It reached #2 in the UK, twenty-six places higher than George Michael's original and has not been included on any studio albums since. The music video shows Williams dancing in the sea and in a field, celebrating his separation from his former group. The single had sold 280,000 copies by the end of 1996, being certified Silver by the BPI.
Freedom
Robbie Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I will not give you up
Gotta have some faith in the sound
It's the one good thing that I've got
I won't let you down
So please don't give me up
Because I would really, really love to stick around, stick around
Heaven knows I was such a young boy
I didn't know what I wanted to be
I was every little hungry schoolgirl's pride and joy
And I guess it was enough for me
To win the race? A prettier face
Brand new clothes and a big fat place
On your rock and roll TV
But today the way I play the game has got to change
Oh yeah
And now I'm gonna get me so happy
I think there's something you should know
I think it's time I told you so
There's something deep inside of me
There's someone else I've got to be
Take back your picture in a frame
Take back your singing in the rain
I just hope you understand
Somehow the clothes do not make the man
All we have to do now
Is take these lies and make them true somehow
All we have to see
Is that I don't belong to you
And you don't belong to me yeah yeah
[Chorus]
(Freedom) I won't let you down
(Freedom) I will not give you up
(Freedom) You've gotta have some faith in the sound
(You've gotta give for what you take) it's the one good thing that I've got
(Freedom) I won't let you down
(Freedom) So please don't give me up
(Freedom) Because I would really really love to stick around, stick around
(You've gotta give for what you take)
Heaven knows we sure had some fun boy
What a kick just my buddies and me
(What a kick just my buddies and me)
We won the race
Got out of the place
I went back home got a brand new face
For the boys on M-T-V (boys on M-T-V)
But today the way I play the game has got to change
Oh yeah
And now I'm gonna get myself happy
I think there's something you should know
I think it's time I stopped the show
There's something deep inside of me
There's someone I forgot to be
Take back your picture in a frame
Don't think that I'll be back again
I just hope you understand
Sometimes the clothes do not make the man
All we have to do now
Is take these lies and make them true somehow
All we have to see
Is that I don't belong to you
And you don't belong to me yeah yeah
(Freedom) I won't let you down
(Freedom) I will not give you up
(Freedom) You've gotta have some faith in the sound
(You've gotta give for what you take) it's the one good thing that I've got
(Freedom) I won't let you down
(Freedom) So please don't give me up
(Freedom) Because I would really really love to stick around,stick around
(You've gotta give for what you take)
Well it looks like the road to heaven
But it feels like the road to hell
And when you shake your ass
They notice fast
Some mistakes were built to last
That's what you get
That's what you get
I just hope you understand sometimes the clothes do not make theman
All we have to see now
Is that I don't belong to you
And you don't belong to me yeah yeah
[Chorus]
The song "Freedom" by Robbie Williams is an upbeat pop track about self-discovery and finding true happiness. The lyrics are heavily influenced by Williams' personal struggles and his decision to leave his former boy band, Take That, to pursue a solo career. The first verse expresses Williams' commitment to his music and his determination to stay true to himself despite any obstacles he may face. He assures the listener that he will not let them down and urges them to have faith in his sound, which he sees as the one good thing he has.
The second verse recalls Williams' early days as a member of Take That, when he was a young and naive boy who didn't know what he wanted to be. Despite that, he was adored by schoolgirls and hailed as a star. However, as he grew up, he realized that he needed to change his approach to the music industry and to his own life. The chorus repeats the mantra of "freedom" and encourages the listener to give as much as they take.
The third verse speaks of the fun Williams had with his friends, and how they ultimately moved on from their early success to forge their own paths. He tells his former fans and followers that he has changed and grown as a person, and that he does not belong to them anymore. Despite this, he still hopes to stick around and continue making music that is true to himself.
Line by Line Meaning
I won't let you down
I am committed to not disappointing you
I will not give you up
I am dedicated to not abandoning you
Gotta have some faith in the sound
You must believe in what I am saying and doing
It's the one good thing that I've got
I may not have much, but my words and actions are genuine
So please don't give me up
Please do not leave or give up on me
Because I would really, really love to stick around, stick around
I want to continue being a part of your life
Heaven knows I was such a young boy
I was once very naive and inexperienced
I didn't know what I wanted to be
I didn't have a clear direction or purpose in life
I was every little hungry schoolgirl's pride and joy
I was adored by many and had a lot of attention from women
And I guess it was enough for me
I was content with the temporary pleasure and success I had
To win the race? A prettier face
I thought the only way to succeed was to look good and outdo others
Brand new clothes and a big fat place
Material possessions were important to me and made me feel significant
On your rock and roll TV
I sought fame and recognition through music and television
But today the way I play the game has got to change
My mindset and approach to life must shift in order to achieve true happiness
And now I'm gonna get me so happy
I am now dedicated to finding true contentment and joy
I think there's something you should know
I have something important to confess to you
I think it's time I told you so
I believe it is the appropriate moment to reveal my truth
There's something deep inside of me
I have a hidden desire or aspect of myself
There's someone else I've got to be
I must be true to myself and not pretend to be someone I am not
Take back your picture in a frame
Return the memories and sentimental objects we shared
Take back your singing in the rain
Don't hold on to the past and our prior experiences together
I just hope you understand
I want you to realize my motives and feelings
Somehow the clothes do not make the man
Material possessions do not define who I am as a person
All we have to do now
Our current objective is
Is take these lies and make them true somehow
We must turn deception and falsehood into reality
Is that I don't belong to you
I am my own person and cannot be claimed or owned by anyone else
And you don't belong to me yeah yeah
You are your own person and cannot be claimed or owned by me either
(Freedom) I won't let you down
My commitment to you is to not fail you
(Freedom) You've gotta have some faith in the sound
Believe in me and trust my actions
(You've gotta give for what you take) it's the one good thing that I've got
Receiving comes with giving, and my genuine words and actions are something to be valued
Because I would really really love to stick around, stick around
I truly want to be a part of your life and stay in it
Well it looks like the road to heaven
The path I am on often appears positive and desirable
But it feels like the road to hell
The path I am on can actually be very negative and destructive
And when you shake your ass
When you dance provocatively
They notice fast
Others take notice quickly
Some mistakes were built to last
Some errors or poor choices have lasting consequences
That's what you get
That is the result of your actions
I just hope you understand sometimes the clothes do not make the man
I hope you realize that someone's value isn't tied to their belongings
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Guy Chambers, Robert Peter Williams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brian Watson
Honestly, it sounds like Robbie really tried hard, which is commendable.
George Michael was just another level.
Dilshad Sadiq
You could feel that Robbie sang this with a lot of respect for George Michael. Love Robbie for being such a wonderful human being and a fellow artist dedicating this amazing song to another legend who I wish lived through. Music lives on miss Michael, respect for Robbie 💕💕
Arlenne Kato
I don't like any cover of GM but this one is amazing, only Robbie can do it 💕✨
johnny wires
even now,after 4 ears my eyes well up when i hear GM music.Robbie Williams you showed what a great human being you are with this tribute.Must admit you nailed it sir.Wish you were still here with us George.
Osvaldo Jose Echeverria Collante
RIP George Michael, The Best. Respect!!.
Aman Juleuov
No cell phones, just handclaps and best memories of seeing such legend...
DUA LlPA
Well you have to take another look at 1:53 - 1:55 cuz everybody was filming with their phones lol 🤷🏻♀️
FantuzPop
It's 2018, not 1995 lol
Black Raine
Robbie is freaking awesome!!
newie
really? that was awful