In 2012, Charli rose to prominence with the Icona Pop collaboration "I Love It", which became an international success, reaching top 10 in North America and Europe. Her debut studio album, True Romance (2013), was released that year to critical acclaim, despite not meeting commercial expectations. In 2014, she contributed the chorus and hook to "Fancy" by rapper Iggy Azalea, which finished the year as one of the best-selling singles worldwide and was nominated for two Grammy Awards. The same year, Charli released "Boom Clap", which became her first solo top-ten single on the Billboard Hot 100. Her second studio album, the pop/rock-influenced Sucker, was released at the end of the year, and spawned the successful singles "Break the Rules" and "Doing It".
In 2015, Charli began working with producers and artists in A. G. Cook's British collective PC Music, as well as producer SOPHIE. While working on her third album, she released the Vroom Vroom EP in 2016 and the mixtapes Number 1 Angel and Pop 2 in 2017, as well as a series of singles including the BPI-certified "After the Afterparty", "Boys", and "1999". In 2019, Charli released her third studio album, Charli, which was followed by her fourth studio album, How I'm Feeling Now, which she recorded and released during the UK's first national lockdown in 2020. Charli released her fifth studio album CRASH on March 18, 2022. On June 7, 2024, she released her sixth studio album BRAT.
Following the success of BRAT, Charli won 3 Grammys on the night of the 67th Grammy Awards held on February 2, 2025. Charli won Best Dance/Electronic Album, Best Recording Package and Best Pop Recording for her single "Von Dutch".
In addition to her solo work, Charli xcx has co-written songs for other artists including Camila Cabello, Rita Ora, Selena Gomez, and many more.
Set Me Free
Charli XCX Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My heart is locked in a box
I am still sinking in black skylines
But now I want it to stop
I'm sailing high but I can't see
I've been pushed around, up and down in a cloud
And I can't breatheI'm falling down, down to my knees
You've gotta let me go, you've gotta help me out
You've gotta set me free
You've gotta set me free
You devoured my soul
'Cause I can taste your lips on my lips
Your kisses make me out of control
And I can feel my blood
It's crawling through my veins
And you close your eyes and you twist your smile
'Cause you can feel my pain
You can feel my pain
You can feel my pain
I have been dancing with shadows
I have been calling your name
I feel the skin dripping from my bones
Your touch, it makes me insane
I'm sailing high but I can't see
I've been pushed around, up and down in a cloud
And I can't breathe
I'm falling down, down to my knees
You've gotta let me go, you've gotta help me outYou've gotta set me free
You've gotta set me free
You devoured my soul
'Cause I can taste your lips on my lips
Your kisses make me out of control
And I can feel my blood
It's crawling through my veins
And you close your eyes and you twist your smile
'Cause you can feel my pain
I can't do this no more
You're tearing me apart
So give me one last kiss
And then I have to let you know
You've gotta set me free
You devoured my soul
'Cause I can taste your lips on my lips
Your kisses make me out of control
And I can feel my blood
It's crawling through my veins
And you close your eyes and you twist your smile
'Cause you can feel my pain
You can feel my pain
You can feel my pain
You can feel my pain
You can feel my pain
The lyrics to Charli XCX's song "Set Me Free" delve deep into the emotions of a person who is caught in a toxic relationship. The opening lines of the song establish the mental state of the singer - she feels crushed in the velvet and her heart is locked in a box. The feeling of sinking in black skylines suggests that she is experiencing a sense of hopelessness and despair. However, she wants it to stop, indicating that she wants to break free from this situation.
The chorus of the song is a plea to her partner to set her free. She feels suffocated, unable to breathe, and falling to her knees. She realizes that her partner has devoured her soul and that she cannot control her feelings anymore. She can feel her blood crawling through her veins, and her partner's twist of the smile suggests that they are aware of the pain they are causing her.
In the second verse, the singer reflects on how she has been consumed by this relationship, and she can't think of anything else but her partner. She is engulfed by the feeling of insanity and desperation that her partner's touch brings to her. The chorus is repeated twice, with an added line at the end in which she accepts that she has to let her partner know how she feels, even though she knows that it might lead to the end of the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I am just crushed in the velvet
I am feeling trapped and suffocated in my current circumstances.
My heart is locked in a box
I am feeling emotionally closed off and unable to express myself freely.
I am still sinking in black skylines
I am struggling with feelings of darkness and depression.
But now I want it to stop
I am ready to break free from these negative emotions and experiences.
I'm sailing high but I can't see
I am experiencing some level of success, but I am feeling lost and directionless.
I've been pushed around, up and down in a cloud
I have been struggling with feeling overwhelmed and unsure of myself.
And I can't breathe
These struggles are making me feel suffocated and helpless.
I'm falling down, down to my knees
I am reaching a breaking point and feeling completely defeated.
You've gotta let me go, you've gotta help me out
I am pleading with someone to free me from my struggles and offer me support.
You've gotta set me free
I need someone else to take action in order for me to be able to move on and find peace.
You devoured my soul
I feel as though someone else has taken control over my life and emotions.
'Cause I can taste your lips on my lips
I feel a strong connection to the person who has been controlling me, even though it may not be healthy.
Your kisses make me out of control
My emotions are heightened and intense when I am with this person.
And I can feel my blood
My emotions are so strong that they are affecting me physically.
It's crawling through my veins
These intense emotions are making me feel restless and anxious.
And you close your eyes and you twist your smile
The person who has been controlling me seems to take pleasure in my pain and struggles.
'Cause you can feel my pain
This person seems to empathize with me, but may not be taking actions to actually help me.
I have been dancing with shadows
I have been struggling with insecurities and uncertainty about myself and my life.
I have been calling your name
I have been seeking comfort and support from the person who has been controlling me.
I feel the skin dripping from my bones
I am feeling physically and emotionally drained and depleted.
Your touch, it makes me insane
Even though this person's influence has been negative, I still feel drawn to them.
I can't do this no more
I have reached my breaking point and can no longer continue in this situation.
You're tearing me apart
The person who has been controlling me is causing me significant emotional pain and distress.
So give me one last kiss
I am desperate for closure and a sense of resolution, even if it means saying goodbye to this person.
And then I have to let you know
I am preparing to take action and move on from this situation.
Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Charlotte Emma Aitchison, Dimitri Tikovoi, Ariel Zvi Rechtshaid
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind