Throwing back to the week of April 12, 1975, we find Elton John atop the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘Philadelphia Freedom.’ This was John’s fourth #1 hit on the chart on his way to seven in his career.
This was the first song John and lyricist Bernie Taupin ever wrote as a standalone single. John wanted to honor his friend Billie Jean King, who had become an international voice for feminism after her defeat of Bobby Riggs in the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ tennis match. The song was named for the Philadelphia Freedoms, King’s team in the World Team Tennis league.
Despite its origin, the song has no references to King or tennis. It was embraced as a patriotic anthem in the run-up to the American bicentennial, but Taupin says it wasn’t intended to be a flag-waving song either (despite the lyric “from the day that I was born I’ve waved the flag”).
Understandably, ‘Philadelphia Freedom’ has been embraced by the city’s sports fans, recently scoring a bounty of social media posts following the Eagles Super Bowl win.
I used to be a rollin’ stone, you know
If a cause was right
I’d leave to find the answer on the road
I used to be a heart beatin’ for someone
But the times have changed
The less I say, the more my work gets done
[Chorus]
‘Cause I live and breathe this Philadelphia freedom
From the day that I was born, I’ve waved the flag
Philadelphia freedom took me knee–high to a man, yeah
Gave me peace of mind my daddy never had
[Post-Chorus]
Oh, Philadelphia freedom, shine on me, I love ya
Shine the light through the eyes of the ones left behind
Shine the light, shine the light
Shine the light, won’t you shine the light?
Philadelphia freedom, I lo-o-ove ya
Yes, I do
[Verse 2]
If you choose to, you can live your life alone
Some people choose the city (Some people choose the city)
Some others choose the good old family home
(Some others choose the good old family home)
I like livin’ easy without family ties (‘Livin easy)
Til the whippoorwill of freedom zapped me
Right between the eyes
[Chorus]
‘Cause I live and breathe this Philadelphia freedom
From the day that I was born, I’ve waved the flag
Philadelphia freedom took me knee-high to a man
Gave me peace of mind my daddy never had
[Post-Chorus]
Oh, Philadelphia freedom, shine on me, I love ya
Shine the light through the eyes of the ones left behind
Shine the light, shine the light
Shine the light, won’t you shine the light?
Philadelphia freedom, I lo-o-ove ya, yes I do
[Post-Chorus]
Oh, Philadelphia freedom, shine on me
I love ya
Shine the light through the eyes of the ones left behind
Shine the light, shine the light
Shine the light, won’t you shine the light?
Philadelphia freedom, I lo-o-ove ya
You know I lo-o-ove ya, yeah
You know I lo-o-ove you, yes I do!
[Outro]
(Philadelphia freedom)
I lo-o-ove you, yes I do, Philadelphia freedom
You know that I lo-o-ove you, yes I do!
(Philadelphia freedom)
Oh, don’t you know that I lo-o-ove you, yes I do!
(Philadelphia freedom)
Don’t you know that I lo-o-ove you, yes I do!
(Philadelphia freedom)
Don’t you know that I lo-o-ove you, yes I do!
Meet Me In Montauk 
I never knew the word “whippoorwill” was used in this song, nor did I know what that was. My guess is this may be the only song ever written to reference the whippoorwill.😝