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The Mighty Diamonds — I Shall Be Released
Album: Best of Reggae
Avg rating:
6.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1482









Released: 2002
Length: 3:53
Plays (last 30 days): 3
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They say ev'rything can be replaced
Yet ev'ry distance is not near
So I remember ev'ry face
Of ev'ry man who put me here
I see my light come shining
From the west unto the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released

They say ev'ry man needs protection
They say ev'ry man must fall
Yet I swear I see my reflection
Some place so high above this wall
I see my light come shining
From the west unto the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released

Standing next to me in this lonely crowd
Is a man who swears he's not to blame
All day long I hear him shout so loud
Crying out that he was framed
I see my light come shining
From the west unto the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released
Comments (44)add comment
 Jahsticky wrote:
jlind wrote: Actually, the fact that they mix in reggae like they do is what makes them perfect! IMHO



It's the perfect amount of reggae for me. It's pretty grey today if I look out of the window. This brings a little sunshine through the rain
Posted 17 hours ago by rogier    [ Reply ]
 stegokitty wrote:

Like most reggae, just too repetitive. And it's just the same old beat ad nauseam.




That's the point of dance music!
Posted 1 month ago by msbolton    [ Reply ]
Like most reggae, just too repetitive. And it's just the same old beat ad nauseam.
Posted 3 months ago by stegokitty    [ Reply ]
This is about the 5th song in a row that has been decidedly meh.  Seems to me that RP's desire to extend its playlist is just diluting the quality.
Posted 3 months ago by Alastair    [ Reply ]
 alvivino wrote:

Near the bottom of the list of Dylan covers. 



Better than any of Bob's originals though.
Posted 1 year ago by Jakethemuss    [ Reply ]
I have no need to hear a Dylan cover or any other cover for that matter. Dylan is full of himself already anyway
Posted 1 year ago by Rcallinjr    [ Reply ]
For gods sake, stop the covers!
Posted 1 year ago by Rcallinjr    [ Reply ]
All the talk of style, influence, etc completely misses the point. When you listen to reggae, you really have to listen to the lyrics.  So much anger and resentment (entirely justified)! At the treatment people received from the British (and us?) 
Posted 1 year ago by philbertr    [ Reply ]
 Dragonfly_Launch wrote:

What kind of human gives this a 1?



🙋
Posted 1 year ago by Delawhere    [ Reply ]
Near the bottom of the list of Dylan covers. 
Posted 1 year ago by alvivino    [ Reply ]
I can't help but sing.
Posted 1 year ago by Internazionale    [ Reply ]
Massive no!!!
Let's never, ever go there..
Posted 1 year ago by GingerandMe    [ Reply ]
and just when i think this song can't get any worse....BLAM!

Next level shit here
Posted 2 years ago by Wonderloaf    [ Reply ]
no just no to this
Posted 2 years ago by jp33442    [ Reply ]
 kcar wrote:

Yes. The original and the version by The Band capture the loneliness and strained serenity of the lyrics. This version might be something you'd hear in the afternoon at a beach bar.


Agree completely!
Posted 2 years ago by rob311    [ Reply ]
 Grammarcop wrote:

I think the problem is it's just too dispassionate. This is a song about a man in prison who is longing for his release. He's to the point where it doesn't matter to him if he walks through the gates or is taken by death. And yet the character in this song still clings to hope. Hope is the only thing keeping him alive.  

Without that passion - those conflicting emotions of  hope and agony - this cover falls flat. 


Yes. The original and the version by The Band capture the loneliness and strained serenity of the lyrics. This version might be something you'd hear in the afternoon at a beach bar.
Posted 2 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
This song is perfect for Reggae-fication! You can't live in the  Notting Hill of the 70s/80s and not love Reggae!
Posted 2 years ago by EffjayUK    [ Reply ]
 bozobilusic wrote:

This is not the best Dylan cover I've heard, but just like any other, it's better than the original. His work is admirable, but for me, he's the only artist whose  songs sound better when covered



Maybe not the only one, but that's why so many do his stuff or Niel Young's. The voice, at least, will probably be better. ;)
Posted 2 years ago by Jimusics    [ Reply ]
You might like to check out this version of 'I Shall Be Released' done by The Tom Robinson Band. It was the B-side of their first single '2-4-6-8 Motorway' in 1977.
At least he sang it like he meant it...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
Posted 3 years ago by springof63    [ Reply ]
How many reggae versions of this song are there, anyway?
Posted 3 years ago by Laptopdog    [ Reply ]
love it.  great tune, marvelously covered.
Posted 3 years ago by markthecarp    [ Reply ]
I think the problem is it's just too dispassionate. This is a song about a man in prison who is longing for his release. He's to the point where it doesn't matter to him if he walks through the gates or is taken by death. And yet the character in this song still clings to hope. Hope is the only thing keeping him alive.  

