I'll Never Be Free
# I'll Never Be Free

"I'll Never Be Free" is a song written by Bennie Benjamin and George Weiss and performed by Kay Starr and Tennessee Ernie Ford. It reached #2 on the U.S. country chart and #3 on the U.S. pop chart in 1950.

## Other charting versions

* Louis Jordan and Ella Fitzgerald released a version of the song which reached #7 on the U.S. R&B chart in 1950.
* Annie Laurie and Paul Gayten and His Orchestra released a version of the song which reached #4 on the U.S. R&B chart in 1950.
* Dinah Washington released a version of the song which reached #3 on the U.S. R&B chart in 1950.
* Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra released a version of the song which reached #8 on the U.S. R&B chart in 1951.
* LaVern Baker and Jimmy Ricks released a version of the song which reached #103 on the U.S. pop chart in 1961.
* Starr re-released a version of the song as a solo sing which reached #94 on the U.S. pop chart in 1961.
* Johnny and Jonie Mosby released a version of the song as a single in 1969 which #26 on the U.S. country chart.
* Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius released a version of the song as a single in 1978 which reached #11 on the U.S. country chart.

## Other versions

* The Skylarks released a version of the song as a single in 1950, but it did not chart.
* Janis Martin released a version of the song as the B-side to her 1957 single "Love and Kisses".
* Johnnie Ray released a version of the song on his 1957 EP The Big Beat.
* Lillie Bryant released a version of the song as the B-side to her 1959 single "Smoky Gray Eyes (Stroll Smoky)".
* Chris Connor released a version of the song on her 1959 EP Pop Goes Chris in Witchcraft.
* Joanie Sommers released a version of the song as the B-side to her 1960 single "One Boy".
* Roy Hamilton released a version of the song as a single in 1961, but it did not chart.
* Jimmy Norman released a version of the song as a single in 1961, but it did not chart.
* Kelly Gordon released a version of the song as the B-side to his 1963 single "A Phonograph Record".
* Pat Boone and Shirley Boone released a version of the song as the B-side to their 1964 single "Side by Side".
* Mel Carter released a version of the song as the B-side to his 1964 single "The Richest Man Alive".
* Bill Pursell released a version of the song as a single in 1964, but it did not chart.
* Van Morrison released a duet version of the song (with daughter Shana Morrison) in 1995 as part of the Days Like This album.
