Everybody Free
Michael W. Smith Lyrics


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The longing in my heart has stirred a faded memory
Of my young heart beating fast behind the willow tree
I was counting out loud, and I only peeked a time or two
And the only purpose in my life was finding you
Singing, "Ollie, ollie, everybody free!"
Now was I chasing you or were you chasing me?

We all grow up and put away our childhood games
But deep inside I wonder if we really change
'Cause I'm still seeking, though I've learned to hide so well
And I can still remember how it felt
Singing, "Ollie, ollie, everybody free!"
Will I ever find someone pursuing me?

And then you caught me by surprise
I found my tears are in your eyes
I hear my heart inside of you
At last I've found somebody who
Can free my soul
And love me too

I can't believe we hide so long and run so well
When all the while we're aching to be caught and held
But it's only in surrender that our freedom comes
And so I run abandoned to your waiting arms
Singing "Ollie, ollie, everybody free!"
I belong to you and you belong to me!





Singin' "Ollie, ollie, everybody free

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Michael W. Smith's song Everybody Free speak of a longing for a love that seems to have been lost in childhood. The singer reminisces about playing the childhood game of hide-and-seek, singing "Ollie, ollie, everyone free," and how the game represented the search for love, which was the only purpose in his life back then. He wonders if people ever really change, or if we're all still seeking love in the same way we did when we were young. The last part of the lyrics speaks about finding that love, surrendering to it, and finally feeling free.


The lyrics of the song can be interpreted as a metaphor for the search for love and happiness that we all undertake. As we grow older, we may put away our childhood games, but the longing for connection remains. The lines "I'm still seeking, though I've learned to hide so well, and I can still remember how it felt" suggest that many of us hide our true selves and our need for love out of fear of rejection. However, the chorus "Ollie, ollie, everybody free!" reminds us to shed our fears and come out of hiding to find the love we desire.


Line by Line Meaning

The longing in my heart has stirred a faded memory
A feeling in my heart reminds me of something from my past


Of my young heart beating fast behind the willow tree
I remember a time when my heart was racing, tucked away out of sight


I was counting out loud, and I only peeked a time or two
I was playing a game of hide and seek, counting out loud and peeking a few times


And the only purpose in my life was finding you
My sole mission in life at that moment was to find the person I was seeking


Singing, "Ollie, ollie, everybody free!"
A phrase said when you find everyone playing hide and seek and they can all come out of hiding


Now was I chasing you or were you chasing me?
I wonder who was the one pursuing the other during the game


We all grow up and put away our childhood games
As we get older, we stop playing childish games


But deep inside I wonder if we really change
I question whether we truly change as we grow older


'Cause I'm still seeking, though I've learned to hide so well
I still have a desire to find what I'm looking for, even though I've become skilled at hiding that desire


And I can still remember how it felt
I still recall the way it felt when I was chasing or being chased


Singing, "Ollie, ollie, everybody free!"
The chorus repeats, acting as a reminder of that childhood game


Will I ever find someone pursuing me?
I wonder if anyone will ever be seeking me out


And then you caught me by surprise
Just when I wasn't expecting it, you came into my life


I found my tears are in your eyes
You understand me and share the same emotions


I hear my heart inside of you
You know me so well and understand my true self


At last I've found somebody who
Finally, I have found someone who can


Can free my soul
Liberate me from my emotional burdens


And love me too
And also love me in return


I can't believe we hide so long and run so well
I can't believe how long we've been hiding from each other and how good we are at it


When all the while we're aching to be caught and held
When all this time we've been craving to be found and embraced


But it's only in surrender that our freedom comes
True liberation only comes when we stop struggling and surrender to our desires


And so I run abandoned to your waiting arms
I let go of my fears and insecurities and run towards you with open arms


Singing "Ollie, ollie, everybody free!"
I sing this phrase once again, this time in the context of finding true love


I belong to you and you belong to me!
I'm yours and you're mine, we belong to each other




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MICHAEL W. SMITH, CHRISTOPHER RICE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Elsa Chapa Mendoza


on Above All

i love it thank you so much god is good !!

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