Admiral Freebee is Tom Van Laere, born in 1974, a singer-songwriter from Br… Read Full Bio ↴Admiral Freebee is Tom Van Laere, born in 1974, a singer-songwriter from Brasschaat, Belgium.

Van Laere began his career as quite a reasonable tennis player. The story goes that he was standing in front of the mirror one day and turned his racket around into a guitar. Van Laere withdrew into the oeuvre of Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Hank Williams and taught himself to play the guitar and the piano. As a musician, he took the name of Admiral Freebee, from On the Road, the novel by Jack Kerouac.

Belgium got its first extensive taste of Admiral Freebee during Humo’s Rock Rally 2000, the most important rock competition in the Low Countries. Backed by a bass player and a drummer, The Admiral won the silver medal and the price awarded by the public. When performing live, Admiral Freebee is versatility itself. Whether he performs solo and acoustically or with a well-oiled rock machine, the audience can only do one thing - according to fans: listen, see and be silent, only to shout out in admiration in the end.

In 2003 his debut album Admiral Freebee appeared, a record that met the high expectations. In the 12 songs Van Laere shows that he can just as easily come up with a moving country/pop ballad (see for instance the phenomenal single Rags 'n' Run) as a stadium rocker (Ever Present), and that he can just as effortlessly melt the two together into one song (There's a Road (Noorderlaan)) without turning it into a gimmick.

March 2005 Admiral Freebee’s second album was released. It was called Songs and it included 13 of them. Two of them were released as a single: Oh Darkness and Carry On – more to follow. The album was recorded live over the course of five days at The Village Recorder in Los Angeles. John Hanlon (famous for his work with Neil Young & Crazy Horse) sat at the mixing board. The sparing overdubs – backings and solos – took place in the Shangri-La Studio a bit further down the road. The Admiral was called 'The Talent'; whenever he was ready to record, the band recorded.

Studio lineup :
* Guitar/vocals/’Songs’: Tom Van Laere
* Guitar: Jesse Tobias (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Morrissey, Alanis Morissette, The Twilight Singers)
* Bass: Ric Markmann (Chris Cornell)
* Drums and backing vocals: Dean Butterworth (Morrissey, Ben Harper)
* Backing vocals: Tommy Funderburk (Toto)
* Production and technique: John Hanlon (Neil Young & Crazy Horse)

His latest album, Wild Dreams of New Beginnings, has been released to positive critical acclaim in November 2006.

Blues For A Hypochondriac
Admiral Freebee Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

All of yesterday′s weirdness is tomorrow's reason why,
I like myself best at times when I don′t try,
There is something about what happens that strikes a match
Inside, something that is filled up with everything I try to hide.

I'm in love with the feelings that the machine can't read,
There is enough for everybody′s needs
But not enough for everybody′s greed,

I am past the days of confusion but
Am I past the days of wondering why,
Now that I like myself best at times when I don't try.

Tears waiting in the alley and laughter locked in the hearse,
I′m sitting here contemplating waiting for the bubble to burst,
I'm always hoping for the worst.
There is a new she-devil in town,
She′s a real homewrecker I heard she's a real deal breaker,
A heart breaker, oh I saw her first.

I′m always hoping for the worst.

Every fear I have is a wish, and temptation my favorite dish,
Damn right I've got the blues when I
See them in their high heeled shoes.
How am I supposed to be thankful when I am already faithful,
Yeah you think you're waiting for a call,
Next thing you know you′re heading for a fall.

Tears waiting in the alley and laughter locked in the hearse,
I′m sitting here contemplating waiting for the bubble to burst.
I'm always hoping for the worst.
I see a doctor in a white suit,
Chasing an uncooperative patient complaining about hospital food,
And I′m sitting on the lap of a long legged nurse.

I'm always hoping for the worst.

Well, the pain is gone now but soon it′ll be back after
I stop singing these blues from a hypochondriac.

Tears waiting in the alley and laughter locked in the hearse,

I'm sitting here contemplating waiting for the bubble to burst.
I′m always hoping for the worst

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Blues For A Hypochondriac" by Admiral Freebee touch on themes of self-discovery, acceptance, and the complex emotions that arise from the human experience. The song explores the idea that the strange and confusing moments of the past shape who we are and give us insight into the aspects of ourselves we often try to hide.

