30 Incredible Songs About Freedom

Throughout the years, music has often been used as a way to convey what people are thinking. Music allows artists to express their thoughts and feelings about a variety of topics. Subjects from race and religion to politics and love have all found their way into songs. Protest songs became especially important during the 60s and 70s, leading to many famous songs about freedom. 

Freedom can mean a lot of different things, with some of the biggest artists from around the world signing songs about what it means to them. Some freedom songs are about oppression while others concern escaping a troubled relationship. These words about freedom have the power to make an impact on people and change how music listeners think about life. 

Many songs about freedom are now considered classics and have influenced generations of people. To highlight these incredible and challenging songs, here are 30 of the best songs about freedom. 

1. Bob Marley & The Wailers – “Redemption Song”

Unlike many Bob Marley songs, “Redemption Song” doesn’t feature any reggae or Jamaican influences. It’s just Marely playing acoustic guitar and philosophizing that we should “emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds.”

The lyrics take inspiration from a speech given by Marcus Garvey and show a contemplative side of Marley. The song is very much in the vein of Bob Dylan and is considered one of Marley’s best tunes that has been covered by a wide variety of artists over the years. 

2. Queen – “I Want To Break Free”

Best known for the music video featuring the band dressed in drag, this is one of Queen’s most played songs live. I Want To Break Free was written by bassist John Deacon and has been interpreted many different ways, with the majority of people believing the song is about coming out and being proud of your sexuality. Although Freddie Mercury didn’t see it that way, believing the song is about someone trying to break free from the hardships of life. 

As mentioned, the film clip shows all four members of Queen dressed in women’s clothing. Each dressed as a female character from the English soap opera Coronation Street: Roger Taylor as Suzie Birchall, Brian May as Hilda Ogden, Freddie Mercury as Bet Lynch, and John Deacon as Ena Sharples.

3. Elton John – “Philadelphia Freedom”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1oNWdrlWGo

“Philadelphia Freedom” was written as a favor for Elton John’s good friend Billie Jean King. Wanting to pay tribute to all she had achieved in the world of tennis and for women’s rights, John and his writing partner Bernie Taupin came up with this joyous tune. 

While not specifically about freedom (it’s more just the title) or tennis, “Philadelphia Freedom” is a fantastic song that pays homage to 70s soul music. 

4. Rudimental (ft Emeli Sande) – “Free”

There was a point in the mid-00s when Rudimental was big. Dominating the music charts, they had a big hit in Australia and New Zealand with the song “Free.” A slinky dance tune featuring regular collaborator and UK singer Emile Sande on vocals, this is an upbeat song about finding yourself and freeing yourself from the bad things in your life. 

5. George Michael – “Freedom! ’90”

Written, produced, and performed by George Michael, “Freedom! ’90” was one of the great man’s top hits. The beat samples James Brown’s “Funky Drummer” and is a dance-inspiring pop monster. It was a change of pace for Michael, with the song meant to signal a new direction for the singer.

Many remember the song’s music video. Michael refused to appear, so a host of famous models took his place. Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Tatjana Patitz, Christy Turlington, and Cindy Crawford all play a major role and helped the track shoot up the charts. 

6. Tom Petty – “Free Fallin'”

When Tom Petty first took “Free Fallin'” to his record label as a single, they rejected it. Six months later he returned with the song, unchanged, and they declared how much they loved it and released the song in 1989. The tune rocketed up the charts and remains Petty’s highest and longest charting song. 

Inspired by the things Petty would see while driving along Ventura Boulevard in the San Fernando Valley, the song is an escapist ode to Los Angeles. “Free Fallin'” got a second life in 1996 when it appeared in the hit Tom Cruise flick Jerry Macguire.

7. Kelly Clarkson – “Miss Independent”

Kelly Clarkson lets her guard down and frees herself to be loved in this emotional R&B-influenced pop tune. “Miss Independent” was a major hit for Clarkson that topped the Billboard charts in the states and earned a Grammy nomination. 

8. Anthony Hamilton and Elayna Boynton – “Freedom”

Anthony Hamilton and Elayna Boynton wrote “Freedom” specifically for Quinten Tarantino’s revenge flick Django Unchained. It’s a song about breaking free from the chains that hold you down and doing whatever you can to live your life how you want. 

9. Pharrell Williams – “Freedom”

“Freedom” is a feel-good track from Pharrell Williams with lyrics about living a free life and being the best version of yourself you can. A moderate hit in the United States, the Belgiums loved “Freedom,” with the song topping the Belgium Airplay and Urban charts and reaching second spot on the Belgium top 50 charts. 

