Richie Havens - Freedom - Radio Paradise -Internet Radio - Radio Paradise

Richie Havens — Freedom

Woodstock (1969)

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222 comments for this song:

Lyrics:

msymmes (Toronto, CA)	Posted: May 16, 2013 - 10:46 Nice to hear Bill read the post on air !
JrzyTmata	Posted: May 16, 2013 - 10:43 ch83575 wrote: Bill reading this quote at the end of the song just made me cry. me too. the song that follows (You Dance) is perfect.
Lazarus (Bethany)	Posted: May 16, 2013 - 10:43 Cynaera wrote: I can't and won't critique Richie Havens' work. All I know is that every time I hear one of his songs, the sun comes out, even when it's winter. Stuff grows, even when there's two feet of snow on the ground. I dance, even when I feel like I can't lift my arms or move my fingers. Richie Havens has this weird life-force that flows into me when I'm at my lowest. I just need to remember to listen to his music when I feel like I simply can't go on anymore. He's rather amazing, no matter what the music. Miss you so much, Cynaera...
Webfoot (Eugene, Oregon)	Posted: May 16, 2013 - 10:41 Cynaera wrote: I can't and won't critique Richie Havens' work. All I know is that every time I hear one of his songs, the sun comes out, even when it's winter. Stuff grows, even when there's two feet of snow on the ground. I dance, even when I feel like I can't lift my arms or move my fingers. Richie Havens has this weird life-force that flows into me when I'm at my lowest. I just need to remember to listen to his music when I feel like I simply can't go on anymore. He's rather amazing, no matter what the music. Nice comment Bill.
ch83575	Posted: May 16, 2013 - 10:41 Cynaera wrote: All I know is that every time I hear one of his songs, the sun comes out, even when it's winter. Stuff grows, even when there's two feet of snow on the ground. I dance, even when I feel like I can't lift my arms or move my fingers. Bill reading this quote at the end of the song just made me cry.
kaviksdad (Mission Control...)	Posted: May 16, 2013 - 10:41 I give this a 10 - there are some performances that transcend the music and become something more. This is one of those performances.
d-don (Oregon)	Posted: May 16, 2013 - 10:37 I played this song for my Lyricism classes when he passed recently. The kids sat spellbound watching this performance and loved his exit. RIP, Richie. Bill, thanks for reading Cynaera's most eloquent quote.
Sweet_Virginia	Posted: May 16, 2013 - 10:35 Hearing the intro I expected it to break into a live version of Psycho Killer....
oppositelock (On the road)	Posted: Apr 23, 2013 - 07:11 Jambo70 wrote: I'm from Canada and got to England in July '70 as a 17 year old. I got to the Isle of Wight about a week before the festival started and talked my way into a job and a back stage pass. Richie Havens closed the show, I'd slept about 15 hours in the last 5 days and I was 10 feet from him as he played 'Freedom' to end it. He walked to the side of the stage where he just kept strumming his guitar and singing in a low voice as if in a trance. I approached this big guy and after a few minutes and in true Alberta style reached out my hand and said something like "Man, that was the most amazing thing I've ever seen or heard" He reached out with both arms and enveloped me in a hug that lasted a couple of minutes. Didn't change my life, but it was one of the signposts. Great story. I was not at Woodstock but I will always remember that performance of Freedom. Richie Havens will be missed.
Jambo70	Posted: Mar 14, 2013 - 17:00 I'm from Canada and got to England in July '70 as a 17 year old. I got to the Isle of Wight about a week before the festival started and talked my way into a job and a back stage pass. Richie Havens closed the show, I'd slept about 15 hours in the last 5 days and I was 10 feet from him as he played 'Freedom' to end it. He walked to the side of the stage where he just kept strumming his guitar and singing in a low voice as if in a trance. I approached this big guy and after a few minutes and in true Alberta style reached out my hand and said something like "Man, that was the most amazing thing I've ever seen or heard" He reached out with both arms and enveloped me in a hug that lasted a couple of minutes. Didn't change my life, but it was one of the signposts.
