Unchain My Heart werd geschreven door Bobby Sharp, die destijds verslaafd was aan heroïne. Sharp verkocht de song voor $50 – hij had geld nodig om dope te kopen – aan Teddy Powell, die besloot flink misbruik te maken van Sharp’s verslaving. Powell eiste dat Sharp de songwriting credits met hem deelde. De nood was zó hoog dat Sharp nog inging op het aanbod ook. Pas na een jarenlange procedure kreeg Sharp de rechten terug.
Unchain My Heart is door veel mensen vertolkt, maar geen enkele mij bekende versie komt ook maar in de buurt van dit magnifieke staaltje seculiere gospel van Ray Charles, die de song in 1961 als eerste op de plaat zette. Of het over een vrouw gaat of over heroïne mag je zelf bepalen.
[Verse 1]
Unchain my heart (Unchain my heart)
Baby, let me be (Unchain my heart)
Unchain my heart (Unchain my heart)
‘Cause you don’t care about me (Unchain my heart)
You’ve got me sewed up like a pillowcase
But you let my love go to waste
So unchain my heart, oh, please, please set me free
Unchain my heart (Unchain my heart)
Baby, let me go (Unchain my heart)
Unchain my heart (Unchain my heart)
‘Cause you don’t love me no more (Unchain my heart)
Every time I call you on the phone
Some fella tells me that you’re not at home
So unchain my heart, oh, please, please set me free
Unchain my heart (Unchain my heart)
Baby, let me be (Unchain my heart)
Unchain my heart (Unchain my heart)
‘Cause you don’t care about me (Unchain my heart)
You’ve got me sewed up like a pillowcase
But you let my love go to waste
So unchain my heart, oh, please, please set me free
Unchain my heart (Unchain my heart)
Baby, let me go (Unchain my heart)
Unchain my heart (Unchain my heart)
‘Cause you don’t love me no more (Unchain my heart)
Every time I call you on the phone
Some fella tells me that you’re not at home
So unchain my heart, oh, please, please set me free
[Chorus]
I’m under your spell (I’m under your spell)
Like a man in a trance (Like a man in a trance)
But I know darn well (But I know darn well)
That I don’t stand a chance (That I don’t stand a chance)
So unchain my heart (Unchain my heart)
Let me go my way (Unchain my heart)
Unchain my heart (Unchain my heart)
You worry me night and day (Unchain my heart)
Why lead me through a life of misery
When you don’t care a bag of beans for me?
So unchain my heart, oh, please, please set me free
I’m under your spell (I’m under your spell)
Like a man in a trance (Like a man in a trance)
I know darn well (But I know darn well)
That I don’t stand a chance (That I don’t stand a chance)
So unchain my heart (Unchain my heart)
Let me go my way (Unchain my heart)
Unchain my heart (Unchain my heart)
You worry me night and day (Unchain my heart)
Why lead me through a life of misery
When you don’t care a bag of beans for me?
So unchain my heart, oh, please, please set me free
Like a man in a trance (Like a man in a trance)
I know darn well (But I know darn well)
That I don’t stand a chance (That I don’t stand a chance)
So unchain my heart (Unchain my heart)
Let me go my way (Unchain my heart)
Unchain my heart (Unchain my heart)
You worry me night and day (Unchain my heart)
Why lead me through a life of misery
When you don’t care a bag of beans for me?
So unchain my heart, oh, please, please set me free
[Outro]
(Please set me free)
Oh, won’t you set me free?
(Please set me free)
Woah, set me free
(Please set me free)
Woah, set me free, little darling
(Please set me free)
Oh, won’t you set me free?
(Please set me free)
Uitgelichte afbeelding: By Eric Koch for Anefo – http://proxy.handle.net/10648/ab4ff980-d0b4-102d-bcf8-003048976d84, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=66635329
