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sing out

English translation: sing loud (literally) express yourself and your opinions / feelings (figuratively)

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:sing out
Selected answer:sing loud (literally) express yourself and your opinions / feelings (figuratively)
Entered by: Jenni Lukac (X)

12:56 Feb 4, 2014
English language (monolingual) [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary - Music / Lyrics of a song
English term or phrase: sing out
Hi,
I have some doubt about the meaning of "sing out" in this famous song by Cat Stevens:

Well, if you want to sing out, sing out
And if you want to be free, be free
'Cause there's a million things to be
You know that there are


I think it means "sing in a loud voice", but I've seen that "sing out" has also an idiomatic meaning, so I just want to be sure..

thanks a lot for any help
haribert
Local time: 08:00
sing loud (literally) express yourself and your opinions / feelings (figuratively)
Explanation:
Interpreting lyrics is always risky, but this song was popular when I was a university student so I'll take the plunge. We understood this line to meant "express yourself and your opinions (out loud / freely)" - very connected with the idea of "being yourself" instead of conforming to the image society expected one to project and conformist behavior one was supposed to adopt.

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Note added at 1 day44 mins (2014-02-05 13:40:32 GMT) Post-grading
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Thanks for note, heribert. I'm still humming this song as I work!
Selected response from:

Jenni Lukac (X)
Local time: 08:00
Grading comment
Thank you so much, Jenni! I’m so happy to have asked the question: otherwise I would have missed the evocative power of the lyrics!
Have a nice day!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +5sing loud (literally) express yourself and your opinions / feelings (figuratively)
Jenni Lukac (X)
Summary of reference entries provided
Ref.
Barbara Carrara

  

Answers


34 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
sing loud (literally) express yourself and your opinions / feelings (figuratively)


Explanation:
Interpreting lyrics is always risky, but this song was popular when I was a university student so I'll take the plunge. We understood this line to meant "express yourself and your opinions (out loud / freely)" - very connected with the idea of "being yourself" instead of conforming to the image society expected one to project and conformist behavior one was supposed to adopt.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day44 mins (2014-02-05 13:40:32 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Thanks for note, heribert. I'm still humming this song as I work!

Jenni Lukac (X)
Local time: 08:00
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 32
Grading comment
Thank you so much, Jenni! I’m so happy to have asked the question: otherwise I would have missed the evocative power of the lyrics!
Have a nice day!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Václav Pinkava
1 min
  -> Many thanks, Václav.
agree  Barbara Carrara: Thank you, Jenni for yet another insightful answer. Don't you just love Ruth Gordon's version in Harold and Maude?
35 mins
  -> Thanks, Barbara. I love anything Ruth Gordon. For those interested in Barbara's reference, there's a YouTube video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKGze_1DWbE
agree  Tony M: Yes, I think both literal ("Sing out, Rose!") and figurative ("If you need anything, just sing out!") meanings apply and are intended here.
53 mins
  -> Thanks, Tony. I've always thought of this line as relating to speaking about or making something know to others.
agree  Jack Doughty
1 hr
  -> Thanks, Jack. Now I can't get this song out of my head.
agree  British Diana
1 hr
  -> Thanks very much, Diana.
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Reference comments


31 mins
Reference: Ref.

Reference information:
sing out
verb
(transitive, adverb) to call out in a loud voice; shout
Synonyms
= call (out), cry (out), shout, yell, holler, halloo
(http://tiny.cc/5berax)

Barbara Carrara
Italy
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in category: 4
Note to reference poster
Asker: Thanks, Barbara, for your help! Have a nice day!

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