In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Free free, set them free
Free free, set them free
Free free, set them free
Free free, set them free
If you need somebody, call my name
If you want someone, you can do the same
If you want to keep something precious
You got to lock it up and throw away the key
If you want to hold onto your possession
Don't even think about me
If you love somebody
If you love someone
If you love somebody
If you love someone set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
If it's a mirror you want, just look into my eyes
Or a whipping boy, someone to despise
Or a prisoner in the dark
Tied up in chains you just can't see
Or a beast in a gilded cage
That's all some people ever want to be
If you love somebody
If you love someone
If you love somebody
If you love someone set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
You can't control an independent heart
Can't tear the one you love apart
Forever conditioned to believe that we can't live
We can't live here and be happy with less
So many riches, so many souls
Everything we see that we want to possess
If you need somebody, call my name
If you want someone, you can, you can do, you can do the same
If you want to keep something precious
You got to lock it up and throw away the key
Wanna hold onto your possession
Don't even think about me
If you love somebody
If you love someone
If you love somebody
If you love someone set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
(Free, free, set them free)
(Free, free, set them free)
(Free, free, set them free)
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
Free free, set them free
Free free, set them free
Free free, set them free
If you need somebody, call my name
If you want someone, you can do the same
If you want to keep something precious
You got to lock it up and throw away the key
If you want to hold onto your possession
Don't even think about me
If you love somebody
If you love someone
If you love somebody
If you love someone set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
If it's a mirror you want, just look into my eyes
Or a whipping boy, someone to despise
Or a prisoner in the dark
Tied up in chains you just can't see
Or a beast in a gilded cage
That's all some people ever want to be
If you love somebody
If you love someone
If you love somebody
If you love someone set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
You can't control an independent heart
Can't tear the one you love apart
Forever conditioned to believe that we can't live
We can't live here and be happy with less
So many riches, so many souls
Everything we see that we want to possess
If you need somebody, call my name
If you want someone, you can, you can do, you can do the same
If you want to keep something precious
You got to lock it up and throw away the key
Wanna hold onto your possession
Don't even think about me
If you love somebody
If you love someone
If you love somebody
If you love someone set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
(Free, free, set them free)
(Free, free, set them free)
(Free, free, set them free)
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
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[Sting]: (1985) If You Love Somebody Set Them Free was the first single I did on my own away from the Police. I'm not sure if the phrase is mine. I probably read it somewhere. But it's the first time it's been used in a song, I think. And it's true, you can't imprison someone in a relationship. It's an antidote song to 'Every Breath You Take'. One song is about constricting, possessive love, and one is about being free. I suppose the truth is somewhere in the middle. This has a Motown sort of vibe, and my attempt at soulful singing. I had a great band at the time: Kenny Kirkland (keyboards), Branford Marsalis (saxophone), Darryl Jones (bass). Yes, Darryl's in the Rolling Stones now. He's one of my alumni I'm most proud of.