“Free” by Folasona Olorunsola, 2013

Chorus:
When I was born I was free
so in this life I’m gonna be free
I know that everybody wanna be free
I’m talking ‘bout you I’m talking ‘bout me let’s feel free
When we were born we were free
so in this life we’re gonna be free
we know that everybody wanna be free
I’m talking ‘bout us we’ve got to be free

Verse 1:
been taught to know your place (where?), but not to know yourself (who?)
taught to do as your told (why?), but to ignore what's felt (how?)
imagination limited to what your memories see
dreams defined by the kind they sell on tv
then your mind is confined, you'll never be free
til you sing the song of your soul, let the melody be
free from prisons of the past or stress about tomorrow
free to make a choice now no regret or doubt or sorrow
might not always be free, enough to choose your position
no matter the space & time, free to choose your decision
free is much more, than living outside of a prison
free is more like, living inside of your vision
with hands and heart and mind aligned with precision
feelings and actions that combine in time like a rhythm
being so caught in the moment you forget the year
being so caught in the love you forget the fear
gotta feel free so you can accept your wealth
being so caught in your purpose you forget yourself
still no matter what some say, accept yourself
cause nothing is really real, except what's felt
what you already own no other human can give you
still you gotta claim freedom, your own music to live to
and since you might not get a second chance at life
might as well feel free and just dance tonight

Chorus:
When I was born I was free
so in this life I’m gonna be free
I know that everybody wanna be free
I’m talking ‘bout you I’m talking ‘bout me let’s feel free
When we were born we were free
so in this life we’re gonna be free
we know that everybody wanna be free
I’m talking ‘bout us we’ve got to be free

Verse 2:
Free like taking the mask off and letting your face shine
no pretender follow no agenda that ain't mine
confined to someone else' road, no I won't waste time
with Eshu's blessing, and Ogun's machete, create mine
I walk my own path, talk my own rap
my soul is not for sale it can't be bought so know that
I could rent my time for a minute til pockets grow fat
but no boss could own that so I’ve got to go back
to spending time on rhymes investing in dreams
receiving dividends of being what I'm destined to be
blessed with a roof overhead plus making bread that can feed
my stomach well, but most of all I'm truly blessed to be free
to, choose to do what inspires me toward the best I can be
like, letting words make love to tracks caressing the beat
or, touching a dancer's soul like I'm caressing her feet
by, letting the drum echo true expressions of me

Chorus:
When I was born I was free
so in this life I’m gonna be free
I know that everybody wanna be free
I’m talking ‘bout you I’m talking ‘bout me let’s feel free
When we were born we were free
so in this life we’re gonna be free
we know that everybody wanna be free
I’m talking ‘bout us we’ve got to be free

Verse 3:
Free like the style of a rhyme when it come off the top
free like having no fear of being unorthodox
free like styles on mics blessed, in the moment, unwritten
free like love fully expressed, true emotions unhidden
free like wild animals, that never see what the zoo is
free like speech, when the words you speak are the truest
free like the feeling, that a dancer finds in the music
free like your gift from God, just gotta find it and use it
free like speech was, long before the first amendment
free like owning your home, not where your some persons tenant
free is not just physical, it's a critical state of the mind
the mind state crucial for spitting creative rhymes
free like a thief in the dark of the night
but wait! (hold up) that definition of freedom ain't right (why?)
cause if cause is unseen effect still come into light
free is a conscience that's clear and character shining bright
living the life that you love and showing love for your brothers
not judging nobody else or fearing judgment from others
deep within is where you gotta focus your view to be free
see life for what it is, also what it truly could be
not when you do what you have to, when you do what you be
given options 1 or 2, add them to get numeral 3
given multiple choices A B C D to the E
say F. U. I'm a G. O.D. from doing M.E.
cause I’m free

Chorus:
When I was born I was free
so in this life I’m gonna be free
I know that everybody wanna be free
I’m talking ‘bout you I’m talking ‘bout me let’s feel free
When we were born we were free
so in this life we’re gonna be free
we know that everybody wanna be free
I’m talking ‘bout us we’ve got to be free
let’s feel free