"On Friday, March 26th, (2… Read Full Bio ↴From http://www.danandmattwilson.com ....
"On Friday, March 26th, (2010) Dan Wilson and Matt Wilson played a long-awaited show together at Minneapolis' Pantages Theater. Although the two brothers had been in bands together since their early teens, and had relentlessly toured the country in Trip Shakespeare, they had only done one concert together between 1994 and this year.
"The Wilsons had never played a show without a band: this was their first duo concert ever.
"When tickets went on sale for the gig, fans snapped them up in one short morning and many were left without a way to hear the show.
"Happily, the gig was recorded by the brothers' long-time sound mixer Brad Kern, and over several days, Brad worked feverishly to mix the files for immediate release. During the concert, Dan suggested that some of the chit chat and casual banter between songs could be edited out of the eventual live recording. But the audience weighed in strongly that the concert be reproduced in full."
Free Life
Dan and Matt Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's way beyond the strip, a place they call your soul
We'll sit down for a while and let the evening roll
Don't worry about the time, we'll find a place to stay
The people 'round here seem familiar in some way
Look kind of like we did before we got so cold
Will we get to do something?
Who we gonna end up being?
How we gonna end up feeling?
What you gonna spend your free life on? Free life
Let's fall in love again with music as our guide
We'll raise our ready hands and let go for the ride
Down into unknown lands where lovers need and hide
We got these lives for free, we don't know where they've been
We don't know where they'll go when we are through with them
A starlight of the sun, the dark side of the moon
In the air the questions hang
Will we get to do something?
Who we gonna end up being?
How we gonna end up feeling?
What you gonna spend your free life on?
Free life, free life, free life
It seems so long ago, those empty afternoon
With nowhere much to go and nothing much to do
But sit up in my room and let the world unfold
In the air the questions hang
Will we get to do something?
Who we gonna end up being?
How we gonna end up feeling?
What you gonna spend your free life on?
In the air the questions hang
Will we get to do, do something?
End up being, end up feeling
What you gonna spend your free life on?
Free life, free life, free life, free life
The song "Free Life" by Dan and Matt Wilson is a nostalgic and introspective look at the joys and uncertainties of youth. The lyrics describe a trip down memory lane to a place where the soul feels at home away from the hustle and bustle of modern life. The two characters in the song, possibly old friends or lovers, reconnect and contemplate their past and future.
The chorus poses rhetorical questions that tap into universal human concerns: will we get to do something meaningful in life? Who will we become? How will we feel about our choices? The repeated phrase "What you gonna spend your free life on?" urges listeners to reflect on how they want to use their time and energy.
The music is melodic and uplifting, with acoustic guitar and harmonies that create a dreamy atmosphere. The mention of music as a guide and a shared passion suggests the possibility of finding meaning and connection through creative expression.
Overall, "Free Life" is a wistful tribute to the fleeting nature of youth and a reminder to cherish the moments that make life worth living.
Line by Line Meaning
Let's take a little trip down where we used to go
Let's revisit the place we used to visit and relive those moments
It's way beyond the strip, a place they call your soul
It's far from the usual attractions, a place where you find your true self
We'll sit down for a while and let the evening roll
We'll relax and enjoy the moment, without worrying about time
Don't worry about the time, we'll find a place to stay
We won't let time dictate our schedule, we'll find a place to rest
The people 'round here seem familiar in some way
The locals feel similar to us, maybe reflecting our past self
Look kind of like we did before we got so cold
They resemble our former self, before we became distant and unemotional
And in the air the questions hang
There are questions lurking in the atmosphere
Will we get to do something?
Will we do something meaningful with our lives?
Who we gonna end up being?
What kind of person will we become?
How we gonna end up feeling?
What emotions will we experience?
What you gonna spend your free life on? Free life
What will we utilize our precious lives on?
Let's fall in love again with music as our guide
Let's rekindle our passion for music and let it lead us
We'll raise our ready hands and let go for the ride
We'll surrender ourselves to the experience and let ourselves loose
Down into unknown lands where lovers need and hide
We'll traverse into uncharted territories where people seek and protect their love
We got these lives for free, we don't know where they've been
We are gifted with lives with an unknown past
We don't know where they'll go when we are through with them
We don't know where our lives will go after we're done living them
A starlight of the sun, the dark side of the moon
Our lives contain both light and darkness, like the opposing sides of a celestial object
It seems so long ago, those empty afternoon
It feels like it's been ages since those boring afternoons
With nowhere much to go and nothing much to do
We had nowhere special to visit and nothing exciting to do
But sit up in my room and let the world unfold
We would just sit and wait for something interesting to happen, being passive spectators of life
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: DANIEL DODD WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alison Freebairn-Smith
Dan Wilson is one of my favorite songwriters. "Free Life" is one of my top 20 records of all time. I listen to it in the mornings when I take my walk/run around the neighborhood and it has caused me to smile, cry, look up at the sky and feel like I'm the luckiest person in the world. These songs feel like they get under my skin and right into my heart. Very moving stuff.
The Cudmore Brothers
I agree
John Smick
I've been a "Dan Fan" since the Trip Shakespeare days, but I can honestly say that his latest album, Free Life, is an absolute masterpiece. Every song has a hook, from his incredible harmonies and spot-on instrumentation to his ear for a melody and lyrics. Free Life shows an artist at the top of his form. Treat yourself - GO BUY THIS ALBUM!
notes_at_dusk
Dan's music is fantastic firstly, quite simply, because I instantly love each song. And then his stuff grows on you even more. Feeling Strangley Fine is an awesome-tastic album that I really just don't get tired of. Ever. Ever.
college2012
He graduated the same year my Dad did from Harvard and he played at the 25th reunion this past summer. he is amazing! love all of his songs!
Bill Cunningham
Just spent 45 minutes going down the YouTube rabbit hole chasing Dan Wilson. Worth every second. Free Life is a favorite album of mine. Love Dan.
N P
I think this is one of my favorite albums of last year! He opened for Sondre Lerche and captured my attention right away! He rocks!
HenryKpresents
One of the best American songwriters, musicians and vocalists Ive met and heard....., and a cool chilled dude.
llaprad1
If anything is right in the world, Dan Wilson will be a revered singer/songwriter for years to come and will enjoy a full career that spans his lifetime.
Phil John
DW's a genius! I could listen to free life forever