Mike Peters first rose to prominence in the mid-80s as lead singer of the W… Read Full Bio ↴Mike Peters first rose to prominence in the mid-80s as lead singer of the Welsh band The Alarm, leaving that group in 1991 to begin a solo career. After the infamous Brixton academy gig, he retreated to a small church in North Wales to write new material for his solo career. Over a year later he emerged, refreshed, and contacted The Alarm's fan club. He then went on tour and funded his own fan club, The MPO (Mike Peters organization), he hasn't looked back since. In 1992 he held The Gathering, a weekend long gig held in his hometown Rhyl. The Gathering is now in it's 14th year in Llandudno (a bigger venue!). His first album ‘Breathe’ was an underground success. It was then that he was diagnosed with Non- Hodgkin’s Lymphatic Cancer. He kept this a secret from his fans and carried on with the tour. After the tour, he went back to his doctors and all were amazed to find his cancer had gone into recession. Fuelled by inspiration he wrote and recorded 'Regeneration’, a song full of vitality.
A second album 'Feel Free' was released in 1996.
Mike has played with many bands over the years including 'Coloursound' and 'Dead Men Walking' but he could never find his place. In 2000 he reformed 'The Alarm' with the 'Sisters of Mercy' and 'The Mission's Craig Adams; 'Gene loves Jezebel's James Stevenson and 'The Stiff Little Fingers' Steve Grantley. They have released 2 albums, 'In the Poppyfields' and 'Under Attack'. Unfortunately, in October last year, Mike was re-diagnosed with cancer, but announced in July 2006 the double good news that he is now in complete remission and that he and his wife, Jules, are expecting their second baby due to arrive in January 2007l

Feel Free
Mike Peters Lyrics

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I'm walking down 5th Avenue's smokescreen stratosphere
Yellow cabs look like poppy fields
Spray can thoughts are scattered through my head
I check my pockets my moneys there credit cards everything
I'm feeling paranoid I look like sh*t, carrying all the things that could get me killed I'm in a mess, I'm going down, I'm in the worst shape ever found Feel free to listen, feel free to stare
Feel free to watch, as if I'm not there
Feel free to listen, feel free to stare
Feel free to watch

Feel Free
Feel Free A woman gives birth to a baby today a man looks on amazed
People drive by and curse the traffic
They've suspended the space program to feed the rich to the poor 7 47 flies across the sky, leaves a trail behind, of broken hearts unspoken dreams
Auto erotica going as you're coming I'm in a mess, I'm going down, I'm in the worst shape ever found Feel free to listen, feel free to stare
Feel free to watch, as if I'm not there
Feel free to listen, feel free to stare
Feel free to watch
Feel Free
Feel Free I'll take it pure, I'll take it black, I'll take it white
I'll take it neat, injected or inhaled
I'll take it free, I'll take it anyway you see
I'll take it real, I'll take it infected or diseased Feel free to listen, feel free to stare
Feel free to watch, as if I'm not there
Feel free to listen, feel free to stare
Feel free to watch
Feel Free
Feel Free Hey now Interstates and highways can't get me out of here

Reality's not how you look at it
Reality is how you see it

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Mike Peters's song "Feel Free" lament the chaotic and paranoid state of modern life, exploring the overwhelming sensory overload of the big city and the unfulfilled promises of a society that seems to have lost its direction. The singer is lost in the midst of the steam and noise of Fifth Avenue, struggling to keep his bearings as he feels besieged by threatening elements of the urban environment. Despite the apparent wealth and comfort of his material possessions (money, credit cards, etc.), the singer finds himself in an existential crisis, wondering if he has any purpose or meaning in a world that seems to be spinning out of control. The refrain of "Feel Free" may be interpreted both as a plea for validation and attention ("feel free to listen, feel free to stare") and as a bitter irony, as if the singer is surrendering himself to the chaotic forces of the world and no longer cares what other people think.

The verses of the song touch on a range of themes and social issues, including the birth of new life (a symbol of hope and renewal), the frustration of traffic and pollution, the inequality between the rich and the poor, the fading of the space program (a sign of lost ambitions), and the numbing effects of addiction or self-destruction. The image of the yellow cabs looking like "poppy fields" is particularly striking, as it suggests the hypnotic allure of drugs and the blurring of the line between reality and fantasy. The line "Auto erotica going as you're coming" is cryptic but suggestive of the sexual and hedonistic impulses that drive people to seek pleasure and escape from their troubles. Ultimately, the song seems to be a plea for empathy and understanding, a recognition that everyone is struggling to find their way in a world that can be both exhilarating and terrifying.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm walking down 5th Avenue's smokescreen stratosphere
I'm walking down 5th Avenue, a busy and polluted street, with thoughts of scattered in my head.

Yellow cabs look like poppy fields
The yellow cabs on the street look like poppy fields due to the heavy traffic and smog around them.

Spray can thoughts are scattered through my head
My mind is filled with overwhelming thoughts that are hard to focus on, like the random tags and images on a graffiti-covered wall.

I check my pockets, my money's there, credit cards everything
I check my pockets to make sure I still have my money and credit cards with me before I lose my belongings in the hectic surroundings.

I'm feeling paranoid, I look like sh*t, carrying all the things that could get me killed
I'm feeling nervous and scared while carrying valuable objects that make me an of target danger in this busy, crime-filled location.

I'm in a mess, I'm going down, I'm in the worst shape ever found
I'm in a bad state of mind and feel like I'm close to the edge of a breakdown.

Feel free to listen, feel free to stare, feel free to watch, as if I'm not there
People can look at me and observe me without any restrictions, but they don't care about my problems or are aware of my existence.

A woman gives birth to a baby today, a man looks on amazed
Amidst all the chaos and negativity, a woman gives birth to a baby, which brings feelings of amazement and hope to those who witness it.

People drive by and curse the traffic, they've suspended the space program to feed the rich to the poor
People complain about the traffic, or injustices in the world, instead of acting on them or finding solutions. They've stopped exploring space to solve more immediate problems.

747 flies across the sky, leaves a trail behind, of broken hearts, unspoken dreams
The trail behind the plane refers to the suffering and pain people face from unspoken dreams and heartaches in their lives.

Auto erotica going as you're coming
A play on words suggesting simultaneous travel in cars and sexual experiences.

I'll take it pure, I'll take it black, I'll take it white, I'll take it neat, injected or inhaled, I'll take it free, I'll take it anyway you see, I'll take it real, I'll take it infected or diseased
The artist is expressing their willingness to take any sort of drug, in any way possible or with any of its possible harms.

Hey now, interstates and highways can't get me out of here, reality's not how you look at it, reality is how you see it
The singer comes to terms with how they perceive reality, and how a new perspective will be the only way to overcome their situation.

Writer(s): Michael Leslie Peters

Contributed by Madison F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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