Free as a Bird

I think when they say, "It's the next best thing to be," they mean that the next best thing to being completely and totally in LOVE with someone is to be completely and totally single. I know this may seem obvious, but I just figured it out! Being sort-of in a relationship with someone is torture. You're wondering how they feel, some days you don't know how you feel, and the whole thing is a sloppy mess that ends in an emotional blur. Usually it's because one person is more into the other, and the one who is doing all of the working and thinking and obsessing ends up really hurt. Sometimes people who don't know what they want have a tendency to keep their lover on a short leash, which is torture for that person who really should move on. So, to recap: The Beatles know that the best thing is LOVE-LOVE-LOVE, but the next best thing to that is being completely free of any attachment to a person who has the capability to break your heart and them stomp around on it without the slightest expectation or guilt.

John Lennon originally wrote the song shortly after he was awarded his green card to stay in the country after many years of problems with the U.S. goverment. I think that was part of the motivation behind his feelings.

Simple words, simple melody...they understood how to make sad music with so simple things...personally, I think the song's about an ended relationship, but one of the couple doesn't want to recognize their relationship wouldn't last forever :-(

This song was written by John and he made a basic recording (main vocal, piano, drum machine), but never finished the song. It was picked up by Paul, George, Ringo, and George Martin and completed as part of the Anthology project. That's why the main vocal is so weak. I've heard the mumbling at the end is "it's turned out nice again" backwards, possibly chosen because, reversed, it sounds like "I'm John Lennon".

john lennon's part, the main, "free as a bird, home and dry" bit is an expression of lennons happiness with his relaxed new lifestyle as being a househusband and a father to sean. the bit that paul added "whatever happened to..." is what nails the song for me. its about missing lennon and the special relationship shared by the 'fabfour' during the bealteyears. the song seems really sad, but its kind of ment to be peaceful...happy even. just the whole lennon from beyond the grave thing makes it haunting.

I really really like this song, I remember first seeing the video on MTV with a bird flying around a city.

This and "Real Love" are the two best Beatles songs. Hands down.

when ever i listen to this song it makes me cry... it's one of those songs that expresses feelings in such a way that u can't help it!

whenever i listen to 'free as a bird' and 'real love' it really makes me wanna cry. the beatles have always excelled in expressing emotions through such simple words and melodies. i think in these two songs, john is talkin about the lost friendship between the four of em. Damn! why do all the good bands always have to break up??!!

This is the only song that is by the Beatles that is played in the supermarket where I work.

Jeff Lynn from ELO and former bandmate with George in The Traveling Wilburys produced this song, along with Real Love, not George Martin.