Violet Grohl is playing a Dork's Night Out at London's 100 Club•
All Points East has revealed four days of free community events in Victoria Park•
BTS are turning London into a citywide celebration ahead of their 'ARIRANG' shows•
Steve Lacy has teamed up with SZA on new single 'is it cool?'
•
My First Time explore the urge to escape on new single 'Paris, Texas'•
deBasement have announced their new EP 'HARDBODY' and shared teaser track 'CUT THE LINE'•
Mura Masa and Ledbyher join forces on break-driven new single 'Needja'•
Beck and Sierra Ferrell have teamed up for a new version of 'Ride Lonesome'•
Baby Queen turns the spotlight on herself with new album 'I Hope You Don't Remember Me'•
Cara Delevingne has released new single 'Need It', co-written with Fiona Apple•
Empress Of has announced her new album 'Dream House', featuring Blood Orange and Cecile Believe•
Ravyn Lenae weighs up an old flame on new single 'Saturday Night'•
Cruz Beckham has announced his debut EP 'Wear & Tear'•
Brandon Flowers has 'Plans' ahead of his solo return 'Thrasher'•
Carly Rae Jepsen has dropped her new single 'On Wires' ahead of double album 'Day and Night'•
Audrey Hobert has unveiled a new video for 'Sex and the City' as she begins her headline tour•
The Dork 2025 Readers' Poll nominations are in, featuring CMAT, Turnstile, Wolf Alice, Djo, Hayley Williams and loads more•
flowerovlove has released her first-ever first Christmas track, 'wishlist'•
Mighty Hoopla and Olly Alexander have announced Trans Mission, a concert for trans solidarity•
JADE has announced a deluxe edition of her debut album, 'THAT'S SHOWBIZ BABY! THE ENCORE'•
Violet Grohl is playing a Dork's Night Out at London's 100 Club•
All Points East has revealed four days of free community events in Victoria Park•
BTS are turning London into a citywide celebration ahead of their 'ARIRANG' shows•
Steve Lacy has teamed up with SZA on new single 'is it cool?'•
My First Time explore the urge to escape on new single 'Paris, Texas'•
deBasement have announced their new EP 'HARDBODY' and shared teaser track 'CUT THE LINE'•
Mura Masa and Ledbyher join forces on break-driven new single 'Needja'•
Beck and Sierra Ferrell have teamed up for a new version of 'Ride Lonesome'•
Baby Queen turns the spotlight on herself with new album 'I Hope You Don't Remember Me'•
Cara Delevingne has released new single 'Need It', co-written with Fiona Apple•
Empress Of has announced her new album 'Dream House', featuring Blood Orange and Cecile Believe•
Ravyn Lenae weighs up an old flame on new single 'Saturday Night'•
Cruz Beckham has announced his debut EP 'Wear & Tear'•
Brandon Flowers has 'Plans' ahead of his solo return 'Thrasher'•
Carly Rae Jepsen has dropped her new single 'On Wires' ahead of double album 'Day and Night'•
Audrey Hobert has unveiled a new video for 'Sex and the City' as she begins her headline tour•
The Dork 2025 Readers' Poll nominations are in, featuring CMAT, Turnstile, Wolf Alice, Djo, Hayley Williams and loads more•
flowerovlove has released her first-ever first Christmas track, 'wishlist'•
Mighty Hoopla and Olly Alexander have announced Trans Mission, a concert for trans solidarity•
JADE has announced a deluxe edition of her debut album, 'THAT'S SHOWBIZ BABY! THE ENCORE'•
Dork
News
Features
Reviews
Magazine
Shop
Listings
Directory
Festivals
Hype-THE BEST NEW NAMES, FIRST
Upset-DORK'S HOME FOR ALL THINGS LOUD
Festival Guides-YOUR ESSENTIAL FESTIVAL COMPANION
Hype-THE BEST NEW NAMES, FIRST
Mixtape-DORK'S BEST NEW TRACKS
Play-DORK'S NEW MUSIC FRIDAY EDIT
Upset-DORK'S HOME FOR ALL THINGS LOUD
Playlist Covers
Playlist Directory
Recommender
Before Doors-LIVE SESSIONS
Music Video Directory
Down With Boring-THE DORK PODCAST
Chart Attack-UK NUMBER ONES, DISSECTED
Dork Live
Dork Radio
Live
Live 24/7
Dork Radio
Dork
Down With Boring

Join thousands of music lovers getting the best new tracks, exclusive interviews, and breaking news delivered straight to your inbox every week.

