The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Oh, baby life could be something wonderful
Wonderful
You keep me satisfied
I need you by my side
But you want to leave today
Don't throw it all away
The tender love we knew
The tender love so true
The happiness we shared
Just knowin' someone cared
You're gonna need me
Like you needed me before
Need me, baby
Come back and close the door
Can't cool all my emotion
Can't cool all my devotion
Life could be something wonderful
I'll set you free
Something wonderful
I'll set you free
In your sweet caress
It's better than livin' a life of loneliness
Ooh I'm givin' you all I had to give
Each day made me proud to live
You took the best of me
If you don't want the rest of me
I'll set you free
Fine fine
I'll set you free
Fine fine
I don't want nobody who don't want me, ooh
You're gonna miss the love I've been givin'
You're gonna miss the life you've been livin'
You're gonna need me I know it
You're gonna want me
But I'll set you free, I'll set you free
Ooh, I'll set you free, I'll set you free
You don't care about me
Ooh, life could be something wonderful
Something wonderful
Here's a sweet caress
It's better than livin' a life of loneliness
You're gonna be lonely boy
Ooh I'm givin' you all I had to give
Each day made me proud to live
You took the best of me
If you don't want the rest of me
I'll set you free
I'll set you free
I'll set you free
Don't want nobody who don't want me
Yeah, you're gonna be lonely
You're gonna miss the love I've been givin'
You're gonna miss the life you've been livin'
You're gonna want me, baby I know it
You're gonna want me, but I'll set you free
I could be, oh baby, I could be
Oh baby, I could be
Anything I want to be
As long as I know you're here with me
Wonderful
You keep me satisfied
I need you by my side
But you want to leave today
Don't throw it all away
The tender love we knew
The tender love so true
The happiness we shared
Just knowin' someone cared
You're gonna need me
Like you needed me before
Need me, baby
Come back and close the door
Can't cool all my emotion
Can't cool all my devotion
Life could be something wonderful
I'll set you free
Something wonderful
I'll set you free
In your sweet caress
It's better than livin' a life of loneliness
Ooh I'm givin' you all I had to give
Each day made me proud to live
You took the best of me
If you don't want the rest of me
I'll set you free
Fine fine
I'll set you free
Fine fine
I don't want nobody who don't want me, ooh
You're gonna miss the love I've been givin'
You're gonna miss the life you've been livin'
You're gonna need me I know it
You're gonna want me
But I'll set you free, I'll set you free
Ooh, I'll set you free, I'll set you free
You don't care about me
Ooh, life could be something wonderful
Something wonderful
Here's a sweet caress
It's better than livin' a life of loneliness
You're gonna be lonely boy
Ooh I'm givin' you all I had to give
Each day made me proud to live
You took the best of me
If you don't want the rest of me
I'll set you free
I'll set you free
I'll set you free
Don't want nobody who don't want me
Yeah, you're gonna be lonely
You're gonna miss the love I've been givin'
You're gonna miss the life you've been livin'
You're gonna want me, baby I know it
You're gonna want me, but I'll set you free
I could be, oh baby, I could be
Oh baby, I could be
Anything I want to be
As long as I know you're here with me
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
I'll Set You Free Lyrics as written by Berry Jr Gordy Berry Gordy Jr
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.