Set Me Free
Joshua Bassett Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I don't know what I did to deserve all this
I don't wanna be rude or on the defensive
But I've been goin' through it too
And I know you feel used, I know you've been hurt
Anything I did to make you feel worse
I'd take it all back if I could

And nothin' I say will ease the pain
But why must I hurt for you to feel okay?

You don't get to take all of me (set me free)
And I don't need your apology (let me be)
I don't recognize you, not anymore
You're not the love that I fell for
You don't get to take all of me (set me free)

I've been runnin' away, I've been facin' my fears
Tell my mom I'm okay while I'm holdin' back tears
It's been a fuckin' year
And I've been doin' my time, I've been workin' on me
Wasn't sure I'd survive, never felt so weak
And nothin' really seemed to help it

And nothin' I say will ease the pain
But why do I have to hurt for you to feel okay?

You don't get to take all of me (set me free)
And I don't need your apology (let me be)
I don't recognize him, not anymore
You're not the love that I fell for
You don't get to take all of me (set me free)

I hope you know that I still care about you dearly
But I've gotta lock the door and throw away the key
And I hope you know that I still care about you, darlin'
I won't never let you hurt me how you hurt me
Again, ever again

You don't get to take all of me (set me free)
And I don't need your apology (let me be)
I don't recognize you, not anymore
You're not the love that I fell for
You don't get to take all of me (set me free)
You don't get to take all of me (set me free)





You don't get to take all of me
Set me free

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Joshua Bassett's song Set Me Free explore the aftermath of a broken relationship where the singer has been hurt and wants to break free from the pain caused by the person he used to love. He starts off by expressing his confusion about the treatment he's receiving and how he doesn't understand why he deserves it. He also acknowledges that his partner has been hurt by him, and he apologizes for his role in causing pain. However, he wants to move on and grow from this experience and not be held captive by the memories of the past.


The singer's frustration with the situation is evident when he asks, "Why must I hurt for you to feel okay?" This line raises the question of whether the person he's addressing is intentionally trying to hurt him or has moved on from the relationship while leaving him behind. The chorus repeats his desire to be set free from this toxic relationship and not have the other person continue to take pieces of him while providing no form of resolution or closure.


In the bridge, the singer declares his love and care for the other person, but he's come to the realization that he needs to take care of himself by locking the door and throwing away the key. The final chorus reiterates his need for release and his determination to move on from this toxic relationship.


Overall, the lyrics of Set Me Free are emotional and raw, painting a vivid picture of the aftermath of a failed romance.


Line by Line Meaning

I don't know what I did to deserve all this
I am unsure of what I did to be treated in this way.


I don't wanna be rude or on the defensive
I don't want to come across as impolite or easily provoked.


But I've been goin' through it too
I have also been struggling with difficult feelings.


And I know you feel used, I know you've been hurt
I recognize that you have felt taken advantage of and suffered emotional pain.


Anything I did to make you feel worse
If there was anything I said or did that made your situation more difficult,


I'd take it all back if I could
I would undo anything that caused you more harm if I were able.


And nothin' I say will ease the pain
I understand that my words may not make the hurt go away.


But why must I hurt for you to feel okay?
Why should I have to suffer for you to find peace?


You don't get to take all of me (set me free)
You cannot have complete control over me, I need my freedom.


And I don't need your apology (let me be)
I don't require an apology from you, I just need space.


I don't recognize you, not anymore
You have changed in a way that makes you like a stranger to me.


You're not the love that I fell for
Your current behavior and actions are not what originally caused me to love you.


I've been runnin' away, I've been facin' my fears
I have been avoiding you and confronting my own anxieties.


Tell my mom I'm okay while I'm holdin' back tears
I am trying to appear fine to others while internally struggling.


It's been a fuckin' year
It has been an entire year since our relationship began to deteriorate.


And I've been doin' my time, I've been workin' on me
I have been taking time to focus on my own growth and self-improvement.


Wasn't sure I'd survive, never felt so weak
I was uncertain I would make it through this experience and have never felt so vulnerable.


And nothin' really seemed to help it
Nothing I tried seemed to make things better.


I hope you know that I still care about you dearly
I want you to understand that I still have strong feelings for you.


But I've gotta lock the door and throw away the key
I need to put up emotional barriers to protect myself.


And I hope you know that I still care about you, darlin'
I want you to know that I still have affection for you.


I won't never let you hurt me how you hurt me
I will never allow you to cause me the same pain again.


You don't get to take all of me (set me free)
You cannot have complete control over me, I need my freedom.


You don't get to take all of me
I will not allow you to have complete power over me.


Set me free
Give me the freedom I need.




Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Davis Holmes Naish, Joshua T. Bassett, Katelyn Marie Tarver

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@wbrave13

Dear Joshua,
I hope this comment finds you and maybe makes your day.
I just wanted you to know that your truly a gift to this world.
As a fan I wanted you to know that I appreciate you as a singer actor and a human being.
Your fans got your back Josh.
I hope you have a great new year I’m praying for your well being this year.
Have a fresh start, start a new page.
God bless you Joshua Basset!
- Alpine



@cindyversion1201

Before anyone comes (I better not say anything pejorative) to throw hate or spread some false rumor, I inform you that this song is not centrally about any ex and that it is a very serious topic, so please I encourage you to be informed and have more tact before commenting. About Joshua, I have to say that he has been an extremely strong child and that he is a love of a person who deserves everything.

Here is a news where there is a summary of what Joshua relates, about something terrible that inspired this beautiful song:

Joshua Bassett spoke about being sexually abused as a child and teenager in a new profile with GQ.

"I experienced sexual abuse a lot in my childhood,” he began, reportedly tearing up. “I didn't remember that until last year, which is pretty insane. I buried it so far."

"And when I was a teen, a much older man routinely abused me, and I wasn't able to see it for what it was at the time," he continued.

Joshua then said that he explored part of processing this trauma in his new song "Set Me Free," which he called, “An anthem for me and the sort of people who’ve held pain and power over me my whole life.”

The 20-year-old also added that he wants to launch a podcast discussing the experience that will “hopefully help people who are experiencing that” and serve as “the podcast that I wish I had when I was a kid.”

Currently, Joshua is in therapy twice a week and described crying almost daily as "great." He added that he is now “so much stronger than I was before” but that "people haven't seen me as a human being" for the past year.

Link to the news: https://www.buzzfeed.com/natashajokic1/joshua-bassett-sexual-abuse

Link to the interview: https://www.gq.com/story/joshua-bassett-woodstock



All comments from YouTube:

@dream

this is beautiful

@michellegreggins2431

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@carissac9668

A man of taste

@angelmora7267

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@emily-xx3ds

what are u doing here

@CC-jp7os

Dream is a Joshua stan confirmed

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@itszoe2913

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