Although Bobby Darin is most well-known for his hits like “Splish Splash, “Mac the Knife,” and “Beyond the Sea,” in the 1960s he turned toward folk music, writing and recording some wonderful music often overlooked today. His turn toward political and folk music was not a marketing ploy, but a sincere artistic direction by a talented man genuinely concerned about the way the nation was heading.
Although Darin was recording some folk music by the mid 1960s, his music became more political after the death of his friend Bobby Kennedy. After Kennedy’s assassination in June 1968, Darin retreated to Big Sur, living in seclusion in a trailer near the beach, writing songs about subjects like Vietnam, poverty, and Civil Rights. Soon, he started his own record label to promote folk and protest music.
Meaning of “Simple Song of Freedon”
In 1969, Darin, having already taken a turn toward folk music on his previous two albums, wrote one of his most popular political songs, “Simple Song of Freedom.” The song protested the Vietnam War by asking people to join together and announce that “we the people . . . don’t want a war.”
Now no doubt some folks enjoy doing battle;
Like presidents, prime ministers and kings;
So let’s all build them shelves where they can fight among themselves,
And leave the people be who love to sing.
Come and sing the simple song of freedom;
Sing it like you’ve never sung before;
Let it fill the air, tell the people everywhere,
We the people here don’t want a war.
The song appealed to the common people who did not want to be led into battle. He asked us to ask questions about what our leaders told us: “Seven hundred million are you list’nin’?/ Most of what you read is made of lies.” (Note that some listings apparently mishear the line as “seven hundred million men are enlisted”).
The song also refers to someone many young listeners may not recognize:
Brother Solzhenitsyn are you busy?
If not, won’t you drop this friend a line?
Tell me if the man who is plowin’ up your land
Has got the war machine upon his mind.
“Brother Solzhenitsyn” refers to Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, who was a famous Soviet novelist and dissident prosecuted in the Soviet Union. Darin appeals to a brother across the Cold War, highlighting that the average Russian no more wanted war than the average American.
Versions by Darin and Hardin
Tim Hardin first had a hit with the song. But Darin soon began performing “Simple Song of Freedom” live and released his own version in 1971. Hardin’s success with Darin’s song was an interesting turn of events, since Bobby Darin had been the first one to score a hit with Hardin’s “If I Were a Carpenter” in 1966.
During his folk period, Darin stopped wearing his toupee and grew long sideburns and a mustache. As discussed previously, in 1969, he walked off a national TV show when the producers would not let him sing one of his protest songs unchanged.
But his protest music was not profitable, and many in his audience wanted the old swinging singles, not the folk singer. Darin soon had to sell his record company, songs, and publishing company.
Darin’s Return to Popular Performances
A guy has to make a living. So, Darin returned to show business and began performing more of his old hits and less protest music, donning his toupee again, using a full band instead of just a guitar. He also begin appearing on and hosting television variety shows.
But Bobby Darin stayed true to himself through it all, as he was deep down a great entertainer. And he never gave up on trying to reach people with the message of “Simple Song of Freedom.”
As portrayed in the film Beyond the Sea about Bobby Darin’s life, the song is presented as a turning point in Darin’s career. Darin, played by Kevin Spacey, wants to make a difference despite advice from those in the business. He eventually discovers a way to make his political statement to his audiences by presenting the song as a big stage act instead of an acoustic folk song. In the movie, Spacey performed the vocals of all of Darin’s songs.
The video below features one of these later performances of “Simple Song of Freedon.” Darin performs the song with more than a guitar, donning a tuxedo.
But he is still asking his audience to join in telling our leaders that we don’t want a war.
A little more than two years after releasing his recording of “Simple Song of Freedom,” Darin died on December 19, 1973 at the age of 37 while recovering from open-heart surgery.
Darin had had rheumatic fever as a young child that had weakened his heart.
Bobby Darin knew most of his life he likely would not live to old age and that every day was a gift to make and create what you can. Thus, he lived with a passion for life and tried to make an impact on the world, which of course he did throughout his life.
Read more about Bobby Darin in the book “Bobby Darin: Roman Candle.” Leave your two cents in the comments.
