"Free Four" was the first Pink Floyd song to get significant airplay in the US, and the second (after "Corporal Clegg" from A Saucerful of Secrets) to deal with the death of Eric Fletcher Waters, Roger Waters' father
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Free Four
Pink Floyd Lyrics
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Are the deeds of a man in his prime.
You shuffle in gloom of the sickroom
And talk to yourself as you die.
Life is a short, warm moment
And death is a long cold rest.
You get your chance to try in the twinkling of an eye:
So all aboard for the American tour,
And maybe you'll make it to the top.
And mind how you go, and I can tell you, 'cause I know
You may find it hard to get off.
You are the angel of death
And I am the dead man's son.
And he was buried like a mole in a fox hole.
And everyone is still in the run.
And who is the master of fox hounds?
And who says the hunt has begun?
And who calls the tune in the courtroom?
And who beats the funeral drum?
The memories of a man in his old age
Are the deeds of a man in his prime.
You shuffle in gloom in the sickroom
And talk to yourself till you die.
"Free Four" is a song by Pink Floyd that deals with themes of mortality and the brevity of life. The first stanza, "The memories of a man in his old age, are the deeds of a man in his prime," references the idea that one's current state of mind is heavily influenced by past experiences. The lyrics suggest that as one ages and faces their own mortality, they may find themselves reflecting on the events of their life with a sense of urgency and importance.
The chorus, "Life is a short, warm moment, and death is a long cold rest," speaks to the transience of human existence. The song implies that life is fleeting and we must make the most of it while we can. The line, "You get your chance to try in the twinkling of an eye; eighty years, with luck, or even less," stresses the idea that we only have a brief opportunity to make our mark on the world.
The concluding stanza, "You are the angel of death, and I am the dead man's son," suggests a finality to death and the inevitability of the cycle of life. The last line, "And talk to yourself till you die," highlights the loneliness and isolation that can come with facing one's mortality.
Overall, "Free Four" is a poignant meditation on the human experience and the importance of living life to its fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
The memories of a man in his old age
Recollections of an elderly person
Are the deeds of a man in his prime.
What a person does in their youth is what they remember in old age
You shuffle in gloom of the sickroom
You move around in sadness in a room of someone who is ill
And talk to yourself as you die.
As your life comes to a close, you begin to speak to yourself
Life is a short, warm moment
Life is brief and fleeting
And death is a long cold rest.
Death is the end, a permanent cold sleep
You get your chance to try in the twinkling of an eye:
Opportunities come and go quickly
Eighty years, with luck, or even less.
If you're lucky, you might live up to eighty years, but maybe not
So all aboard for the American tour,
Let's go on an adventure in America together
And maybe you'll make it to the top.
And you may succeed and reach the pinnacle of success
And mind how you go, and I can tell you, 'cause I know
Be careful how you proceed, I know from experience
You may find it hard to get off.
It may be difficult to leave behind the fame and adoration
You are the angel of death
You are the one who brings about death
And I am the dead man's son.
I am the son of the man who has passed away
And he was buried like a mole in a fox hole.
He was interred like an animal, in a small, dug-out hole in the ground
And everyone is still in the run.
And everyone is still trying to escape, to keep living
And who is the master of fox hounds?
Who is in charge of hunting the foxes?
And who says the hunt has begun?
Who gives the signal that the hunt has started?
And who calls the tune in the courtroom?
Who has the power in the courtroom?
And who beats the funeral drum?
Who performs the final rites?
The memories of a man in his old age
Recollections of an elderly person
Are the deeds of a man in his prime.
What a person does in their youth is what they remember in old age
You shuffle in gloom in the sickroom
You move around in sadness in a room of someone who is ill
And talk to yourself till you die.
And keep speaking to yourself until your very end
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ROGER WATERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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