Hello everyone. I'm actually new at leaving posts but I've read peoples' comments about songs for quite a while now. The meaning of Philadelphia Freedom to me is a very easy one. Philadelphia being the "city of brotherly love" made it clear to me that he's talking about having the freedom to love another man. Many of the lines support this like..."Oh Philadelphia freedom shine on me, I love you
Shine a light through the eyes of the ones left behind
Shine a light shine a light
Shine a light won't you shine a light
Philadelphia freedom I love you, yes I do"
These lines talk about being open and happy about the lifestyle rather than staying in the dark like "the ones left behind".
"`Cause I live and breathe this Philadelphia freedom
From the day that I was born I've waved the flag" (exclaiming happiness of being free to be himself)
"Philadelphia freedom took me knee-high to a man" (the most obvious line in the song)
"Yeah gave me peace of mind my daddy never had" (probably ostrasized by his father about his sexuality)
"If you choose to you can live your life alone "(afraid to come out of the closet)
"Some people choose the city" (the city of course, of brotherly love)
"Some others choose the good old family home" (not coming out or the straight life)
"I like living easy without family ties" (families sometimes have too much to say)
"Till the whippoorwill of freedom zapped me
Right between the eyes" (he realizes that he's now as free as a bird).
I think it was a clever move to use the name of the team Billie Jean King played on for this song since she is lesbian it ties everything together.
Let me just say that Elton John is, in my opinion, the best of the best. So, I'm in no way bashing him. Some of his songs take me back to some of the most memorable moments in my childhood. And I do realize that it's Bernie Taupin that writes the lyrics but I'm sure that EJ has a lot of influence on those lyrics. Too many of his songs could be put together to chronicle his life.
jayhanna, I believe your analysis is right on the money, and reflects exactly what I believed the song to mean.
The one exception I might have is that when I have discussed their "gayness" with those friends I have made over the years that were gay, and when I asked them about when they knew, or realized that they were gay, they always answered "from the day that I was born." There was no switch, or change that took place in them, except perhaps to declare themselves openly as such.
I believe this sort of understanding helps to explain both that particular...
jayhanna, I believe your analysis is right on the money, and reflects exactly what I believed the song to mean.
The one exception I might have is that when I have discussed their "gayness" with those friends I have made over the years that were gay, and when I asked them about when they knew, or realized that they were gay, they always answered "from the day that I was born." There was no switch, or change that took place in them, except perhaps to declare themselves openly as such.
I believe this sort of understanding helps to explain both that particular line and the line that follows, "Philadelphia freedom took me knee-high to a man." I would be very interested in hearing about any other songs you have analyzed, you are obviously a deep thinker.
I agree mostly but, it's about a young man's first blow job and the discovery and practice of the newly found freedom of gays and lesbians and it's time to pay attention!
I agree mostly but, it's about a young man's first blow job and the discovery and practice of the newly found freedom of gays and lesbians and it's time to pay attention!
Hello everyone. I'm actually new at leaving posts but I've read peoples' comments about songs for quite a while now. The meaning of Philadelphia Freedom to me is a very easy one. Philadelphia being the "city of brotherly love" made it clear to me that he's talking about having the freedom to love another man. Many of the lines support this like..."Oh Philadelphia freedom shine on me, I love you Shine a light through the eyes of the ones left behind Shine a light shine a light Shine a light won't you shine a light Philadelphia freedom I love you, yes I do" These lines talk about being open and happy about the lifestyle rather than staying in the dark like "the ones left behind". "`Cause I live and breathe this Philadelphia freedom From the day that I was born I've waved the flag" (exclaiming happiness of being free to be himself) "Philadelphia freedom took me knee-high to a man" (the most obvious line in the song) "Yeah gave me peace of mind my daddy never had" (probably ostrasized by his father about his sexuality) "If you choose to you can live your life alone "(afraid to come out of the closet) "Some people choose the city" (the city of course, of brotherly love) "Some others choose the good old family home" (not coming out or the straight life) "I like living easy without family ties" (families sometimes have too much to say) "Till the whippoorwill of freedom zapped me Right between the eyes" (he realizes that he's now as free as a bird). I think it was a clever move to use the name of the team Billie Jean King played on for this song since she is lesbian it ties everything together.
Let me just say that Elton John is, in my opinion, the best of the best. So, I'm in no way bashing him. Some of his songs take me back to some of the most memorable moments in my childhood. And I do realize that it's Bernie Taupin that writes the lyrics but I'm sure that EJ has a lot of influence on those lyrics. Too many of his songs could be put together to chronicle his life.
jayhanna, I believe your analysis is right on the money, and reflects exactly what I believed the song to mean. The one exception I might have is that when I have discussed their "gayness" with those friends I have made over the years that were gay, and when I asked them about when they knew, or realized that they were gay, they always answered "from the day that I was born." There was no switch, or change that took place in them, except perhaps to declare themselves openly as such. I believe this sort of understanding helps to explain both that particular...
jayhanna, I believe your analysis is right on the money, and reflects exactly what I believed the song to mean. The one exception I might have is that when I have discussed their "gayness" with those friends I have made over the years that were gay, and when I asked them about when they knew, or realized that they were gay, they always answered "from the day that I was born." There was no switch, or change that took place in them, except perhaps to declare themselves openly as such. I believe this sort of understanding helps to explain both that particular line and the line that follows, "Philadelphia freedom took me knee-high to a man." I would be very interested in hearing about any other songs you have analyzed, you are obviously a deep thinker.
I agree mostly but, it's about a young man's first blow job and the discovery and practice of the newly found freedom of gays and lesbians and it's time to pay attention!
I agree mostly but, it's about a young man's first blow job and the discovery and practice of the newly found freedom of gays and lesbians and it's time to pay attention!