10. Lana Del Rey – “Get Free”

Written as a sequel to her song “Ride,” this is classic Lana Del Rey. Low key instrumentation, nods to 60s pop, and Del Rey’s always sensual vocals. The singer told NPR that “Get Life” is “about people who don’t get to reach their full potential because they let controlling people stop them from being free.”

11. Scorpions – “Wind of Change”

80s power ballads don’t get much better. “Wind of Change” is the West German rock band Scorpions’ celebration of the fall of the Berlin wall and the end of the Cold War. There was a long-standing rumor that the CIA helped write the song, but that has been debunked by the podcast Wind of Change.

12. Natasha Bedingfield – “Weightless”

Natasha Bedingfield lets go of all her problems and feels “Weightless” in this pop ditty. She sings, “The sky is the limit, and I just wanna flow, free as a spirit on a journey of hope.” We wish her all the best. 

13. Lynyrd Skynyrd – “Freebird”

A classic southern rock staple, “Freebird” is a nine-minute tribute to life and what it’s like to be free. The opening line was inspired by guitarist Allen Collins’ girlfriend, Kathy, who asked him “If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me?”

Well, he certainly did as the two later married, although her tragic death from a hemorrhage during the miscarriage of their third child spurred Collins to step away from the band, all but ending Lynard Skynard. 

14.  Bob Dylan – “Chimes of Freedom”

Following on from “The Times They Are a-Changin’,” this track was written by Bob Dylan while he was taking shelter from a thunderstorm. It’s a song about Dylan expressing his solidarity for all those who are oppressed in the world. It’s very much inspired by the symbolist poetry of Arthur Rimbaud, someone Dylan greatly admires.

Like many Dylan compositions from the 60s, “Chimes of Freedom” is long (a tad over seven minutes) and has been covered by many of his peers, including Bruce Springsteen, U2, and Jefferson Starship. 

15. Rage Against the Machine – “Freedom”

It’s no surprise to see Rage Against the Machine on a list of songs about freedom. The hugely political and social band is all about writing songs that point out the hypocrisy of governments and the oppression of a wide range of people around the world. 

Taken from their self-titled debut, “Freedom” is the fourth and final single from the album. The lyrics bring attention to Native American Activist Leonard Peltier, who is currently serving two consecutive life sentences for the murder of two FBI agents after the famous shoot-out on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in 1975.

While there is no denying Peltier was involved in the shoot-out, he has been steadfast in his innocence, saying it was not him who killed the two men. Despite numerous appeals and continuous questions about the evidence brought against Peltier, he remains behind bars. 

17. Neil Young – “Rockin’ in the Free World”

A live favorite, “Rockin’ in the Free World” is Neil Young’s plea for people to continue to live free and not be swayed by dubious people in power. The lyrics attack the George W Bush administration and also allude to Ayatollah Khomeini and Jesse Jackson. 

Highlighting his lack of music knowledge, Donald Trump played the song during his announcement that he would run as a Republican candidate for the 2016 presidency and during his 2020 Fourth of July speech. Young took him to court for using the songs but the case was eventually dismissed. 

18. The Killers – “Human”

This song doesn’t really make a lot of sense. The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers sings “Are we human or are we dancer?” While he has admitted it’s not gramatically correct, the line is inspired by the Hunter S. Thompson quote, “We’re raising a generation of dancers.” It’s meant to be asking the question of whether we really have free will or are controlled by the government, or something like that. 

Flowers himself described the track as “Johnny Cash meets the Pet Shop Boys” to Rolling Stone magazine, with a 2014 Birtdbox survey awarding the song the title of “weirdest lyric of all time.” Whatever you think about lyrics, there is no doubting it’s a catchy song.

19. Kid Rock – Born Free

Kid Rock wants everyone to know he was “Born Free.” How does he spend his freedom? According to this music video, it’s riding his motorcycle, driving his car, and chilling on the beach in his flannel shirt. This is a paint-by-numbers country rock song that Kid Rock has made his bread butter. Fans of the Michigan artist will no doubt be all over this one, but everyone else, not so much. 

20.  Christina Aguilera – Just Be Free

This song is nothing like what you would expect from Christina Aguilera. The title track of her mid-90s demo album is a banging house tune about feeling free on the dance floor. Just Be Free is a collection of similar songs released after Aguilera made it big. While nothing really stands out, it is a fantastic demonstration of Aguilera’s incredible vocal talents. 

