I have to admit I just could never get into the drama series ‘The Walking Dead‘. I really wanted to, but the characters didn’t grab me, the series was never ‘fun’, not even for a second, and the ridiculous plot lines I was supposed to believe just left me cold.
I think I bailed at the beginning of season 3, and I never went back.
But, one thing ‘The Walking Dead‘ does have going for it is the music that is used on its soundtrack. Because the music supervisor often chooses songs I have never heard of but, once listened to, are never shoved back into the realms of obscurity again.
Take Donny Hathaway’s ‘Someday We’ll All Be Free‘, which was featured on this week’s season finale of ‘The Walking Dead‘ — April 2nd, 2017, Season 7, Episode 16, “The First Day of the Rest of Your Life“. Because that song? With his gorgeous voice and that soul-grabbing saxophone? It’s glorious.
And, sure, I’ve heard George Benson’s cover of the song, along with that of Denise Williams and, of course, Aretha Franklin on the soundtrack of Malcolm X.
But I had never heard the Donny Hathaway’s original recording of the song until I checked this week’s song listings for ‘The Walking Dead‘, and then I was in awe.
Especially when you know Donny Hathaway finally became ‘free’ when he committed suicide at the age of just 33, after years of suffering as a paranoid schizophrenic. How sad is that?
Related: Listen to the Jam’s ‘Town Called Malice‘ as played on ‘The Walking Dead‘
‘Someday We’ll All Be Free‘ was originally released by Hathaway in 1973 on his album Extension of a Man.
Interestingly, though, the track was not released as a single from the album, as two other, I think, lesser songs were given that honor.
Listen to Donny Hathaway’s ‘Someday We’ll All Be Free’ as featured on ‘The Walking Dead‘ this week. And listen to it closely.
Because it will give you goosebumps. Then it will make you cry.
You can buy Someday We’ll All Be Free on all major music sites.