I Wanna Be Free
Monkees (The) Lyrics

I wanna be free
The singer desires freedom and independence.

Like the bluebirds flying by me
The singer wants freedom like the bluebirds that soar around him or her.

Like the waves out on the blue sea
The singer further describes how he or she wants freedom like the vast ocean waves.

If your love has to tie me
The artist does not want to be tied down by the love of another person.

Don't try me, say good-bye
The artist would rather someone say goodbye than try to keep him or her tied down in a relationship.

Don't say you love me, say you like me
The singer does not want to feel suffocated by someone's love, but rather would prefer a more casual feeling expressed through 'liking.'

But when I need you beside me
Despite the desire for freedom, the singer still wants someone to be there for support when he or she needs it.

Stay close enough to guide me
The artist wants someone to stay near enough so that they can offer guidance and support when necessary.

Confide in me, whoa-oh-oh
The artist wants someone to be able to confide in him or her, indicating a level of trust and openness.

I wanna hold your hand
The artist desires physical affection and closeness with another person.

Walk along the sand
The singer desires to experience activities and experiences with another person, such as a romantic beach walk.

Laughing in the sun
The artist wants to enjoy life and have fun with another person.

Always having fun
The singer wants to constantly enjoy himself or herself with another person.

Doing all those things
The singer wants to experience all of life's joys and adventures with someone he or she cares about.

Without any strings to tie me down
The singer wants to have these experiences and this love without feeling trapped or obligated to the other person.

Like the warm September wind, babe
The artist again compares the desire for freedom to a natural force, in this case, the wind.

Say you'll always be my friend, babe
The artist wants someone to be more than just a romantic partner, but also a true and lifelong friend.

We can make it to the end, babe
The singer wants to commit to a long-term relationship and sees a future with this person.

Again, babe, I've gotta say
The singer emphasizes once more his or her desire for freedom and independence.

I wanna be free
The song concludes with the repetition of the opening line emphasizing the importance of freedom to the artist.