Freddie's dead
That's what I said
Let the man rap a plan
Said he'd see him home
But his hope was a rope
And he should've known

Everybody's misused him
Ripped him up and abused him
Another junkie plan
Pushing dope for the man
A terrible blow
But that's how it goes
A Freddie's on the corner now
If you want to be a junkie, wow
Remember Freddie's dead

We're all built up with progress
But sometimes I must confess
We can deal with rockets and dreams
But reality, what does it mean
Ain't nothing said
'Cause Freddie's dead

Hey, hey
Love, love
Ha, ha
Love, love
Yeah, yeah
Ha, ha
Love, love
Freddie's dead

All I want is some peace of mind
With a little love I'm trying to find
This could be such a beautiful world
With a wonderful girl
Why I need a woman child
Don't want to be like Freddie now
'Cause Freddie's dead

Everybody's misused him
Ripped him up and abused him
Another junkie plan
Pushing dope for the man
A Freddie's on the corner now
If you want to be a junkie, why
Remember Freddie's dead
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha
Freddie's dead


Lyrics submitted by planetearth

Freddie's Dead [From Superfly] Lyrics as written by Curtis Mayfield

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Freddie's Dead song meanings
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  • +2
    General Comment

    Great song. I can think of almost none other who'd have poured this much honest emotion on the death of a small-time drug peddler and made it work musically. It's full of powerful side-touches, the brass stabs, the hooky bassline, the clinical synth sound in the break that swells and then drops to a siren, and the points where Curtis voice almost breaks. Ironically, the lyrics weren't featured in the film (the soundtrack version is instrumental) but then most people had heard the chart-topping single anyway!

    tinderboxon March 08, 2005   Link

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