Moving on to another TV theme, best known for the original Barry Norman BBC TV film review programme that began in 1972, this wonderful jazz piano piece was originally associated with the 1950s civil rights movement. Pianist and composer Billy Taylor was born in North Carolina, and as well as working alongside the likes of Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker, became a distinguished professor of music at East Carolina University in Greenville, and from 1994 was the artistic director for jazz at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. He composed this piece in 1952, and becoming a jazz and civil rights standard, was later covered by Nina Simone in 1967 for her album Silk and Soul. What’s so appealing about this piece is the ease with which it gains momentum, starting slowly, using a simple piano melody that kicks in with the drum and upright bass line, with no shortage of nimble finger work, but has an understated yearning and dignity in the tune.
But it would be strange not to include the great Nina Simone’s version, with added brass, funky upbeat, and words of course, below.
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 longin' to give
I wish I could live
Like I'm longin' to live
I wish I could do
All the things that I can do
And though I'm way over due
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
Then I'd sing 'cause I know, yea
Then I'd sing 'cause I know, yea
Then I'd sing 'cause I know
I'd know how it feels
Oh I know how it feels to be free
Yea yea! Oh, I know how it feels
Yes I know, oh, I know
How it feels
How it feels
To be free, Lord, Lord, Lord
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