Song written and recorded by Loretta Lynn, for the Decca label, was recorded on November 25, 1970, at Bradley’s Barn, 722 Bender’s Ferry Road, Mount Juliet, TN. Loretta was accompanied in the recording by, Ray Edenton (acoustic guitar), Dale Sellars (guitar), Hal Rugg (steel), Harold Bradley (electric guitar, bass & guitar), Junior Huskey (bass), Buddy Harman (drums), Hargus Robbins (piano) and The Jordanaires. With the production of Owen Bradley, the song was released in February 1971, on the US Hot Country Singles charts, it reached number # 3, on June 12, 1971, it reached the number # 1 of the Canadian RPM Country Tracks lists.

The song was included in Loretta’s eighteenth studio album, I Wanna Be Free (Decca 1971), the album was released on May 10, 1971, on the US Hot Country Albums charts, it reached # 5.

Considered one of the 10 best songs of Loretta, the song was written on the back of his bus tour, while looking out the window at the landscape.

The song has a narrator who pulls his ring after his lover leaves, and she goes alone, just wanting to be free.

Versions:

Daniel O’Donnell & Loretta Lynn 2008 (DPTV Media)

Loretta Lynn – I Wanna Be Free Lyrics

Well I look out the window and what do I see
The breeze is a blowin’ the leaves from the trees everything is free everything but me
I’m gonna take this chain from around my finger
And throw it just as far as I can slinger cause I wanna be free
When my baby left me everything died
But a little bluebird was singin’ just outside singin’ twidle-de-dee fly away with me
Well you know I think I’m a gonna live gotta lotta love left in me to give
So I wanna be free
I released my heart my soul and my mind and I’m a feelin’ fine
I broke the chains the ring of gold before it broke my mind
Well look who’s cryin’ and it ain’t me but I can’t hardly hear and I can’t have see
Oh I wanna be free
I released my heart my soul…
Do I wanna be free yeah I wanna be free free
Before it’s too late