Chimes Of Freedom

The Byrds

About Chimes Of Freedom

"Chimes of Freedom" is a song written and performed by Bob Dylan and featured on his 1964 album Another Side of Bob Dylan (see 1964 in music), produced by Tom Wilson. Initially, critics described the song as showing the influence of the symbolist poetry of Arthur Rimbaud. More recent biographers of Dylan have linked the origins of the song to verses Dylan had written as a reflection on the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963. The song depicts the thoughts and feelings of the singer and his companion as they shelter from a lightning storm under a doorway after sunset. The singer expresses his solidarity with the downtrodden and oppressed, believing the thunder is tolling in sympathy for them. Music critic Paul Williams has described the song as Dylan's Sermon on the Mount. The song has been covered many times by different artists, including The Byrds, Jefferson Starship, Youssou N'Dour, Bruce Springsteen, and U2. 


Year:
2009
103 

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Far between sundown's finish
An' midnights broken toll
We ducked inside the doorway, thunder crashing
As majestic bells of bolts
Struck shadows in the sound
Seeming to be the chimes of freedom flashing
Flashing for the warriors whose strength is not to fight
Flashing for the refugees on the unarmed road of flight
An' for each an' every underdog soldier in the night
An' we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing

Even though a cloud's white curtain
In a far-off corner flashed
An' the hypnotic splattered mist Was slowly lifting
Electric light still struck like arrows, fired but for the ones
Condemned to drift or else be kept from drifting
Tolling for the searching ones, on their speechless, seeking trail
For the lonesome-hearted lovers with too personal a tale
An' for each unharmful, gentle soul misplaced inside a jail
An' we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing

Starry-eyed an' laughing as I recall when we were caught
Trapped by no track of hours for they hanged suspended
As we listened one last time an' we watched with one last look
Spellbound an' swallowed 'til the tolling ended
Tolling for the aching ones whose wounds cannot be nursed
For the countless confused, accused, misused, strung-out ones an' worse
An' for every hung-up person in the whole wide universe
An' we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing

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The Byrds

The Byrds ( /ˈbɜrdz/) were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn (aka Jim McGuinn) remaining the sole consistent member, until the group disbanded in 1973. Although they only managed to attain the huge commercial success of contemporaries like The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and The Rolling Stones for a short period of time (1965–66), The Byrds are today considered by critics to be one of the most influential bands of the 1960s. Initially, they pioneered the musical genre of folk rock, melding the influence of The Beatles and other British Invasion bands with contemporary and traditional folk music. As the 1960s progressed, the band was a… more »

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Written by: Bob Dylan

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Bob Dylan's Composition
"Chimes of Freedom" is a song written and composed by Bob Dylan. It is a part of his album "Another Side" which was released in 1964.
Inspiration
The song was heavily influenced by the civil rights movement that was going on during the time of its composition. Many people consider it an anthem for human rights and freedom.
Song Structure
The original version of "Chimes of Freedom" by Bob Dylan is nearly seven and a half minutes long. The song structure breaks from traditional folk and rock forms, consisting of verses only, without any chorus or bridge.
The Byrds' Cover
"The Byrds," an American rock band, performed a cover version of "Chimes of Freedom" for their album "Mr. Tambourine Man" in 1965, making the song considerably shorter, down to just over three minutes.
Popularizing The Song
The Byrds are credited with helping to popularize the song. Their version was very popular in the U.K. and reached number 36 in the Singles Chart.
Other Covers
Apart from The Byrds, the song has been covered by numerous artists in various genres. This includes versions by Bruce Springsteen, Youssou N'Dour, and U2.
Use in Protests
"Chimes of Freedom" has been used in numerous protests and human rights campaigns around the world because of its strong message about freedom and equality.
Legacy
"Chimes of Freedom" is often considered one of Bob Dylan's most significant and impactful songs. Rolling Stone magazine listed it at number 334 on their "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list.
Tribute Album
The song was also featured on the 2012 charity tribute album "Chimes of Freedom: Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International" which features various artists covering Bob Dylan's songs.
Live Performances
Both Bob Dylan and The Byrds played "Chimes of Freedom" at many live performances, including music festivals and concerts, making it a staple in their setlists.

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