Allegedly nicknamed "King Monkey" by Dodgy's drummer Mathew Priest. Brown is well known to standout from the crowd and had his own unique style, whilst in The Roses he used to often wear big baggy flares and his landmark t-shirt with banknotes on. He now has a more casual look: Adidas Jackets, tracksuit bottoms, army trousers and a pair of shades. He is also recognisable for his varying hairstyles including: Blonde mohawk (early Stone Roses days) short (also early Stone roses days) undercut (similar to John Squire's) Big Hair (1989) bob cut (early 90's) Skinhead and his most well known hairdo long and shaggy with a fringe.
He has had two top 5 singles in the UK, My Star and Dolphins Were Monkeys. In 2005 he collaborated with Noel Gallagher from Oasis for the track Keep What Ya Got. He has also collaborated with U.N.K.L.E. on two tracks, 1999's Be There and Reign in 2004.
Recently Brown has started playing Stone Roses songs during gigs, fuelling speculation that a reunion may be on the cards. But In September 2005 Ian appeared to rule out a Stone Roses reunion saying "there's more chance of me reforming the Happy Mondays than the Roses". Happy Mondays in fact have reformed, but yet Brown appears pessimistic about a likelihood of any reunion. A reunion would also hinge on the co-operation of Roses guitarist John Squire who recently stated his desire to turn his back on music and focus on painting.
His latest album, My Way, was released September 2009.
Set My Baby Free
Ian Brown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What did he know?
Spent his time living in a casino
Never know
Couldn't get away,
Couldn't ever get it anyway
Couldn't ever level
Cause he's living like a devil
I want you to set my baby free
Hey people
Set my baby free
Came upon a man
In tune with his libido
Took another's wife
To help him get to sleep
Couldn't get away,
Couldn't ever get it anyway
Couldn't ever level
Cause he's living like a devil
Hey you ugly people
I want you to set my baby free
Hey people
Set my baby free
When she turns to smile
And lights up from inside
Walking miles
And you ain't got
Nobody by your side
Hey ugly people
Set my baby free
Hey you ugly people
I want you to set my baby free
When she turns to smile
And lights up from inside
Walking miles
You ain't got nobody
By your side
Hey people, set my baby free
Set my baby free
Set my baby free
The lyrics to Ian Brown's Set My Baby Free may seem simple on the surface, but they contain some complexity in their meaning. The song seems to speak to someone who is living the high life in a casino, yet unable to find happiness or satisfaction. The line "Couldn't ever level because he's living like a devil" suggests that this lifestyle of excess and indulgence is preventing the person from achieving balance and fulfillment in their life.
The song also mentions a man who is "in tune with his libido" and takes another man's wife to help him sleep. This seems to be an indictment of the same hedonistic lifestyle that the first verse describes, suggesting that such behavior ultimately leads to dissatisfaction and loneliness.
The chorus repeatedly asks the "ugly people" to "set my baby free," but it's not clear exactly who the "baby" is or what they need to be set free from. It's possible that the song is calling for the release from societal pressures that contribute to this type of lifestyle, or perhaps from the emotional bonds that keep one trapped in an unfulfilling existence.
Overall, Set My Baby Free is a song that speaks to the emptiness and lack of joy that can come from a life of excess and indulgence. It suggests that true happiness and fulfillment are found elsewhere and calls for a release from the forces that keep us trapped in such a life.
Line by Line Meaning
Said he was man
A man who talked highly of himself
What did he know?
What did he actually understand?
Spent his time living in a casino
Spent most of his life in gambling establishments
Never know
Never realized his own mistakes
Couldn't get away,
Could not escape his own problems
Couldn't ever get it anyway
Could not achieve anything
Couldn't ever level
Could never find stability
Cause he's living like a devil
Because he's living a sinful life
Hey you ugly people
Addressing the general society with flaws
I want you to set my baby free
Requesting people to set his partner free from societal chains and beliefs
Came upon a man
Encountered a man
In tune with his libido
Connected to his sexual desires
Took another's wife
Cheated on someone's partner
To help him get to sleep
To assist in satisfying his desires
When she turns to smile
When she expresses happiness
And lights up from inside
And shows her true emotions
Walking miles
Going the distance
And you ain't got nobody by your side
And you have no one accompanying you
Hey people, set my baby free
Requesting people to liberate his partner from societal restraints
Set my baby free
Liberate my partner
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: IAN BROWN, AKINOLA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
John McDonagh
This is one of the most underrated songs of all time.
Epic Wolverine
This song is such a hidden gem, not just because it's a great song, but because every streaming platform has it misspelled as "SENT My Baby Free".
Muskateering
I think this is the best track he's ever had his name attached to. Genius.
Andy Foster
This and stellify
Kevin Craig
1of the best undoubted 😁✌️🏴
Shaun Crambie
@Andy Foster "I made a shrine with candles for you, i see you are an Angel all the things that you do..." Stellify a top track. Peace. ✌️😎
andrew stratton
When the drums and that brass kicks in at same time near end of Stellify is 🙌🙌🙌😍
Ethereal
@Andy Foster agree :)
Kev in
I wake in the morning and I'm singing lyrics in my head,i love this song
Karl
Such an underrated track