Freedom of '76
| "Freedom of '76" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Ween | ||||
| from the album Chocolate and Cheese | ||||
| B-side | "Freedom of '76 (Shaved Dog Mix)"/"Bakersfield" (vinyl release) "Freedom of '76 (Shaved Dog Mix)"/"Now I'm Freaking Out"/"Pollo Asado" (CD release) | |||
| Released | April 1995 | |||
| Recorded | c. Fall 1993–Spring 1994 | |||
| Length | 2:50 | |||
| Label | Flying Nun Records | |||
| Ween singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Freedom of '76" is a song by Ween from the 1994 album Chocolate and Cheese. The song was written around June of 1992, four months prior to the release of Pure Guava.
Song Details[edit | edit source]
Recording[edit | edit source]
"Freedom of '76" is in the key of E major.
The song is notable for Gene Ween's high falsetto vocals and layered backing vocals. Producer Andrew Weiss later recalled that when recording the backing vocals, Gener "didn't really know how to approach it" and that Weiss coached him through a process of assembling harmonies piece by piece. Weiss encouraged Gene to think of Marvin Gaye and Al Green for inspiration, while Gene stated he was inspired by the harmonies of the Beatles and the Beach Boys, as well as the album A Cappella by Todd Rundgren.[1]
The drums were played by Claude Coleman, Jr., who recalled it took "a lot of takes".[2]
Songwriting Process with Ed Wilson[edit | edit source]
The guitar chord progression and bass part of "Freedom of '76" were written by friend of the band Ed Wilson. The song's lyrics were written by Gene Ween.[3] Dean Ween later recalled that Wilson had taught him "jazzy" chords by teaching Deaner a chord progression pattern similar to "Freedom" (basing it very loosely off the style of Bill Withers),[4] while Wilson recalled that he was actually showing them one of his own compositions without telling them (showing Deaner the guitar part and Gener the bassline), though he only found out they made the song after receiving a call from Ween's manager, Dave Ayers informing him they would perform it on the Jane Pratt Show.[5]
Lyrical References[edit | edit source]
Both Gene and Dean Ween have confirmed that the lyrics were written by Gener as an "ode" to the city of Philadelphia, where he and his family are originally from.[6]
"Boyz II Men still keepin' up the beat"[edit | edit source]
The vocal group Boyz II Men are from Philadelphia, and Gener has said that the song was musically inspired by them.[7]
"Mannequin was filmed at Woolworths"[edit | edit source]
The 1987 film Mannequin was actually filmed at a different Philadelphia department store called Wanamaker's, but Gener has said, "'Woolworths' fit the song better, so I changed it."[8]
Alternate Versions[edit | edit source]
"Freedom of '76" was written as early as the summer of 1992, when two different demo versions were recorded at Greg Frey's Graphic Sound Studios. Both demo versions can be heard on the bootleg Chocolate and Cheese Demos: Summer 1992.
Additionally, a "Shaved Dog" version remixed by Mike D appears on all single versions of the song.
Live Performances[edit | edit source]
The song has been frequently played live throughout Ween's career, ever since they debuted it on October 29th, 1992.[9] However, it has never appeared on an official live album. Early performances featured DAT deck accompaniment, including a notable spot on the Jane Pratt Show in 1993.[10] After the formation of the live band, the song continued to be commonly played, and was even adapted with country instrumentation on the 1996 country tour. Additionally, both Dean Ween and, more often, Gene Ween, have individually played the song in solo performances.[11][12][13]
Video[edit | edit source]
The 1995 video was directed by Spike Jonze, who was already a Ween fan at the time, and himself lived in Philadelphia as a child.[14] The video was featured on Beavis and Butt-Head.[15]
Lyrics[edit | edit source]
Official lyrics were printed in the Chocolate and Cheese liner notes:
Freedom of the body
Freedom of the mind
A ho on South Street hired for tricks
Little girls pickin' up sticks
Freedom of '76
Wastee little weasel
Wants cheap tricks
Liberty Bell cracked in half
A bacon steak, a perfect match
Freedom of '76
My girl Sasha
Lookin' good on the street
Mannequin was filmed at Woolworth's
Boyz II Men still keepin' up the beat, yeah
Freedom of '76
Fairmount Park in the summer
Lookin' good on the street
Mannequin was filmed at Woolworth's
Boyz II Men still keepin' up the beat
Freedom of '76[16]
Song Themes[edit | edit source]
Sung by Gene Ween, Waste, Weasel
Credits[edit | edit source]
- Gene Ween: Vocals
- Dean Ween: Guitar
- Andrew Weiss: Bass
- Claude Coleman: Drums
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ H. Shteamer, Chocolate and Cheese, p.67–68
- ↑ H. Shteamer, Chocolate and Cheese, p.68
- ↑ H. Shteamer, Chocolate and Cheese, p.68
- ↑ H. Shteamer, Chocolate and Cheese, pp.65–66
- ↑ H. Shteamer, Chocolate and Cheese, pp.66–67
- ↑ H. Shteamer, Chocolate and Cheese, p.68
- ↑ H. Shteamer, Chocolate and Cheese, p.68
- ↑ H. Shteamer, Chocolate and Cheese, p.69
- ↑ https://brownbase.org/every_time_played.php?band=Ween&song_id=62
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzYykIA1xVg
- ↑ https://brownbase.org/every_time_played.php?band=Freeman&song_id=62
- ↑ https://brownbase.org/every_time_played.php?band=Gene%20Ween&song_id=62
- ↑ https://brownbase.org/every_time_played.php?band=Gene%20Ween%20Band&song_id=62
- ↑ H. Shteamer, Chocolate and Cheese, p.69–70
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GoPfs4pioU
- ↑ From the Chocolate and Cheese liner notes.