The lyrics belong to the song "I’m free,” first time performed by Rev. Milton R. Brunson, an American gospel singer who lived between 1929 and 1997. In 1948, he formed The Thompson Community Singers, a gospel choir with regional and even national success. After being introduced to the general public, the piece "I’m free” has been adopted by many gospel churches in the North-Eastern part of the United States of America and it can still be heard in black gospel communities.
Just like many other gospel songs, this one has just a few lines. Gospel singers use short texts because they believe revelation can be obtained through repetition. Meaning is of lesser importance, and the whole point is to get in the rhythm of the song.
As a genre, "I’m free” belongs to urban contemporary gospel music, sometimes called black gospel. From this perspective, it is a combination of African-American music and Christian (mainly Protestant) hymns. It implies the following attributes: Inspirational singing, eclectic lyrics, dialogue, explicit texts, and a lot of pathos. This song in particular adds the idea of circularity, which is atypical for gospel songs that put their stakes on continuous crescendo from the beginning to the end of the song.
Another important aspect refers to sharing the joy of singing. Sharing is seen as the most important part of the ceremony: People need to feel the same musical rhythm in order to be in touch with the beauty of this world, as God created it. In gospel churches, singers are never alone. They’re generally accompanied by a choir; people attending the ceremony also sing along, creating a sense of communal understanding. Again, this song has an uncommon approach, suggesting individualism.
Just like many other gospel songs, this one has just a few lines. Gospel singers use short texts because they believe revelation can be obtained through repetition. Meaning is of lesser importance, and the whole point is to get in the rhythm of the song.
As a genre, "I’m free” belongs to urban contemporary gospel music, sometimes called black gospel. From this perspective, it is a combination of African-American music and Christian (mainly Protestant) hymns. It implies the following attributes: Inspirational singing, eclectic lyrics, dialogue, explicit texts, and a lot of pathos. This song in particular adds the idea of circularity, which is atypical for gospel songs that put their stakes on continuous crescendo from the beginning to the end of the song.
Another important aspect refers to sharing the joy of singing. Sharing is seen as the most important part of the ceremony: People need to feel the same musical rhythm in order to be in touch with the beauty of this world, as God created it. In gospel churches, singers are never alone. They’re generally accompanied by a choir; people attending the ceremony also sing along, creating a sense of communal understanding. Again, this song has an uncommon approach, suggesting individualism.
