In September 2005, Fantasia published her memoir (which she dictated to a freelance writer), Life is Not a Fairy Tale. In it she revealed that she is functionally illiterate. She discussed this in an interview on 20/20, saying she hadn't been able to read contracts, and she simply memorized the songs she was told to perform and sing on her records.
Free Yourself
Fantasia Barrino Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You act like you don't love me no more
Maybe you need space or some time
Your attitude is unpredictable
And I don't want to make you unhappy
If you're not happy then you're free to go on
'Cause I don't want you stayin' around
If I make you so miserable
If you don't want me then don't talk to me
(If you don't want me then don't talk to me)
Go ahead and free yourself
(Go ahead and free yourself ... yeah)
If you don't want me then don't talk to me
(If you don't want me then don't talk to me)
Go ahead to someone else
(Go ahead to someone else ... yeah)
repeat
Time Again and again I try, I try
Baby don't you know I try, ohoh yeah
But the love I had inside has died
For the love I had inside has died
Oh oh ... wooh ... wooh wooh...
Won't you be a man if it's over
And just admit that things ain't the same
Instead of making me think it's all good
Between us, which one's to blame?
I took a lot too much to handle
Until I can't take this game no more
This love thing is full of scandals
So you're welcome to walk
If you don't want me then don't talk to me
(If you don't want me then don't talk to me)
Oh go ahead and free yourself
(Go ahead and free yourself... yeah)
If you don't want me then don't talk to me
(If you don't want me then don't talk to me)
Baby go ahead to someone else
(Go ahead to someone else... yeah)
Repeat
Time Again and again I've tried
(Time and time again, I've tried it over and over and over)
But the love I had inside has died
Oh, baby, it's died, yeah .... yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
I had to take it there
I had to take it there
'Cause I'm tired
Ohhhhhhhh yeah!
If you don't want me then don't talk to me
(If you don't want me then don't talk to me)
Hey, go ahead and free yourself
(Go ahead and free yourself)
If you don't want me then don't talk to me
(If you don't want me then don't talk to me
Go ahead to someone else
(Go ahead to someone else)
You're playin' games
Repeat to fade out
The lyrics of "Free Yourself" are about a woman who spoke up about her failing relationship with a man who is showing her mixed signals. She wants him to make a decision on whether or not he wants to be with her, and if he doesn't, she wants him to admit it and free himself from the relationship. The song speaks of the mental and emotional exhaustion of trying to hold on to a relationship that is no longer working. She is telling him that he can "free himself" from the relationship, and that she would rather he do that than stay in it and make them both unhappy.
The chorus repeats the message of the song: "If you don't want me then don't talk to me, go ahead and free yourself." The verses tell the story of a woman who has tried to make the relationship work, but has come to the realization that it's over.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby you don't pay no mind
You are not showing any interest in me
You act like you don't love me no more
Your actions suggest that you have lost feelings for me
Maybe you need space or some time
Perhaps you require distance from me for some time
Your attitude is unpredictable
Your conduct is unstable and erratic
And I don't want to make you unhappy
I do not intend to cause any discontentment in you
If you're not happy then you're free to go on
If you are unhappy, you have the liberty to leave
'Cause I don't want you stayin' around
I do not want you to linger if you are unhappy
If I make you so miserable
If I am the cause of your misery
If you don't want me then don't talk to me
If you are not interested in me, do not communicate with me
Go ahead and free yourself
You should liberate yourself
If you don't want me then don't talk to me
If you are not interested in me, do not communicate with me
Go ahead to someone else
You should pursue someone else
Time Again and again I try, I try
Repeatedly, I make an effort to salvage this relationship
Baby don't you know I try, ohoh yeah
My love, do you not realise that I am exerting myself
But the love I had inside has died
However, the passion I bore within me has perished
For the love I had inside has died
The affection I possessed has expired
Oh oh ... wooh ... wooh wooh...
Won't you be a man if it's over
If this affair is concluded, will you not behave like a mature individual
And just admit that things ain't the same
Admit that our relationship has altered
Instead of making me think it's all good
Rather than giving me false hope of things being alright
Between us, which one's to blame?
Between us, who is culpable for the present circumstances?
I took a lot too much to handle
I endured an insurmountable amount of strain
Until I can't take this game no more
Till the point I can not persist in this trickery any longer
This love thing is full of scandals
This romance is rampant with disputes and controversies
So you're welcome to walk
Therefore, you are free to depart
Hey, go ahead and free yourself
Hey, do the right thing and release yourself from me
Go ahead to someone else
Move on to somebody else
You're playin' games
You are being deceitful
Contributed by Molly D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@drikat8418
Anyone still playing this in 2024 !.🎉❤
@brandonburke7362
Right here at work bout to put it on blast
@mamanemcakesandtreats3974
Playing it now, because I’m
Going through it
@jaa5290
Yeah 👍
@javontejohnson7295
My mom used to love this song! Rest in paradise Mommy! In loving memory of Charmaine Johnson - Simmons...Feb 8, 1976 - Feb 16, 2020. I love you forever 💜🕊💜🕊💜🕊💜🕊💜🕊💜🕊💜🕊💜🕊💜🕊💜🕊💜🕊💜🕊💜🕊💜🕊💜🕊💜🕊💜🕊💜🕊💜🕊💜🕊💜🕊💜🕊💜🕊💜🕊💜🕊💜🕊💜🕊💜🕊
@NiyahRenaye
Javonte Johnson sorry to here r.i.p
@charlkiachaneyevans912
🙏 rest up
@keishadonald5448
I am so sorry for your loss❤🙏🏾❤🙏🏾❤🙏🏾
@k.k8000
R.i.p to your mom and blessings to you. It's hard but baby hold tight to your faith.
@javontejohnson7295
@Shiquilla Bell 😥💔