The opening lines, "All of yesterday's weirdness is tomorrow's reason why, I like myself best at times when I don't try," suggest that the unique and sometimes bizarre experiences we've had in the past shape our present selves. It implies that our true nature shines through when we are in a state of vulnerability or when we are not actively trying to be someone we're not. There is a sense of embracing imperfections and finding beauty in our own complexity.

The lyrics also delve into the idea of longing for something to shake up the status quo. The line, "I'm always hoping for the worst," expresses a desire for change, as if the singer is stuck in a rut and yearns for something unpredictable to happen. This sentiment is further emphasized in the phrases "Tears waiting in the alley and laughter locked in the hearse," which symbolize the range of emotions that are often hidden or repressed.

The song touches upon the idea of the singer being attracted to the intangible and unquantifiable aspects of life. The lyrics, "I'm in love with the feelings that the machine can't read, there is enough for everybody's needs, but not enough for everybody's greed," suggest a longing for deeper connections and experiences that cannot be measured or controlled by technology or material possessions. There is an emphasis on appreciating the simple things and rejecting the insatiable desire for more.

Overall, "Blues For A Hypochondriac" highlights the idea of embracing the complexities of life, rediscovering oneself, and finding meaning in the unpredictable and unusual.

Line by Line Meaning

All of yesterday's weirdness is tomorrow's reason why
The strange occurrences of the past contribute to the understanding of future events

I like myself best at times when I don't try
I feel most genuine and content when I let go of expectations and simply be myself

There is something about what happens that strikes a match inside
Certain experiences ignite a spark within, revealing hidden emotions and truths

Something that is filled up with everything I try to hide
These experiences bring to the surface all the things I try to keep concealed

I'm in love with the feelings that the machine can't read
I cherish emotions that cannot be understood or measured by technology

There is enough for everybody's needs
There is abundance to fulfill the basic requirements of every individual

But not enough for everybody's greed
However, the world's resources are insufficient to satisfy the excessive desires of everyone

I am past the days of confusion but
I have moved beyond a state of perplexity, yet

Am I past the days of wondering why
I still question the reasons and motives behind certain things

Now that I like myself best at times when I don't try
Despite my uncertainties, I have found solace in being true to myself

Tears waiting in the alley and laughter locked in the hearse
Unexpressed sadness lingers nearby, while joy remains hidden and withheld

I'm sitting here contemplating waiting for the bubble to burst
I am reflecting and anticipating the inevitable end or revelation of a seemingly perfect situation

I'm always hoping for the worst
I habitually desire negative outcomes, expecting them to align with my pessimistic mindset

There is a new she-devil in town
A notorious and destructive woman has arrived in the community

She's a real homewrecker, I heard she's a real deal breaker
She has a reputation for ruining relationships and causing significant disruptions

A heart breaker, oh, I saw her first
She possesses the ability to break hearts, and I claim to have recognized her before others

Every fear I have is a wish, and temptation my favorite dish
My fears inadvertently reveal my secret desires, and I find great pleasure in succumbing to temptation

Damn right I've got the blues when I see them in their high heeled shoes
I experience sadness and envy when witnessing others who appear confident and successful

How am I supposed to be thankful when I am already faithful
It is challenging for me to express gratitude when I am already devoted and loyal

Yeah, you think you're waiting for a call, next thing you know you're heading for a fall
While you believe you are anticipating positive news, you may unexpectedly encounter disappointment or failure

I see a doctor in a white suit, chasing an uncooperative patient complaining about hospital food
I observe a physician wearing a lab coat pursuing a difficult patient who is dissatisfied with the quality of hospital meals

And I'm sitting on the lap of a long-legged nurse
Meanwhile, I find myself comfortably seated on the lap of a physically attractive nurse

Well, the pain is gone now but soon it'll be back after I stop singing these blues from a hypochondriac
Although my physical pain has temporarily subsided, it will likely return once I cease expressing my anxieties through these hypochondriacal blues

Tears waiting in the alley and laughter locked in the hearse
Unshed tears remain hidden in the shadows, while authentic laughter is suppressed and concealed

I'm sitting here contemplating waiting for the bubble to burst
I am currently deep in thought, anticipating the eventual collapse or exposure of a seemingly perfect situation

I'm always hoping for the worst
I continually hold onto the expectation of negative outcomes, as it aligns with my pessimistic outlook

Contributed by Noah M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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