Eric Burdon & The Animals

And when I got to America, I say it blew my mind
And when I got to America, I say it blew my mind
The Apollo Theater on a 125th street,
The place was closed, it was pouring rain,
I had a feeling Id go there again,
The taxi driver thought I was insane,
Brown girl from the Bronx showed me her home,
We went there by subway train
She took me there time and time again
Love was our sweet songs name
And when I got to America, I say it blew my mind
And when I got to America, I say it blew my mind
The Negro was my hero and leader
His strange tasting ways... they turned me on
I tried my best to sound just like him
When he moves... he moves like lightning
Across the world the news was flashed
The countrys young leader was laid to rest
Another ending of a new beginning
Others cried... some were grinning
And when I got to America, I say it blew my mind
And when I got to America, I say it blew my mind
In Central Park the children were playing
Behind the bars the tiger walked
Smiling young faces of many colours
Many young tongues were being talked
The garbage lying in the streets of the Village,
Smiling face of an unknown Bob Dylan
(do it again, man)
She was sixteen, young and so willin
The sudden violence of a Village killin
(and here comes the Police as usual, eh, what good are you now)
And when I got to America, I say it blew my mind
(and all ya people standing around here with your hands in your pockets)
And when I got to America, I say it blew my mind
[Interview:]
What did you do in the services?
What did I do in the services? I was a fighter pilot. Yeah, thats right. But they didnt like me. They didnt want me. When I was sent overseas, the first thing they told me was: "um, we cant use you because we didnt send for you"
I was trained. The government paid, the government spent over $250,000 to train me as a pilot, and then after I got overseas, a general sent his adjutant down to meet our group to say that we didnt send for you and we dont want you. Thats right. This is the truth, Im telling you the truth! This is straight life but, ah, somehow we go on... We go on because we would like to think theres hope. But thats a lie, there aint no hope and thats the truth, thats the truth baby!
Thats right when I know you out of the box. (laughter) Yeah, thats right! You know the town that I was born in, we didnt have no streets? It was all dirt roads, dirt roads and poor people, nobody had nothing. Matter of fact, we used to get together to have community meals. Somebody had cabbage, somebody else had some meat, somebody else had some corn mean and wed get together and wed make a meal, have a community dinner. That was when we were lucky and then wed play cards. We didnt have any signals cause we didnt need any. Nobody had any cars. Thats right! And on the corner, on particular corners, there were accidents all the time. Most of the people who were hurt in the accidents died just because nobody came to pick them up. The ambulance never came. Thats right, the ambulance never came. Ive just seen many a man bleed to death, lying on the street...
Theres got to be a change, theres got to be a change and theres enough people to do it! If they would get off their big fat you-know-what, and move! Because we dont have much time. Theres enough people sayin, "Aint it a shame? Aint it a shame? Aint it a shame?" Standing around. Good people, oh yeah! They all regard themselves as good people and they are full of "aint it a shames". And why dont people, why cant they see and why dont everybody do this and why dont everybody do that?
But if they, its time for them to make a move, gets hands outta your pockets and go to work. Do something! Otherwise there gonna be nothing to do (laughter) Yeah, and thats funny!
Oh, hang on...
Wanna be free babe, wanna be free
I made up my mind, thats where I wanna be
Thats all I wanna do, to be free, to be free
To smell the grass beneath my feet
To smile at people on the street
To be in love with everyone,
To know that life has just begun
Thats where I want to be, I want to be free babe
You know when Im feelin good babe?
Thats when I feel free... when I feel good
And when I feel good its because, because Im stoned babe
(I dont believe you)
Oh yes, Im so stoned, babe
(I dont believe you)
Its a good good feeling, oh yes it is...
(I still dont believe you)
Ohhh, I dont care if you dont believe me
(I don believe you)
Its a good, good feelin babe
I want to give it away
(No good will come this day)
I want to give it all away
(dont give it to me)
Ill die if I can t give it away
(You cannot give it away)
Tell me...
(I cant tell you anything)
Tell me you want to be free, tell me, tell me,
Give me some encouragement
(I feel, I feel, I feel)
And make me baby, I want, I want to make everybody to feel free with me
(I feel, I feel all wrong, you must me wrong)
Because I know but I dont care,
Maybe Im wrong,
(Youve got to be wrong)
I know Im wrong babe
(Youre so wrong)
Im so very very wrong and whats good for me is good for you
(You cannot be free this way)
Its got to be, oh, free me, oh, free me
(youll never be free this way)
I got to be free
You cant tell me that I dont feel free because I feel free
(Youll never be free this way)
I wanna be free of all this, I wanna be outta here
(Youll never be free this way)
An animal would do much to protect his young. And animal will fight to the death to protect his security and future life the way I have to live it.
Its altogether something that you would definitely not understand. Nobody understands this because, take for instance Saturday night, Saturday night is a big, big experience
I think I can feel it, I think Ive got it, got to be free
(is it really freedom?)
I wanna give it to you...
[ New York 1963 - America 1968 Lyrics ]