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Free World Lyrics
I thought of you when they closed down the school
And the hospital too
Did they think that you were better?
They were wrong
You had so many friends
They all left you in the end
'Cause they couldn't take the patter
And I'll see you baby when the clans rise again
Women and men united by a struggle
Going down
You've got to walk into the water
With your sister and your daughter
In this free world
If I wore your shades could I share your point of view?
Could I make you feel better?
Paint a picture, write a letter?
Well I know what you're saying
But I see the things you do
And it's much too dangerous
To get closer to you
But I will see you baby when the clans rise again
Women and men united by the struggle
Going down
With a pocketful of plastic
Like a dollar on elastic
In this free world
I wouldn't tell you if I didn't care
I'll see you baby when the clans rise again
Women and men united by the struggle
And the ghettoes are full of Mercedes Benz
And you'd never hurt a friend
Who wouldn't tell you
It's cold and it's going to get colder
You may not get much older
You're much too scared of living
And to die is a reliable exit
So you push it and you test it
With Thunderbird and Rivin
I'll see you baby when the clans rise again
Women and men united by the struggle
In this free world baby
Got to take it got to grab it
Got to get it up and shag it
In this free world
Going down
You've got to get into the water
Like a lamb goes to the slaughter
In this free world baby
Going down
With a pocketful of plastic
Like a dollar on elastic
In this free world
I wouldn't tell you if I didn't care
And the hospital too
Did they think that you were better?
They were wrong
You had so many friends
They all left you in the end
'Cause they couldn't take the patter
Women and men united by a struggle
Going down
You've got to walk into the water
With your sister and your daughter
In this free world
Could I make you feel better?
Paint a picture, write a letter?
Well I know what you're saying
But I see the things you do
And it's much too dangerous
To get closer to you
Women and men united by the struggle
Going down
With a pocketful of plastic
Like a dollar on elastic
In this free world
I wouldn't tell you if I didn't care
Women and men united by the struggle
And the ghettoes are full of Mercedes Benz
And you'd never hurt a friend
Who wouldn't tell you
You may not get much older
You're much too scared of living
And to die is a reliable exit
So you push it and you test it
With Thunderbird and Rivin
Women and men united by the struggle
In this free world baby
Got to take it got to grab it
Got to get it up and shag it
In this free world
You've got to get into the water
Like a lamb goes to the slaughter
In this free world baby
Going down
With a pocketful of plastic
Like a dollar on elastic
In this free world
I wouldn't tell you if I didn't care
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You know I always thought it was directed at a Thatcherite. Like she was talking to someone who had gotten caught up in the Thatherite ways and had become, well, a twit - a friend, a (former or soon to be former) lover, an actual person. Compare, say, Billy Bragg's From Red to Blue.
And it is disturbing how much of Free World is still applicable. VERY scary.
Kirsty herself said it was about Thatcherite Britain so you're spot on with that review
Kirsty herself said it was about Thatcherite Britain so you're spot on with that review
about anal sex
Er, yeah, thanks RustInPiece for your valuable input.
rolls eyes
I think that this song is actually about Thatcherite England.
I agree that it's about Thatcherite England, but it's amazing how the lyrics apply equally well to George W. Bush's USA.
A great song. Love it.
I'm not sure it's about "Thatcherite Britain"; I always get the impression that it's about a member of the IRA which the singer sympathises with, but is loathe to condemn.
Lines like:
"If I wore your shades could I share your point of view?" - members of the IRA used to wear singlasses durng various ceremonies.
"And I'll see you baby when the clans rise again Women and men united by a struggle" - harking back to the early days of the conflict in Ireland.
"With a pocketful of plastic" - plastic explosive?
Anyway, this is my interpretation.
@geoffos42 Kirsty MacColl herself said it was about Thatcherite Britain so that one is pretty much a lock.
@geoffos42 Kirsty MacColl herself said it was about Thatcherite Britain so that one is pretty much a lock.
Absolutely about Thatcher. The pocketful of plastic is about credit cards, as in the "dollar on elastic". It is about how we were encouraged to spend without thinking.
"If I wore your shades could I share your point of view" refers to Thatchers blinkered vision of what was good for us. Actually it was just about what is good for her......