In print now

June 2026

Latest issue variants

View archive
Dork, June 2026 (Bleachers cover)

Bleachers

Dork, June 2026 (Myles Smith cover)

Myles Smith

Dork, June 2026 (Towa Bird cover)

Towa Bird

Advertise
|
Support|
About Dork|
Privacy Policy|
Genres|
Years|
Sitemap|
RSS|
Cookie settings
© 2026 The Bunker Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.
Powered by PlaywireAdvertise on this site.
  1. Tracks
  2. Beyoncé
  3. Lemonade
  4. Freedom

TRACK

Beyoncé

Freedom

Release date: 23rd April 2016

From Lemonade
PopMusic
Spotify More on Beyoncé

About This Track

The tenth track on 'Lemonade', 'Freedom' pairs Beyoncé with Kendrick Lamar across a framework that samples an old Negro prison song. Written and produced by Beyoncé and Jonny Coffer with additional songwriting from Lamar and Carla Marie Williams, the song arrives as a moment of catharsis within the album's arc.

Beyoncé's verses move through imagery of storms, tides and borders, the repeated plea 'I break chains all by myself' anchoring a declaration of self-reliance. Lamar's verse counts down from ten through a litany of external pressures and surveillance, his delivery urgent against the song's insistent pulse.

The track has been described as an anthem dedicated to Black women, its refrain both a demand and a question. The music video forms part of Beyoncé's 2016 film 'Lemonade', released through Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records.

"Freedom" is a track by Beyoncé, from the album Lemonade, released 23rd April 2016. It's filed under Pop. Full lyrics are available below. Dork has published 17 articles about Beyoncé.

About the Artist

Beyoncé

Beyoncé

Lyrics

Freedom

[Verse 1: Beyoncé]

Tryna rain, tryna rain on the thunder

Tell the storm I'm new

I'ma walk, I'ma march on the regular

Painting white flags blue

Lord, forgive me, I've been running

Running blind in truth

I'ma rain, I'ma rain on this bitter love

Tell the sweet I'm new

[Pre-Chorus: Beyoncé]

I'm telling these tears, "Go and fall away, fall away," oh

May the last one burn into flames

[Chorus: Beyoncé]

Freedom, freedom, I can't move

Freedom, cut me loose, yeah

Freedom, freedom, where are you?

'Cause I need freedom, too

I break chains all by myself

Won't let my freedom rot in hell

Hey, I'ma keep running

'Cause a winner don't quit on themselves

[Verse 2: Beyoncé]

I'ma wade, I'ma wave through the waters

Tell the tide, "Don't move"

I'ma riot, I'ma riot through your borders

Call me bulletproof

Lord, forgive me, I've been runnin'

Runnin' blind in truth

I'ma wade, I'ma wave through your shallow love

Tell the deep I'm new

[Pre-Chorus: Beyoncé]

I'm telling these tears, "Go and fall away, fall away," oh

May the last one burn into flames

[Chorus: Beyoncé]

Freedom, freedom, I can't move

Freedom, cut me loose

Freedom, freedom, where are you?

'Cause I need freedom, too

I break chains all by myself

Won't let my freedom rot in hell

Hey, I'ma keep running

'Cause a winner don't quit on themselves

[Verse 3: Kendrick Lamar]

Ten Hail Marys, I meditate for practice

Channel 9 news tell me I'm movin' backwards

Eight blocks left, death is around the corner

Seven misleadin' statements 'bout my persona

Six headlights wavin' in my direction (Come on)

Five-O askin' me what's in my possession

Yeah, I keep runnin', jump in the aqueducts

Fire hydrants and hazardous

Smoke alarms on the back of us

But mama, don't cry for me, ride for me

Try for me, live for me

Breathe for me, sing for me

Honestly guidin' me

I could be more than I gotta be

Stole from me, lied to me, nation hypocrisy

Code on me, drive on me

Wicked, my spirit inspired me, like yeah

Open correctional gates in higher desert (Yeah)

Open our mind as we cast away oppression (Yeah)

Open the streets and watch our beliefs

And when they carve my name inside the concrete

I pray it forever reads

[Chorus: Beyoncé]

Freedom, freedom, I can't move

Freedom, cut me loose

Freedom, freedom, where are you?

'Cause I need freedom, too

I break chains all by myself

Won't let my freedom rot in hell

Hey, I'ma keep running

'Cause a winner don't quit on themselves

[Outro: Kendrick Lamar]

What you want from me?

Is it truth you seek? Oh, father, can you hear me?

What you want from me?

Is it truth you seek? Oh, father, can you hear me?

Hear me out

[Spoken: Hattie White]

I had my ups and downs

But I always find the inner strength to pull myself up

I was served lemons, but I made lemonade

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From Lemonade

2016
Listen
Album
Lemonade
Lemonade
Beyoncé
23rd April 2016
Release year
2016
  1. 1Pray You Catch Me
    3:16
  2. 3Don't Hurt Yourself (feat. Jack White)
    3:54
  3. 4Sorry
    3:53
  4. 56 Inch (feat. The Weeknd)
    4:20
  5. 6Daddy Lessons
    4:48
  6. 7Love Drought
    3:57
  7. 8Sandcastles
    3:03
  8. 9Forward (feat. James Blake)
    1:19
  9. 10Freedom (feat. Kendrick Lamar)
    4:50
  10. 11All Night
    5:22
  11. 12Formation
    3:26
  12. 13Sorry (Original Demo)
    3:24
  13. —Freedom
  14. —Don't Hurt Yourself
  15. —6 Inch
  16. —Forward

More from Beyoncé

Albums & EPs

COWBOY CARTER
COWBOY CARTER
2024
BREAK MY SOUL REMIXES - Single
BREAK MY SOUL REMIXES - Single
2022
RENAISSANCE
RENAISSANCE
2022
BREAK MY SOUL - Single
BREAK MY SOUL - Single
2022
The Lion King: The Gift [Deluxe Edition]
The Lion King: The Gift [Deluxe Edition]
2020
The Lion King: The Gift
The Lion King: The Gift
2019

Explore

More tracks by Beyoncé

  1. Beyoncé Bowl (NFL Halftime Show Performance)
  2. Born To Love You
  3. By Now
  4. COWBOY CARTER AND THE RODEO CHITLIN' CIRCUIT Tour DatesBEYONCÉ
  5. COWBOY CARTER AND THE RODEO CHITLIN' CIRCUIT Tour SetlistBEYONCÉ
  6. Crazy in Love [Mixed]
  7. Crazy In Love [Remix] [Mixed]
  8. Ever
  9. I Can't Go On
  10. In Case

Showing 10 of 20

If you like Beyoncé

The Carters

The Carters

Destiny's Child

Destiny's Child

Chloe x Halle

Chloe x Halle

Solange

Solange

Kelly Rowland

Kelly Rowland

Chlöe

Chlöe

Credits

Production & Engineering

Writer
Alan Lomax, Arrow Benjamin, Beyoncé, Carla Marie, Frank Tirado, John A. Lomax, Jonny Coffer, Kendrick Lamar
Producer
Beyoncé, Jonny Coffer, Just Blaze
Bass
Marcus Miller
Additional Engineering
Ramon Rivas
Additional Piano
Canei Finch
Additional Programming
BOOTS, Myles William
Assistant Mixing Engineer
John Cranfield
Background Vocals
Arrow Benjamin
Mastering Engineer
Dave Kutch
Mixing Engineer
Stuart White
Recording Engineer
Stuart White
Vocal Producer
Beyoncé
READ MORE ABOUT BEYONCÉREAD MORE ABOUT BEYONCÉREAD MORE ABOUT BEYONCÉREAD MORE ABOUT BEYONCÉ
READ MORE ABOUT BEYONCÉREAD MORE ABOUT BEYONCÉREAD MORE ABOUT BEYONCÉREAD MORE ABOUT BEYONCÉ
Beyoncé is celebrating 'B'Day' with her first new song in two years, ‘Morning Dew (Donk)’
News

Beyoncé is celebrating 'B'Day' with her first new song in two years, ‘Morning Dew (Donk)’

New track launches 60-day countdown to 'B'Day' 20th anniversary edition.

4 Jul 2026 • 2:16 pm
Welcome to the Renaissance - Beyoncé can do whatever she wants at London's Tottenham Hotspur stadium
Live

Welcome to the Renaissance - Beyoncé can do whatever she wants at London's Tottenham Hotspur stadium

We’ve all agreed that Beyoncé can do whatever she wants by now, right? Over the course of a flawless 30-year career, she’s been a member of one of the most influential pop groups of all time before releasing a run of boundary-pushing solo albums alongside game-changing live performances. She’s more than earnt the right for complete creative freedom and she repeatedly does things her own way tonight at the first of five sold-out stadium shows at London’s Tottenham Hotspur stadium.

30 May 2023 • 2:03 pm
Taylor Swift has been crowned champion of the 2022 American Music Awards (AMAs)
News

Taylor Swift has been crowned champion of the 2022 American Music Awards (AMAs)

The singer-songwriter continued to sweep major awards for her recent work.

21 Nov 2022 • 11:38 am
The 2023 Grammy Nominations have been unveiled, with Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar claiming the most award nods
News

The 2023 Grammy Nominations have been unveiled, with Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar claiming the most award nods

The 65th Grammy Awards show is set to air on February 5th.

16 Nov 2022 • 11:35 am
Beyoncé - RENAISSANCE
Reviews

Beyoncé - RENAISSANCE

The greatest DJ set you'll ever hear from the greatest pop star of the modern age.

29 Jul 2022 • 8:44 am
Beyoncé has revealed the tracklisting for her new album, 'RENAISSANCE'
News

Beyoncé has revealed the tracklisting for her new album, 'RENAISSANCE'

The record will feature 16 tracks, including recent single 'Break My Soul'.

21 Jul 2022 • 6:53 am