Otis Redding - "Chained and Bound"
It's true, I know, that men are born free but are everywhere in chains. It's a small consolation that a few of the many kinds of chains that bind us are paradoxically liberating. For instance, for some, including Otis, the chains of fidelity don't so much narrow the parameters of the possible as they do shift them to encompass something deeper. Yeah, Otis has been bound by the chains of his love, but the last thing he wants is his freedom, or the oppressive chains of untetheredness that he knows come with it.
It's kind of like how men are born naked, but are everywhere in clothes. Or how men are born stupid but are everywhere much smarter than when they were born. Or how men are born ten inches tall, but are everywhere at least six times taller than that. Or how I was born yellow (jaundice), but am everywhere beige. You know?
"Chained and Bound," is not a perfect song; it is merely very good. Otis Redding was freed of the chains of this world shortly after he recorded "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay," a song that promised so much. What he left behind are a great many vocal performances that far exceed the quality of his songs. This is one of those. When he first sings the words "chained and bound," someone - is it the drummer? an idle hornblower? Otis himself? - lets out a small "woah." It's a statement of wonderment, of genuine astonishment that something so insignificant as this lyric, as flawed as this little ballad, as limited as this human voice, as imminent as these waves of sound (all chains), can set so much in us free. [Buy]
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Alfreda Brockington - "Chained and Bound"
Because women are born free too, and are also everywhere in chains. Because they too are born naked, but are clothed. Because women babies are just as stupid as the others, and grow to be just as smart. Because female hatchlings are also extremely small people who grow to be "taller than the tallest pine, sweeter than a grape on a vine." [Buy]
Posted by Jordan at September 19, 2006 1:19 AMvery nice.
as i rock myself to sleep.
wow what a nice addition to tonight's journey. thank you. both tracks are awesome.
Posted by Anonymous at September 19, 2006 3:36 AM"It's true, I know, that men are born free but are everywhere in chains." is to " It's kind of like how men are born naked, but are everywhere in clothes." as J.J.'s most famous line is to a witty and enjoyable twist on a famous line of Rousseau's. Also, a=c; b=d, just so you know.
Posted by Joel Taylor at September 19, 2006 10:52 AMTeeber - You're preaching to the converted (i.e. Don't tell a nudist what a nudist already knows: Men are born free, but are everywhere in clothes. Which is to say that it is not I to whom your message pertains: Men are born naked, but are everywhere in chains).
Posted by Jordan at September 19, 2006 12:57 PMjordan, don't you have a band? will you guys ever write a song called "chains of freedom"? it could be about how freedom is like cahins.
Posted by george at September 19, 2006 1:59 PMand how cahins are like chains.
Posted by george at September 19, 2006 2:00 PMband of horses also do a very nice cover of this song.
Posted by s! at September 19, 2006 3:48 PMS! - Which one? These are two different songs.
Posted by Jordan at September 19, 2006 4:30 PMIn a sense, of course, s! is quite right; the two songs are one song, the song is s!'s post, s!'s post is this blog. Unity! Why is a raven like a writing desk?
Posted by Joel Taylor at September 19, 2006 9:27 PM
and it will begin playing. All songs are also available to download: just right-click the link and choose 'Save as...'
