English through music · Bob Dylan · B2. Guarda il video, leggi l’analisi della canzone, poi rifletti sulle domande. Gli esempi e gli spezzoni citati sono in inglese, con traduzione.
Written in the late 1960s, “I Shall Be Released” is one of Bob Dylan’s most hopeful songs. Its calm, prayer-like verses speak about suffering, patience and the deep belief that, one day, freedom will come.
The song is sung in the voice of someone who feels trapped — perhaps in a real prison, perhaps in a difficult life. Despite everything, this voice holds on to one certainty: “any day now” he will be set free.
That mix of present pain and future hope gives the song its quiet strength.
Although it speaks of one person, the song has been understood as being about all kinds of freedom — political, personal and spiritual. Because of this, it became an anthem sung by many people fighting for justice and dignity.
Its message is simple and universal: however hard things are now, release and freedom are possible.
“I Shall Be Released” has been recorded by a huge number of artists and is often sung by large groups together, especially at the end of concerts.
There is something powerful about many voices singing, as one, about the hope of being free — which is exactly why the song has lasted.
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The title — “I shall be released” — is a perfect example of the passive voice, so let’s study how it works.
We use the passive when the important thing is the action, not who does it. We form it with the verb to be + the past participle: The song is loved by millions. / He was set free. / I shall be released.
Compare active and passive: Someone will release him (active) becomes He will be released (passive). If we want to say who does the action, we add by: The song was written by Dylan. Turn this into the passive: “People sing this song everywhere.”
To release someone means to set them free. To feel trapped is to feel unable to escape. Patience is the ability to wait calmly for a long time.
Hope is the feeling that something good will happen. Freedom is the state of being free. An anthem is a song that unites and inspires a group of people.
- The song mixes present pain and future hope; why do you think that combination is so powerful?
- It has been used as an anthem for many causes; what makes a song become an anthem?
- Why do you think it feels so special when many people sing this song together?
- Rewrite two active sentences from your day in the passive voice.
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