jpfueler (Alvarado, Texas, (A Bit FurtherSouth o' Ft Worth))	Posted: Mar 14, 2013 - 16:45 An old boss of mine had his ticket for woodstock framed. By the time he got there it had gone free and he just walked in ... that is about all he really remembers of the deal.
unclehud (now 50 feet above the planet in Boston)	Posted: Mar 14, 2013 - 16:44 Cynaera wrote: I can't and won't critique Richie Havens' work. All I know is that every time I hear one of his songs, the sun comes out, even when it's winter. Stuff grows, even when there's two feet of snow on the ground. I dance, even when I feel like I can't lift my arms or move my fingers. Richie Havens has this weird life-force that flows into me when I'm at my lowest. I just need to remember to listen to his music when I feel like I simply can't go on anymore. He's rather amazing, no matter what the music. Bump.
jhorton (Trailer Park on Cape Cod)	Posted: Mar 14, 2013 - 16:41 Still gives me shivers.
unclehud (now 50 feet above the planet in Boston)	Posted: Mar 14, 2013 - 16:39 The first 60 seconds of this are one of the slickest "tuning checks" I've ever heard. FREEDOM, BROTHER!
zepher	Posted: Feb 11, 2013 - 08:02 Is that Freedom Rock Man? Turn it up!
rpdevotee (San Jose, CA)	Posted: Jan 10, 2013 - 23:39 This gets an 11 rating and epitomizes what Woodstock was and stood for. Richie has so much passion with this song! You must see the video to fully appreciate this performance!
kcar	Posted: Dec 10, 2012 - 14:46 pvg44 wrote: I guess you had to be there to appreciate this song. Not that I was there, but yes: the crowd went wild even though Havens had to improvise because the acts scheduled to follow him were stuck in traffic. From http://woodstock.wikia.com/wiki/Richie_Havens : Richie Havens has stated he was told to "kill time" on stage and has claimed (on more than one occasion) that he played a long time at Woodstock... He did improvise a lot. "Freedom" for instance, was created right on stage as an encore. Richie Havens' career skyrocketed after Woodstock. Hope you're enjoying life in my hometown.
MojoJojo (Indianapolis, IN USA)	Posted: Dec 10, 2012 - 14:35 A jaw-dropping performance! Inspired me to learn the PSD button.
scoote (In a junk filled room)	Posted: Nov 09, 2012 - 06:02 A jaw-dropping performance! Inspired me to learn the guitar.
pvg44 (Wayland, MA)	Posted: Nov 09, 2012 - 06:00 I guess you had to be there to appreciate this song.
ajlept (Athens, GA)	Posted: Oct 08, 2012 - 21:05 jhorton wrote: Hmmm.....love Ritchie, but I thought it was pretty well documented that Dave Mason brought the new Dylan album to a party in London, played it for Hendrix, and they recorded it that same night in London, all on the same day it was released? Also, just as an aside, Jimi could have figured out those chords in about fifteen seconds, tops. Dave Mason's version of All Along the Watchtower is a close second to Jimi's (IMHO). Never heard this story before, but I can see how both versions are most excellent.
cc_rider (Austin Texas. Y'all.)	Posted: Sep 07, 2012 - 07:45 fitzworld wrote: It doesn't get any better than this!! If you haven't seen Richie Havens lately he is truly remarkable. He exudes a Zen-like "wise man" quality that is mesmerizing. What a special, special musician, and a very grounded human being. What's even more interesting, those qualities do not seem to have come, so much with age, but with a special spirit. He opened Woodstock, right? Came out on stage in front of hundreds of thousands of people, and had to stretch his set because other artists were late (or drunk or stoned or who-knows-what). Did he freak out, as any normal young musician would? Naw, he just performed with poise and grace, and knocked 'em dead. That's a class act, with maturity beyond his years.
max_p	Posted: Sep 07, 2012 - 07:39 ch83575 wrote: Holy crap is RP on fire right now!! Thanks Bill!! yes flashing back to the movie, Richie with his thumb on the fretboard
zitherica (Rijeka, Croatia)	Posted: Sep 07, 2012 - 07:39 oh yeah, finally some richie havens!
ch83575	Posted: Sep 07, 2012 - 07:36 Holy crap is RP on fire right now!! Thanks Bill!!
