to my high school days. I had just graduated and it brings back a ton of memories.
  • Les from Joplin, Mo"Philadelphia freedom took me knee high to a man" is a thinly-veiled reference to giving a blow job.
  • Amandass from Buckley, WaI caught my dad dancing to this song once when I was a kid hahaha
  • Scott from Columbus, OhPersonally I never, ONCE doubted this song to be a testimonial to his own feelings...it's just to damn perfectly written in that light to dismiss.
    What an uplifting song of hope and freedom... regardless of your sexual orientation.
    Elton is a legendary performer and has all the respect this heterosexual can possibly have for any figure of entertainment.
  • Wes from Springfield, Va"On the single, it said this was dedicated to "B.J.K." (Billie Jean King) and "The Soulful Sounds Of Philadelphia." Gee, and I figured it had something to do with the Declaration of Independence, the 1976 Bicentennial and all that. Just me projecting my own interpretation on the song, I guess.
  • Rob from Santa Monica, CaDue to this song's uncharacteristic production and the low timbre in John's voice, I heard it dozens of times before I learned it was Elton John.
  • Celeste from Drexel Hill, PaAs I have heard it told, this was the first time Elton asked Bernie to write a set of lyrics for a specific reason.
  • Alex from New Orleans, LaCouldn't this song also be about Elton admitting he is gay because Philidelphia is 'the City of BBrotherly Love"?
  • Charles from Charlotte, NcCorrection: Philadelphia Freedom was only available as a single until it made a Greatest Hits Vol. 2 LP in 1978. There is one track on CFATBDC (Tell Me When The Whistle Blows) that has string arrangements very similar to those on Philadelphia Freedom.
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