<P> "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free" is a jazz song written by Billy Taylor and Dick Dallas . Taylor's original version (as "I Wish I Knew") was recorded on November 12, 1963, and released on his Right Here, Right Now! album (Capitol ST - 2039) the following year . His 1967 instrumental take was later used as the theme music for the Film...review programme series on BBC Television . </P> <P> Taylor said: "I wrote this song, perhaps my best - known composition, for my daughter Kim . This is one of the best renditions I've done because it is very spiritual ." </P> <P> The song served as an anthem for the Civil Rights Movement in America in the 1960s . It was used as the theme for the 2004 Olympics, and as the music for Coca - Cola (2004, featuring Sharlene Hector of Basement Jaxx), and during the 2017 Super for a Ford commercial . and Swisscom (2012) commercials . A widely played version was recorded by Nina Simone in 1967 on her Silk & Soul album </P> <P> Other artists who have covered the song include Illinois Jacquet (1968), John Denver (1969), Jools Holland (1997) and Emeli Sandé (2012) </P>

I wish i could know how it feels to be free nina simone