Expert: Rob Dawson - 3/24/2004

Question
can you give me some information regarding the background of this song...i know it has to do with South Africa and the racial issues there but can you give me some points on the specific lyrics?

Answer
This is what i've found:

Cry Freedom describes a way of life in which we are all alike yet some are free and some not. A peaceful world where we all lived together would be a much better place for everyone. Dave Matthews' anti-Apartheid views probably sparked him into writing this song; several lines pertain to this, such as "Let this flag burn to dust, and a fair design be raised," and "He thought of something, something he had never had but hoped would come along."  His Anti-Apartheid views are most likely from his childhood in South Africa.

Cry Freedom is about Dave's feelings on racism. He is saying that us humans are only becoming more and more racist while others just turn their heads in the other direction. When he says "let this flag burn to dust, and a new, a fair design be raised" he is saying that we should not just people by their nationality, becuase what it all comes down to is the type of person one is. Then when he says "hands and feet are all alike, but gold between divide us" he is saying we are all human yet with money comes a power that is often abused. The part about a child alone in a room is Dave saying that this child has yet to be introduced to racism and he is not racist. Then the child is taught to hate a certain person, to be racist, and they have crossed "the crooked mile" into a "cold, dark place" that is a world full of hate. The way we are living Dave is right "the future is no place to place your better days."