I think Freedom has got to be one of the " worst songs " creatively, musically, artistically & lyrically Paul has ever written & recorded as an artist in over 40 years in the music business because it's such a " cheesy of the moment " song with him being one of the first to capitalize on the 9/11 terrorists attacks on the WTC & the Pentagon even though he meant well at the time but Freedom is McCartney at his worst which is now " forgotten " with Where Were You(When The World Stopped Turning) by country artist Alan Jackson as the timeless tribute song to the 9/11 tragedies!

I like it.  I know I am perhaps the only person on the globe that does, but it's a great rally song.

However, even I have to admit the lyrics blow.  BIG time.  I think he could have coughed up a rhyme or two.

But I find it infectious, the chorus will stay in my head forever.

But again, there is no doubt most humans with ears agree with you on this one.

You wouldn't rally me with a piece of rubbish like this.

People – especially Macca fans – sometimes ask why Paul is so on the nose. He is branded as "shallow", "a manipulating phony", "a self-promoter", "insincrere" and so on – we've heard it all. One of the proofs that he is indeed these things is Freedom. Paulie's indecent haste to release it, and "cash in", was disgraceful.

Well I like it ALOT better than that song from Driving rain, the one where the chorus is pretty much "lalalalalalalaallala" Yuck

Freedom wasnt only one of Pauls worst songs, it might be one of the worst songs ever written by anybody. Sadly, this song brings down the stock on a rather good album over all.

I don't think he intended to cash in. He wrote if for the concert that he organized in support of the city.  With the best of intentions in mind I'm sure! And he did it in less than a month. I wouldn't say this song proves him to be a phony or whatever. He did it in the moment based on deep emotion that ALL of us felt at the time, but because he's a song writer, he wrote a song! Go figure.
I think he's labled a lot of those things because he's an easy target.  He lived, so he's not idolized and worshiped. Instead he's put down and his talent belittled. Meanwhile, he has more talent in his toe nail than most so called artists these days! How many artists are still fresh in their 50's and 60's anyway? What have the Stones done lately? Or in the last few decades? Just look at his catalogue of songs and compare it with ANY other artist. (besides fellow Beatles)The amount of hits and classics! That may put it into perspective.

Actually, I'm with Charlie on this one--I LIKE "Freedom"...and I think that the lyrics were made simple so that the large crowd could understand them easily and get the message that Paul was saying.  You can sing along with the chorus, which is good, for the type of thing that Paul wrote the song for.  You have to remember that Paul probably wasn't trying to come up with a song that was super-profound or deep-in this case it was a get-to-the-point ordeal.
I wish you all would stop picking on Paul, as he IS a great songwriter and musician, and he's really not that bad of a person, as far as celebrities go today.  I mean, look at people like Michael Jackson, Eminem, and Britney Spears!  At least Paul knows how to perform good music (in spirit if not in tune all the time).

I understand the enimity most people feel to this song, and I can understand their freeling the song is weak and trite.

But I absolutely do not believe he wrote and recorded it to cash in.

However, his recalling the Driving Rain CD to add it does look untoward to a lot of folks, so even that is understandable.

Quoted from Maccalvr, posted May 20, 2004, 1:25am at here

I don't think he intended to cash in. He wrote if for the concert that he organized in support of the city.  With the best of intentions in mind I'm sure! And he did it in less than a month. ----

This "I wrote it especially", blah blah, is wrong. The song had been "started" years before, and he dragged it up, polished it, and went with it. Cashed in.

I'm sorry, but I think Macca considers everything he does carefully, from the viewpoint of how it makes him look. Think of him at a meeting, discussing it. "I'm not an American, how will it look to Americans? How will it look to everyone else?" "Should I put it on the DR album? Will it be overkill?".

The only thing he doesn't consider is, "Will I go for quality, for once".

Freedom is one of " worst songs " Paul has ever recorded & released as a solo artist because it was so " cheesy " despite being heartfelt lyrically after the 9/11 terrorists attacks on the WTC & the Pentagon. 

I could care less what the song actually says or the political aspect or the cashing in,,,,,it could say that DM's Beatle Forum is the greatest and the song would still suck.

Well, I disagree with the opinion that Paul is a shallow, money grubbing, oportunist.  Like I said, he's an easy target.

i think yoy're going to say that he was cashing in, then you have to say all songs about 9/11 are cashing in which they are other wise they give it out, or not put it on a album or give all the money to help people.

Quoted from bulldog_0909, posted May 21, 2004, 3:14am at here

i think yoy're going to say that he was cashing in, then you have to say all songs about 9/11 are cashing in which they are other wise they give it out, or not put it on a album or give all the money to help people.

Damned fine point.

I think Where Were You ( When The Stopped Turning) by country artist Alan Jackson is the timeless classic of the 9/11 songs which will be listened to long after the 9/11 terrorists attacks because it wasn't cheesy creatively, musically, artistically & lyrically unlike McCartney.