Tuesday, April 30, 2013

The Free Movement--I've Found Someone Of My Own (1971)

     Normally on this forum I do not make fun of artists or songs. This is for a couple of reasons, the first of all being that music, like any kind of art is terribly subjective and what sounds great to one person might sound like tripe to another. Secondly, in an attempt to look at this music through a historic prism, we have to take into account that music many times is a snapshot of an earlier time. We would like to think (although with the events in the news it's hard to keep positive) that we are in a more enlightened age where we look toward those around us as equals. So one needs to keep that in mind when we hear songs that are blatantly of it's own time.
     However, there are times that it becomes so comical that I have to point it out. Which brings me to The Free Movement and "I've Found Someone Of My Own" who's title already give you a bit of a hint of what is to be found inside. This is worth actually printing the lyrics to get the full effect.

 
I got up this morning
While I was having my coffee
My woman came in, sat down by my side
With tears in her eyes
She said 'I've a confession to make.'
I said 'Woman, speak what's on your mind.'

She said 'I've found somebody new
To take your place.'
'I said don't feel so all alone
I've found someone of my own.'

'All those lonely nights
You left me all alone
My true love would call
And talk to me on the phone.'
I said 'Woman, if that's the way it's gotta be
Then darlin, don't you worry about me.'

She said ' I've found somebody new
To take your place.'
'I said don't feel so all alone
I've found someone of my own.'

I got up from the table
Reached down and wiped the tears
From her face
I put out my cigarette
Turned and walked away

She said 'I've found somebody new
To take your place.'
'I said don't feel so all alone
I've found someone of my own.'

Touching isn't it?

Am not sure who wrote this, but it had to be someone with a misogynistic fantasy of some sort. Too many times modern music is full of anti-woman biases that unfortunately still exists especially in heavy metal and rap.  When I first heard the song, my imagination went to a den with shag carpet and wood paneling and her coming down in her teddy to sit at the feet of her man while she confess that despite the fact that her man is a slimy bastard, she has found someone new. (surprise!) To add to the tenderness of the man involved ("woman, speak what's on your mind"..."Reached down and wiped the tears from her face"), we just find that he turns and walks out, which makes you wonder how long he had been freeloading off of her in the first place.

Hearing the song also give's a 70's porn feel about it all. To top it all off, it evidently touch a soft spot in a generation who evidently mixed up "free love" with ...well..."free love" because it reached #5 on the charts that year.  Anyway, it's not often that a song gets me this worked up, but any song that can make Steven Stills', "Love The One Your With" seem like a tender love ballad deserves some note.


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