Free Love
Morphine Lyrics


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Free love
Oh, what is it?
Free love
Oh, I can't stand it, it's a panic

Normally love costs a bundle and plenty of trouble
But you fooled me, you fooled me
You ran away to Italy, ahh
You fooled me
Yea, you fooled me, you fooled me
You ran away to Italy, ahh
With your psychiatrist
Who's now a scientologist
I should have foreseen this
Business with your psychiatrist

Free love
Don't bank on it, baby
Don't bank on it
Don't bank on it
Don't bank on it
Don't bank on it, baby
Free love

So the next time
You offer someone your love
You know it
You better run
Run for shelter
Run for help
Run for the nearest downtown lounge in the afternoon
Run for the cynical arms of a stranger
Run for the open arms of an unknown tomorrow
Because love, love, love is expensive, haa

Free love
Don't bank on it, baby
Don't bank on it
Don't bank on it
Don't bank on it
Don't bank on it, baby

Free love
Don't bank on it, baby
Don't bank on it
Don't bank on it
Don't bank on it




Don't bank on it, baby
Free love

Overall Meaning

In this song, Morphine is exploring the concept of free love. They seem to be taking a satirical stance on the idea, suggesting that it is not all it seems to be. The refrain of "free love, don't bank on it baby" is repeated throughout the song, indicating that love comes at a cost, and that there is a price to pay for it. This is reinforced in the lyrics, "Normally love costs a bundle and plenty of trouble, but you fooled me, you ran away to Italy."


The singer's resentment toward the idea of free love is heightened with the mention of the ex-partner's psychiatrist who is now a Scientologist. This seems to suggest that it was this relationship that led to the end of the singer's own relationship. The sarcastic tone of the lyrics, "I should have foreseen this business with your psychiatrist," further emphasizes the singer's cynicism towards the whole idea.


In the outro, the singer advises anyone who is being offered free love to run the other way. The lyrics almost take on a cautionary tone - "run for shelter, run for help, run for the nearest downtown lounge." The song ends with the repetition of the refrain, "free love, don't bank on it baby," emphasizing that love is something that has to be worked for and earned.


Line by Line Meaning

Free love
Questioning the concept of free love and what it actually means


Oh, what is it?
Expressing confusion about what free love is


Oh, I can't stand it, it's a panic
Disliking the idea of free love, finding it overwhelming


Normally love costs a bundle and plenty of trouble
Acknowledging that love typically comes with a cost, both financially and emotionally


But you fooled me, you fooled me
Feeling tricked or deceived in a relationship


You ran away to Italy, ahh
Referring to a specific incident in the relationship where their partner left for Italy


With your psychiatrist
Identifying the person their partner left with, who was once their therapist


Who's now a scientologist
Pointing out that their partner's former therapist has joined the Church of Scientology


I should have foreseen this
Regretting not being able to anticipate the situation


Business with your psychiatrist
Implying that there was an inappropriate relationship between their partner and therapist


Don't bank on it, baby
Warning against relying on the idea of free love


So the next time
Giving advice for future relationships


You offer someone your love
Encouraging the listener to be cautious when giving their love to someone


You better run
Using hyperbole to emphasize the importance of being careful


Run for shelter
Suggesting that love can be dangerous and unpredictable


Run for help
Encouraging the listener to seek the support of others


Run for the nearest downtown lounge in the afternoon
Offering a humorous suggestion for escaping from a troubled relationship


Run for the cynical arms of a stranger
Suggesting that it's better to be with someone who is honest and upfront about their intentions


Run for the open arms of an unknown tomorrow
Encouraging the listener to embrace the future and take risks


Because love, love, love is expensive, haa
Reiterating the idea that love comes at a cost


Free love
Returning to the idea of free love and dismissing it as unrealistic


Don't bank on it, baby
Repeating the warning against expecting too much from the idea of free love




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Mark Sandman

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

Levi Carvalho

The decadence in this song is so compelling, it's unique

But you fooled me, you fooled me
You ran away to Italy, ahh
You fooled me
Yea, you fooled me, you fooled me
You ran away to Italy, ahh
With your psychiatrist
Who's now a scientologist
I should have foreseen this
Business with your psychiatrist



All comments from YouTube:

Android MNSKY

Before I had heard this,I wouldn't ever say that a song called "Free Love",by a band that's labeled as avant rock/jazz could actually be this heavy. I mean even when I first discovered Morphine couple of months ago,I thought "Ok this is amazing and kind of trippy",but I wouldn't ever thought that I will hear something this heavy from a band that I knew from tracks like French Fries with Pepper,Like Swimming or Rope on Fire. A band that doesn't even use electric guitar but has saxophone instead. Well...they truly were ahead of their time and I feel like their still ahead of our time tbh

sweetmonkeylove1

Was blessed to see these guys at the Commodore Ballroom.

-komodo-

Amazing! I would've loved to see them live, but I was only 10 when Sandman passed. RIP

sheepkillindog

Totally jelly

Theodora Emanuella

This sax is killer!

Tre Noise

i find myself constantly “chasing the dragon”, looking for bands that can strangle & mix up the hell out of of a sax with a heavy rhythm section - and besides maybe Laddio Bolocko & a few others, find myself constantly disappointed with atonal “jazzcore” consisting of little substance & depth.
Morphine did it almost effortlessly & with vast superiority in this one juggernaut of a song - years later still sending the hairs on the back of my neck rigid with never ending chills.
what a crushing exercise in pain. Sheer genius.

Phil Renaud

Sabbath with a Sax.....pure genius.

Chris Mcgarry

Nobody puts out an evil bass vibe like that guy ---space bass untouchable bad ass -**! Drumer chris

Chris Mcgarry

Lm

Wirdo TV

I love the sax!!!

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