On_The_Beach (The Blue Planet)	Posted: Aug 07, 2012 - 00:23 Hmmm, 6 songs after the solo version of "Psycho Killer". Those acoustic guitar riffs are not that far apart. The lyrics however . . .
oldviolin (Esse Quam Videri)	Posted: Jun 04, 2012 - 14:46 stand down...
oppositelock (On the road)	Posted: May 03, 2012 - 20:56 fitzworld wrote: It doesn't get any better than this!!
fitzworld (The Big A)	Posted: Mar 01, 2012 - 11:40 It doesn't get any better than this!! If you haven't seen Richie Havens lately he is truly remarkable. He exudes a Zen-like "wise man" quality that is mesmerizing. What a special, special musician, and a very grounded human being.
gemtag (Texas)	Posted: Mar 01, 2012 - 11:40 Best musical exit ever, as he danced off the stage. Definitely a piece of musical history.
johnjconn (chicago land)	Posted: Mar 01, 2012 - 11:37 Frenk wrote: This is more than just a song. This is history and needs to be remembered. FREEDOM is everything! History of Freedom or history of Woodstock? I'm willing to bet 95% of the kids at Woodstock don't remember 10% of the time they spent there. Burnouts and I agree, Freedom is great, beats the hell out of bondage
fredriley (Nottingham, UK)	Posted: Nov 27, 2011 - 07:20 LowPhreak wrote: "Advanced physical age"? Doesn't sound like you're 70 or 80 to me. "Child at heart"? No, I'd say just childish. (shrug) At least I've got a SOH and a sense of irony. Ah well, never mind, feel free to flame me off-board for my disrespectful comment about yer man singing Free-dahm-ah incessantly, which at the time was no doubt fantastic (and the comments I read on here about him playing for 3 hours make me respect the guy) but 30 years later is just plain irritating to these juvenile ears. The trouble with 'you hadda be there' is that, if you weren't there, you're not likely to like the rough and ready performances.
Frenk (The Netherlands - Rotterdam)	Posted: Nov 27, 2011 - 07:17 This is more than just a song. This is history and needs to be remembered. FREEDOM is everything!
jhorton	Posted: Jun 22, 2011 - 17:33 RipperP wrote: Saw Richie live two summers ago performing outdoors in our little town with the 5 Mile River and Long Island Sound as his backdrop (with two accompanists). Wasn't sure what to expect given the time lapsed since the superb performance at Woodstock, but can say effusively that he did not disappoint. Excellent show including some amazing stories in between numbers, including how he gave Hendrix the chords/lyrics for "All Along the Watchtower" after he performed it during a show in Greenwich Village. Hmmm.....love Ritchie, but I thought it was pretty well documented that Dave Mason brought the new Dylan album to a party in London, played it for Hendrix, and they recorded it that same night in London, all on the same day it was released? Also, just as an aside, Jimi could have figured out those chords in about fifteen seconds, tops.
RipperP	Posted: Apr 20, 2011 - 11:46 Saw Richie live two summers ago performing outdoors in our little town with the 5 Mile River and Long Island Sound as his backdrop (with two accompanists). Wasn't sure what to expect given the time lapsed since the superb performance at Woodstock, but can say effusively that he did not disappoint. Excellent show including some amazing stories in between numbers, including how he gave Hendrix the chords/lyrics for "All Along the Watchtower" after he performed it during a show in Greenwich Village.
fingerpin (oHIo)	Posted: Apr 20, 2011 - 11:41 Bosami wrote: Wasn't he making this up on the spot? I recall thatThe Who's helicopter hadn't arrived yet and they told Richie to keep on playing... Either way - it's an awesome song. VicEdee wrote: That is absolutely CORRECT....! Bump
DoctorHooey (/etc)	Posted: Apr 20, 2011 - 11:41 I'm renting this movie tonight to keep me going while I catch up on work. So very awesome. Havens really brought it with this. Truly channeling the cosmos
Hannio (Austin, TX)	Posted: Apr 20, 2011 - 11:41 Sasha2001 wrote: This song, and particularly this recording of it, is a historical document of our nation's history. You may find it unlikable to your taste but at least take the time to understand the events that inspired Mr. Haven's to sing this song as the first performer at Woodstock (the 1969 version). Whoop-de-doo.
