Free

When I was in college, I was the skinny, white piano player in the gospel choir (they hid me in the back). Students from NYC would bring me barely listenable tapes of incredible songs they recorded off the radio onto their boom boxes. It was a great learning experience.
Years later, Hard Rain's manager, Peter Morticelli had a poignant experience with someone in his family who was very ill. That story became the starting point for this song. I wrote it at Ardent Studios in Memphis during our session there in 1993, but Hard Rain didn't record it (it probably wasn't finished, or the guys didn't like it). I think I was trying to channel Peter Gabriel in the verse (I've done that a few times over the years).

Lyrics

We'll have to wait and see how the years will unfold
But I know that we don't have to believe everything we're told
How everything dies, every dream gets old

So when your spirit feels broken
Breathes no light, drinks no joy
I'd like to cradle it close
Then cast it out like a seed to the wind and the dust

Just say the word, and I'll be the healer
Tell me where it hurts, and I'll lay my hands on you
Whatever you fear, let it disappear, I'm your miracle man

We look for warmth from the cold, for shelter to stay
Off the driving snow, but whether we hold one another or pray
We're waiting for something to show us the way

If you'd let me be the healer, and place my hand on your heart
I'd gently reach down inside
I'd release all the voices I know that you've heard

Just say the word, and I'll be the healer
Tell me where it hurts, and I'll lay my hands on you
Whatever you fear, I'll still be here just as near as I can
Near as I can

Cuz I'll be the healer
I'll be the healer

When the river gets long
And that ocean gets wide
Whatever you see
Out there, baby, you know
I'll be the healer you need
I'll be the healer

Cuz wherever you go
Whatever you need
Whatever you believe
Baby, you know
Yeah, I'll be the healer