By her third album in 1990, Anything Is Possible, Gibson’s chart fortunes were diminishing; only the lead single, the album’s title track, made any headway, peaking at #26. It would be her final U.S. top 40 entry. She shed the wholesome teen image for 1993’s Body, Mind, Soul, and later appeared in a Playboy magazine pictorial. Despite her diminished profile, another seven albums followed between 1995 and 2022. In 2006, she reached # 24 on the U.S. adult contemporary chart with "Say Goodbye,” a duet with Jordan Knight. Gibson has also had starring roles on Broadway and touring musicals, including playing Eponine in Les Misérables and Sandy in Grease, as well as television and independent film work.
Free Me
Debbie Gibson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got a groove in my head and a feeling of chains
Releasing me from this bed of nails
Got a smile up my sleeve and wind under my feet
With the air I can set sail
You can only push me just so far
I've been a fool for too long
I know the words to this song
But I'll still have my heart
CHORUS:
You might like to think you're strong
You can't break me, you can only free me
Think I'm stuck like glue? You're wrong
You can't break me, you can only free this heart
VERSE2:
There's a whole world of life with a promise of love
That's waiting outside of these four walls
And you can't walk away though you feel your heart break
Suddenly freedom calls
I've been searching for something I've yet to see
I've been thirsting for what you can't be
Now I need to be free
CHORUS
VERSE3:
You can only push me just so far
I've been a fool for too long
I know the words to this song
You might tear us apart
But I'll still have my heart
Dance your buns off...
Debbie Gibson's song "Free Me" is a song about a woman who has been held captive emotionally, mentally, and physically in a relationship with someone and is finally freeing herself from their hold. The opening of the song talks about the feeling of being held captive with ‘chains’ and bed of nails' but then moves into a more positive outlook where she has a 'groove' in her head, a smile up her sleeve, and wind under her feet, which symbolizes the power and strength she has gathered to free herself.
The lyrics in the chorus further emphasize the idea of not being controlled or held back by anyone, as she sings "You can't break me, you can only free me." She then talks about how the person she is directing the song to, who might think they are strong, cannot break her because she knows what she needs and wants, and that freedom is the only way she has hope for a better future.
In the third verse, the message is repeated more strongly, that she has been a fool for too long, knows the words to the song that she's singing, and that even if the person she's talking to tries to tear her apart, she'll still have her heart.
Overall, the song is an expression of finding inner strength and courage to break free and pursue the life one wants to live.
Line by Line Meaning
Got a groove in my head and a feeling of chains
I have an amazing melody in my head, but I feel trapped and limited.
Releasing me from this bed of nails
I am finally freeing myself from a situation that has caused me pain and discomfort.
Got a smile up my sleeve and wind under my feet
I am armed with confidence and ready to move forward courageously.
With the air I can set sail
I have the power to take control of my life to make my dreams come true.
You can only push me just so far
I have a limit on how much I can take and will not let anyone exceed it.
I've been a fool for too long
I have wasted too much time on something that wasn't worth my effort.
I know the words to this song
I have gained enough knowledge and experience to not let myself be fooled again.
You might tear us apart
You have the power to ruin what we have, but I won't let you destroy my spirit.
But I'll still have my heart
No matter what happens, I will always have my strength and resilience.
You might like to think you're strong
You believe that you can control me and break me down, but you're wrong.
You can't break me, you can only free me
The only way you can affect me is by releasing me from the negativity that you have put me through.
Think I'm stuck like glue? You're wrong
You assume I am trapped and limited by you, but in reality, I'm not.
You can't break me, you can only free this heart
You can't shatter my soul, but you can allow me to feel free and alive again.
There's a whole world of life with a promise of love
There are endless opportunities and possibilities to experience happiness and love.
That's waiting outside of these four walls
All of these exciting moments are beyond my current situation and limitations.
And you can't walk away though you feel your heart break
You feel devastated that things didn't work out, but you can't change the past and walk away easily.
Suddenly freedom calls
I am feeling liberated and excited to embark on a new journey.
I've been searching for something I've yet to see
I have been desperately trying to find my way, but I haven't found the right path yet.
I've been thirsting for what you can't be
I have an unquenchable thirst for something that you can't provide or live up to.
Now I need to be free
I am at a point where I must set myself free from the past and strive towards something greater.
Dance your buns off...
This line is not part of the song and cannot be associated with an insightful meaning.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CARL STURKEN, CARL ALLEN STURKEN, DEBORAH ANN GIBSON, EVAN ROGERS, EVAN A. ROGERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind