‘For Freedom’ [3:25] (MacDonald/Peters), The Alarm
Lead Vocals:Mike Peters
Lyrics
Take this song of freedom Put it on & arm yourself for the fight Don't let them blind your eyes now Or listen to the devil liar Feelings growing getting stronger But even now my hands are tied I feel restricted I can't cut loose This ball and chain that's round my neck What can I say that's not been said before Until there's a better way i'm gonna stay So gather round you people to me And listen now to what I say Sticks and stones will get us nowhere There's nineteen years yet we still don't know What have we learnt is this all we can show There must be a better way to end the day We've got to stand now and push on through to the other side We must not blind our eyes Or listen to the devil liar. We're the nation of many colours But everybody's blood runs red Cut our wrists and bind together Too much blood has been spilt in hate Do it now for your children 'cause their lives are yet to come Do it now for you own sakes FOR FREEDOM. We've got to stand now and push on through to the other side We must not blind our eyes Or listen to the devil liar. Do it now for your children 'cause their lives are yet to come Do it now for you own sakes FOR FREEDOM. We've got to stand now and push on through to the other side We must not blind our eyes Or listen to the devil liar.
Notes
“This is a song Mr Sharp wrote. Dave was probably the most politisised member of the band when we got together. Dave had been in the merchant navy and travelled the world and he’d been to South America and all over the place on ships. When I first met Dave, he was playing in a local band with Twist called Quasimodo. The other member of the band was actually Karl Wallanger, who you may know from World Party. Karl was from this part of the world and he was a brilliant keyboard player, brilliant musician and still is. The first time I saw Dave play a gig was with Karl and they were supposed to go down to London and try and make it. I remember being a little punk rock kid and I could play about three chords on the guitar and they were like these brilliant musicians. Dave and Twist were in this band and they used to do The Who and everything. They were really good, a bit hippyish, but really good.” – Mike Peters
Versions
-1983 B-side version: Recorded live at the London Marqee, Jan. 1, 1983
-1983: Live KBFH [3:54] : :Recorded June 27th, 1983 at The Metre, Boston, MA, USA.
-Richard Skinner Session, released in 2008 on “The Alarm Radio Sessions 1983-1991”