Kemoc (Waynesville, OH)	Posted: Apr 20, 2011 - 11:40 Didn't like it then, Don't like it now.
Sasha2001 (Where the last of the union men run free)	Posted: Feb 16, 2011 - 14:37 This song, and particularly this recording of it, is a historical document of our nation's history. You may find it unlikable to your taste but at least take the time to understand the events that inspired Mr. Haven's to sing this song as the first performer at Woodstock (the 1969 version).
slippery (Cold north on the other side of the puddle)	Posted: Feb 16, 2011 - 14:36 technohippybiker wrote: Except that in this particular song he just keeps repeating the same things over and over and over again. And the style of his voice in this song is a little rough. It's a good example of why I often avoid live versions. I think this is the first time I've heard one of his songs and didn't like it. Could it perhaps be because of the simple fact that he improvised the song after running out of things to play after a 3 hour set starting of the woodstock. The reason of the lengthy set was simply because so many bands hadn't yet arrived. With above in mind, this song can be nothing else than 10. Absolutely amazing.
Bleyfusz	Posted: Feb 16, 2011 - 14:33 Perfect! I'm just stringing my old guitar!
unclehud (300 feet above the planet)	Posted: Feb 16, 2011 - 14:29 Richie Havens plays the guitar as if it were a percussion instrument.
lattalo (Beartooths)	Posted: Jan 16, 2011 - 08:34 raga wrote: worst ever? Come on, it is wonderful. Rock Music screaming the most important thing we have, FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!!
Sloggydog (UK)	Posted: Dec 15, 2010 - 22:22 If you didn't rate this god-like then I'm sorry but you're wrong. So very, very, wrong. If you haven't watched the video dig this giant bloke barring the entire fretboard with his thumb and leaving himself 4 fingers to play with - Unbe-freakin-lievable! I only wish we were also gettin High flyin bird.
LowPhreak (United Corporate States of Neo-Feudal Amurika, Inc.)	Posted: Nov 14, 2010 - 04:30 fredriley wrote: "Kiddies"?! That's the nicest compliment anyone's paid me on here, I think. Considering my advanced physical age (though not old enough to have experienced the 60s as an adult, which many on RP seem to have done) it's nice that some folk think I'm still a child at heart :o) "Advanced physical age"? Doesn't sound like you're 70 or 80 to me. "Child at heart"? No, I'd say just childish.
RedGuitar (Iowa, USA)	Posted: Oct 13, 2010 - 12:39 technohippybiker wrote: Except that in this particular song he just keeps repeating the same things over and over and over again. And the style of his voice in this song is a little rough. It's a good example of why I often avoid live versions. I think this is the first time I've heard one of his songs and didn't like it. I understand that his set was over and they asked him to play some more, since the next act was not ready. So he went out and made this tune up on the spot!
fingerpin (oHIo)	Posted: Oct 13, 2010 - 12:15 1wolfy wrote: This guy did some great music with Steve Hackett of Genesis. Please Don't Touch - I listened to it daily many years ago.
technohippybiker	Posted: Oct 13, 2010 - 12:08 Except that in this particular song he just keeps repeating the same things over and over and over again. And the style of his voice in this song is a little rough. It's a good example of why I often avoid live versions. I think this is the first time I've heard one of his songs and didn't like it.
cc_rider (Austin Texas. Y'all.)	Posted: Oct 13, 2010 - 12:04 Cynaera wrote: I can't and won't critique Richie Havens' work. All I know is that every time I hear one of his songs, the sun comes out, even when it's winter. Stuff grows, even when there's two feet of snow on the ground. I dance, even when I feel like I can't lift my arms or move my fingers. Richie Havens has this weird life-force that flows into me when I'm at my lowest. I just need to remember to listen to his music when I feel like I simply can't go on anymore. He's rather amazing, no matter what the music. Thank you.