'How it feels to be free' by Nina Simone

Nina Simone is my favourite jazz singer. She trained as a classical pianist, and you can hear that in her jazz piano. She was a leader of the black civil rights movement in the USA during the 1960s. Here she is playing one of my favourite songs. Some of you may recognise it from class. The song was written by another jazz singer called Billy Taylor, who died a couple of weeks ago.

Listen to the song and follow the words below. What are the differences between the words of the song, and the words she actually sings in the video:

I wish  I knew how it would feel to be free
I wish I could break all the chains holding me
I wish I could say all the things that  I should say
say 'em loud, say 'em clear
for the whole round world to hear.

I wish I could share all the love that's in my heart
remove all the bars that keep us apart
I wish you could know what it means to be me
Then you'd see and agree
that every man should be free.

I wish I could give all I'm longing to give
I wish I could live like I'm longing to live
I wish that I could do all the things that  I can do
though I'm way overdue I'd be starting anew.

Well I wish  I could be like a bird in the sky
how sweet it would be if I found  I could fly
Oh I'd soar to the sun and look down at the sea
and I'd sing cos I'd know that
and I'd sing cos I'd know that
and I'd sing cos I'd know that
I'd know how it feels to be free
I'd know how it feels to be free
I'd know how it feels to be free