21. Jason Marz – “The Freedom Song”

After the success of his single, “I’m Yours,” from the hit album We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things… Jason Marz decided to change tact. He wanted to use his newfound fame to shine a light on problems around the world, such as climate change and child slavery. The result of this is his fourth album Love Is a Four Letter Word.

The album contains many songs about life, love, and the problems we are facing in the world today, including this cover of “The Freedom Song.” Originally performed by Luc and the Lovingtons, the song was written in response to the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Marz identified with the themes of the song and began performing it, eventually recording it and putting it on his fourth long player. 

22. Iron Maiden – “Running Free”

This semi-autobiography tune is about being 16 and running amok. At that age, you feel free to do what you like, with your whole future in front of you. You aren’t thinking of what lies ahead or the consequences your actions will have. It’s all about living in the moment and being free, something heavy metal giants Iron Maiden convey in this energetic single. 

Fun fact: this was Iron Maiden’s first official single, released on February 8, 1980. 

23. Steely Dan – Deacon Blues

This top 40 Billboard single from Steely Dan is a little on the depressing side. “Deacon Blues” is about a suburban man who dreams of being a jazz saxophonist. While many interpret the song as the man trading in his 9-5 and finally achieving his dreams, Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen has said it’s the opposite, believing the man never actually got to fulfill his dream.

It might not seem that positive, but the tune does highlight you shouldn’t settle for a life constrained by social conventions. You have the freedom to be and do what you want. You only have one life so live it. 

24. En Vouge – Free Your Mind

R&B group En Vogue had a bit of a moment in the 90s. One of their biggest hits was the sultry “Free Your Mind.” The message behind this tune is that you should allow yourself to be free and at peace with who you are. If you do this then the rest of your life will work itself out. It’s a great tune, but nowhere near as amazing as “Don’t Let Go (Love),” arguably the group’s best song.

25. No Doubt – “It’s My Life”

Another cover track, this one is a much more well-known song. First recorded by Talk Talk in 1984, “It’s My Life” was a new wave hit, reaching the top of the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. While great, we are big fans of the No Doubt version, with Gwen Stefani offering something different. 

“It’s My Life” was a much bigger hit for the American ska turned pop act, with the film clip also earning a Grammy nomination. It features Stefani as a femme fatale who goes on trial for the murder of her three husbands. She is found guilty and is executed as the ghosts of her victims laugh at her fate. Grim stuff. 

26. Tears for Fears – “Shout”

This 80s gem from Tears for Fears is about political protest and fighting for your freedom. It’s everything you want from a song of that era, with brooding synths, power chords, and soaring vocals. It’s also got a catchy hook you can’t help but sing along with. 

27. Nina Simone – “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free”

An anthem for the Civil Rights Movement in America during the 1960s, “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free” is a powerful song made that much more enriching thanks to Nina Simone’s vocals. Written and performed by Billy Taylor, it’s Simone’s version that is widely hailed by music critics. 

It’s a song about wanting to know what it’s like to live in a world free of racism and segregation, something we still, sadly, haven’t been able to achieve. Simone isn’t the only notable artist to cover this tune, with Solomon Burke, John Denver, and John Legend and the Roots all tackling this heavy but soulful tune. 

28. The Velvet Underground – “I’m Set Free”

Avant-garde rockers The Velvet Underground felt like they had been set free and decided to write a song about it. What they’ve been set free from is unknown, but it makes for a melodic song that’s one of their more “normal” compositions. 

29. Nelly Furtado – “I’m Like a Bird”

Nelly Furtado uses the image of a flying bird to signify her inability to commit to a man who loves her. While he is everything she could ever want, she needs to be free to discover who she is and what she wants from life. 

“I’m Like a Bird” was a breakout hit for Furtado and turned her into a star. Although she hasn’t released any new material or played live in five years, she did recently appear on stage with Drake and perform short versions of “Promiscuous” and “I’m Like a Bird,” hinting at a return

30. Beyonce (ft. Kendrick Lamar) – “Freedom”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anZhGwPEC4c

Taken from Queen Bey’s highly praised Lemonade album, this track is dedicated to black women that also addresses social justice and the freedoms not being afforded to black people in America. Kendrick Lamar pops up with a verse near the song’s end where he seems to be counting down to the end of oppression. 

As with much of the content on the album, “Freedom” has a lot of serious themes and is a very powerful track.