I'll Set You Free

A couple of weeks after my ex-wife told me she wanted a divorce I couldn't try anything else so I went out one morning and left her a card, I wrote the lyrics of this song in it.

1. A more literal interpretation: A long distance relationship that didn't work out. The passion is gone and they're only holding on for convience. So she decides to let him go.
2. A more personal interpretation: She had a crush on him but then they were separated (went away to college perhaps?) and now she realizes she doesn't feel the same about him anymore so she lets go of the memory of him.

I personally think this song relates to something that happened to me.

"i hear you through the wire, the words all sound like noise, what happened to the fire in your voice"

i think this means, he called her on the telephone to tell her something upsetting. Possibly to break up with her, and she's wondering what the hell happened.

"Don't try to hide the distance It's just too big to ignore We work it out like business It won't work anymore "

I think this is referring to an emotional distance, like them perhaps growing apart. He claims there is no distance, she tells him not to deny it, as she feels it is blatant. They try and discuss this and work it out, but they can't.

"Still sometimes late at night Moonlight comes into my window I make believe it's how it used to be"

She might feel vunerable without him, and find it easier to delude herself into thinking that they are still together, and everything is still the same.

" We made it look so easy We never tried to resist Somehow you stopped believing Somehow we've come to this"

They may have had one of those perfect relatioships, everyone thought would last forever, it was almost fairytale like. Until he stopped believing in them, and everything fell apart, and that's why they seperated.

"It was never meant to be So I'll set you free"

This is basically her saying that she'll foget about him, as it obviously wasn't meant to be for them to be together.

"So now that I must go on What more can I do What good is being strong When all I ever really want is you"

I think she is saying that now she has to get on with her life without him, and doesn't know were to begin. She is trying to be strong without him, when she would rather him take her back and effectivly be weak.

Just what i think, this song is so awesome.

Don't think I can add much more to this. Other poster seem to have got it spot on. Its about a love thats faded and they decide to split up. Beautiful but sad :(

I too completely agree with Xsnowxwhitex as portrayed above - and too, I can (could) totally relate to this song when it came out. (pun intended).

Often missed, or misinterpreted though in this song is one of it's crowning moments.. the crescendo of emotion that only Susanna Hoffs could portray with such reality that you can feel it: when the girls in the background are singing behind her " .. all I want is you-u, all I want is you " .. followed with the questioning, searching for one last desparate shred of some reason to hold onto one another : "Did you want what I want? Do you want what I wanted?? ..

The verse so completely hits the mark on the powerful feeling of want, desire, and desperation in this song. It's almost palpable. I almost always shed tears when I close my eyes and listen to this ending. it hits so close to home. And even if it didn't - THIS is what it feels like.

Clearly, it's about a love in it's dying days.. and how desperate and sad the realization of that moment when it comes can be. Susanna Hoffs at her very very best.

Ascribed to Lowen and Navarro, Susanna Hoffs came up with the lyrics. She was at the height of her career and I was at mine as well.