Many Shades of Black Lyrics

Lyric discussion by JustFetus 

Cover art for Many Shades of Black lyrics by Raconteurs, The

Anyone understand the last line in the second stanza? It sounded like wasted free (either literally wasting an otherwise free year or "wasted-free" as in drunkless) to me but I doubt it's right.

This song is clearly about a break-up. The guy thinks it is enough and does not regret breaking up.

Guy? I thought it was sung by Adele? That's the one I have, anyway.

am I the only one who always understands "a wasted WHOLE year"? kinda makes sense, doesn't it?