Without that passion - those conflicting emotions of  hope and agony - this cover falls flat. 
Posted 3 years ago by Grammarcop    [ Reply ]
 Dragonfly_Launch wrote:

What kind of human gives this a 1?


I might. 

It's a frickin' abomination!

Taking Zimmerman's ode to gospel & imposing a reggae beat is a kluge at best.  
Posted 3 years ago by MinMan    [ Reply ]
sorry, but this is blasphemous!
Posted 3 years ago by pakart    [ Reply ]
A travesty, typical reggae rubbish. Just take any good song, add the ska beat and ruin it
Posted 4 years ago by Gerry941    [ Reply ]
This is not the best Dylan cover I've heard, but just like any other, it's better than the original. His work is admirable, but for me, he's the only artist whose  songs sound better when covered
Posted 4 years ago by bozobilusic    [ Reply ]
 SomeKindOstrich wrote:
sorry, but reggeae, no matter the language, it's automatic 1 rating
 
Not so kind of an ostrich then are you!
Posted 4 years ago by Mannick    [ Reply ]
sorry, but reggeae, no matter the language, it's automatic 1 rating
Posted 5 years ago by SomeKindOstrich    [ Reply ]
 Jahsticky wrote:
jlind wrote:
I don't know, I really don't like regaee, and from the ratings on these songs it doesn't seem like anyone else does... I just don't understand what you have to play it Bill... This station would be perfect if you didn't.
Actually, the fact that they mix in reggae like they do is what makes them perfect! IMHO
 

Posted 5 years ago by sboyd    [ Reply ]
I like this one
Posted 5 years ago by stephen.king12101    [ Reply ]
What kind of human gives this a 1?
Posted 6 years ago by Dragonfly_Launch    [ Reply ]
I Shall Be Released
Last Waltz version is righteous  : )
Posted 7 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
Jahsticky wrote:
Actually, the fact that they mix in reggae like they do is what makes them perfect! IMHO
I like the reggae mixed in as well- could go for some Jimmy Cliff now, "Wonderful World Beautiful People," "Rebel," or "The harder they come."
Posted 21 years ago by Cellocaster_Paul    [ Reply ]
No need to hit the mute button. It's to excape misery like this that God created the Review Channel! Detlaps wrote:
Such an awful cover. I hate it when I'm compelled to hit "mute."
Posted 21 years ago by rulebritannia    [ Reply ]
Such an awful cover. I hate it when I'm compelled to hit "mute."
Posted 21 years ago by Detlaps    [ Reply ]
Try Nina Simone's version. Now that rocks!!!
Posted 21 years ago by rexi    [ Reply ]
jlind wrote:
I don't know, I really don't like regaee, and from the ratings on these songs it doesn't seem like anyone else does... I just don't understand what you have to play it Bill... This station would be perfect if you didn't.
Actually, the fact that they mix in reggae like they do is what makes them perfect! IMHO
Posted 21 years ago by Jahsticky    [ Reply ]
I don\'t know, I really don\'t like regaee, and from the ratings on these songs it doesn\'t seem like anyone else does... I just don\'t understand what you have to play it Bill... This station would be perfect if you didn\'t.
Posted 22 years ago by jlind    [ Reply ]
Bill, would you play one of their originals sometime? The covers are pretty tiresome. At least this wasn\'t their execrable cover of \'A Touch of Gray\'!
Posted 22 years ago by eric    [ Reply ]
I LOOOOVE the Mighty Diamonds -- haven\'t heard them in years. Thanks Bill! You TOTALLY made my day.
Posted 22 years ago by laprincessa    [ Reply ]
Originally Posted by richard_m: This one's interesting, but Chrissie Hynde's version at the Thirty Year Dylan celebration is the one that stands out for me. She absolutely nailed the tune, and made the song hers personally. Thank the heavens for recording equipment.
while i also like Ms. Hynde's version, i enjoy this groove a bit more. thanks playing this RP, i wouldn't have known about it otherwise.
Posted 22 years ago by mperry    [ Reply ]
This one's interesting, but Chrissie Hynde's version at the Thirty Year Dylan celebration is the one that stands out for me. She absolutely nailed the tune, and made the song hers personally. Thank the heavens for recording equipment.
Posted 22 years ago by richard_m    [ Reply ]
This guy sings out of tune...
Posted 22 years ago by heeb    [ Reply ]