☝️ Key Points
- The song lyrics express freedom and pride for the city of Philadelphia.
- Elton John describes his own search for answers and changes in his life.
- He emphasizes that you don't always have to explain everything and that actions speak louder than words.
- The chorus expresses Elton John's love for the city of Philadelphia and how it has brought him peace.
- The song lyrics also address the challenges that can be associated with freedom.
Interpretation
The lyrics of the song "Philadelphia Freedom" by
Elton John are an expression of freedom and pride for the city of Philadelphia. They describe the changes in the singer's life and how he found his own freedom.
In the first part of the lyrics, Elton John describes how he used to lead an unsettled life and was always searching for answers. He was willing to leave everything behind to find the truth. But over time, his life has changed. He says that he speaks less but achieves more. This means that he has learned that it's not always necessary to explain everything and that sometimes actions speak louder than words.
The chorus of the song expresses Elton John's love for the city of Philadelphia. He says that he carries the "Philadelphia Freedom" within him since birth and has always flown the flag of the city. The "Philadelphia Freedom" has given him peace, something his father never had. He asks for the light of freedom to also shine on those who have been left behind.
In the second part of the lyrics, Elton John talks about the possibility of living his life alone. Some people choose a traditional family life, but he prefers to be unattached. But then freedom hits him like a whip, symbolized by the call of the "whippoorwill". This means that freedom is not always easy and sometimes one is confronted with the consequences.
Overall, the lyrics of the song "Philadelphia Freedom" express the importance of freedom and pride for one's hometown. Elton John also describes how he found his own freedom and that sometimes freedom comes with challenges.