Free Bobby Now

Annotation

Black Panther group formed in 1970 in San Francisco, California, USA, with Bill Calhoun, Clark Bailey, James Mott, and Michael Torrance, which only released this rare 7" single, with the song "Free Bobby Now" (# BPP-4501), composed by Bill Calhoun, in support of Bobby Seale, after his arrest at the Vietnam War demonstration at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, and so another Vietnam / Civil Rights song. The top of the single said "Seize the Time" and "Black Panther Party Productions". It featured on the 2012 compilation Listen, Whitey! the Sounds of Black Power 1967-1974, produced by Pat Thomas. It said that Bobby Seale carried a gun because "for four hundred years" African-American have faced threats and death, and it asked "how many more brothers must die".

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs

Black Panther group formed in 1970 in San Francisco, California, USA, with Bill Calhoun, Clark Bailey, James Mott, and Michael Torrance, which only released this rare 7" single, with the song "Free Bobby Now" (# BPP-4501), composed by Bill Calhoun, in support of Bobby Seale. The top of the single said "Seize the Time" and "Black Panther Party Productions". It featured on the 2012 compilation Listen, Whitey! the Sounds of Black Power 1967-1974, produced by Pat Thomas. It said that Bobby Seale carried a gun because "for four hundred years" African-American have faced threats and death, and it asked "how many more brothers must die".

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: He walked the streets and carried the gun to save his people and family / From those who've killed us for four hundred years / We say, Bobby must be set free / Bobby must be set Free / They say that he killed a brother / But this we know, just cannot be / He's proven his love for his people / That's why Bobby must be set free / Bobby must be set free / How many more brothers must die before we all finally see / The oppressor has no rights we are bound to respect / That's why Bobby must be set free / Bobby must be set free / We won't sacrifice our Chairman 'cause his life means our destiny / If we must we'll hold back the night / Bobby must be set free / We said, Bobby must be set free

About the artist

Black Panther group formed in 1970 in San Francisco, California, USA, with Bill Calhoun, Clark Bailey, James Mott, and Michael Torrance

Themes

Chicago Seven · Civil Rights · Bobby Seale · Black Panther · Anti-War · Demonstration

In collections

1968 Chicago Seven / Eight Songs · Civil Rights Songs · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years] · Soul, Gospel, & Funk Songs