Like much of the album, the song has heavy jazz influences, and was a major hit, peaking at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100, number one on the US Album Rock Tracks chart for three weeks, number 17 on the US R&B chart, and number 26 on the UK Singles Chart.
Live performances of the song are featured on the DVD edition of Bring On the Night and on the CD and DVD editions of ...All This Time.
A portion of the song was later used for Sting's 1987 hit "We'll Be Together" from ...Nothing Like the Sun.
The song was also performed at The Brits in February 1995 with M People. He duetted on the song with the band's lead singer, Heather Small and this track was given the dance treatment by the band who were also backed by a 100-strong Gospel Choir at the Earls Court Arena during the annual music awards show.
Sting said that he wrote the song as an "antidote" to the Police's 1983 song "Every Breath You Take." The song was also lampooned by the Dead Milkmen in the song "If You Love Somebody, Set Them on Fire," from their 1990 album Metaphysical Graffiti.
If You Love Somebody Set Them Free
Sting Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Free free, set them free
Free free, set them free
Free free, set them free
If you need somebody, call my name
If you want someone, you can do the same
If you want to keep something precious
If you want to hold onto your possession
Don't even think about me
If you love somebody
If you love someone
If you love somebody
If you love someone set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
If it's a mirror you want, just look into my eyes
Or a whipping boy, someone to despise
Or a prisoner in the dark
Tied up in chains you just can't see
Or a beast in a gilded cage
That's all some people ever want to be
If you love somebody
If you love someone
If you love somebody
If you love someone set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
You can't control an independent heart
Can't tear the one you love apart
Forever conditioned to believe that we can't live
We can't live here and be happy with less
So many riches, so many souls
Everything we see that we want to possess
If you need somebody, call my name
If you want someone, you can, you can do, you can do the same
If you want to keep something precious
You got to lock it up and throw away the key
Wanna hold onto your possession
Don't even think about me
If you love somebody
If you love someone
If you love somebody
If you love someone set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
(Free, free, set them free)
(Free, free, set them free)
(Free, free, set them free)
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
Sting's "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" is a song about giving people freedom in love. In the song, Sting advises that if you love someone, you should set them free. He argues that holding onto people too tightly can cause bitterness and that true love requires letting go. The repeated line, "Free, free, set them free," emphasizes the central message of the song.
The first verse suggests that if someone needs somebody, they can call for help. If they want to keep something precious, they can lock it up, but the moment they hold onto their possession, it becomes a source of conflict. It highlights how the same logic applies to holding on to love. If you want to hold onto your significant other, you have to understand that controlling them will deprive them of their independence, and that can possibly lead to bitter consequences.
In the second verse, Sting says that he would help anyone who needs someone but not at the cost of taking away their freedom. He goes on to compare some people to prisoners who do not know they are held captive by a gilded cage. The metaphorical approach in this verse is that some people are content with being a boisterous display, which doesn't do much for their growth as individuals, making them prisoners of their life.
Overall, Sting identifies himself as someone who would be there for a person in need of support, but he emphasizes the importance of individual freedom in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Free free, set them free
Reminding listeners multiple times to set someone free
If you need somebody, call my name
Offering to be there for someone if they need help
If you want someone, you can do the same
Encouraging others to reach out to people they are interested in
If you want to keep something precious
You got to lock it up and throw away the key
If you want to hold onto your possession
Don't even think about me
If you want to keep something/someone important to you, you can't keep them locked up or they will never be truly yours. Implying that love should be given freely, without possession or control.
If it's a mirror you want, just look into my eyes
Or a whipping boy, someone to despise
Or a prisoner in the dark
Tied up in chains you just can't see
Or a beast in a gilded cage
That's all some people ever want to be
Some people may want a relationship without love and freedom, where they can control and manipulate the other person to their own liking. Implies that love and freedom are essential components of a healthy relationship.
You can't control an independent heart
Can't tear the one you love apart
Forever conditioned to believe that we can't live
We can't live here and be happy with less
So many riches, so many souls
Everything we see that we want to possess
Love cannot and should not be controlled or manipulated. It is natural to want more but it won't necessarily make us happy. Suggests that we should value relationships over material possessions.
Set them free
Repeating the message of the song one last time
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Gordon Sumner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@PScooter63
An older post mentioned overlays. This was a pretty intricate video production, if you scrutinize it carefully.
Think about it... everyone had to be filmed separately, against a green screen (except for the Kenny Kirkland, the keyboardist, who appears to be the only one on the real set). The others were uniquely composited into each shot:
* Sting - radiates "heat waves" whenever he sings, they fade when he takes a breath. Notice the ripples alter the view of whomever/whatever is behind him.
* Brandford Marsalis (sax) - transparent when not playing.
* Daryl Jones (bass) - monochromatic while playing (starting about 0:16).
* Dolette McDonald and Janice Pendarvis (vocals/tambourine) - varying frame rates, time-freezes and time-jumps.
* Omar Hakim (drums) - aggessively green-screened (so that the chrome of his set "bleeds" into the background unnaturally, along with the rug tassels), and there's a subtle vibration applied to the camera shooting him.
Every time they changed camera angles, the video's director had to plan the spatial arrangement... who is in front of/behind who? Not to mention continuity between shots.
Really eye-catching at the time.
@terencebrownlee202
Oh my...
If you love somebody
If you love someone
If you love somebody
If you love someone set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
Set them free
(Free, free, set them free)
i haven't heard this song in over 25 years. My Dad loved this song. He played it over and over.
I have had this video/song on repeat for over 1 hour. I can't turn it off.
This I do believe has to be one of the best collaborated songs ever assembled.
I really can't describe this sound. It's Soulful, Jazzy, Bluesy, Rocky, It's an outstanding record. (That's what we called it back in the day). lol-lol-lol
Look at that Bass player....He thumb slappin them strings and walking the dog.
The keyboardist, Oh my, just listen at him. His sound hold's it all together.
Drummer is stank slappin them skins.
Please tell me yall hear them horns.
Even the cymbals make a really nice mark.
Then, then, then STING all on top of it. WHEW!!!
This record is so well put together.
Just watch the video. It's breathtaking!!!
@tbee1638
The backup singers are EVERYTHING ❤
@TimONeillCMH
2:48!
@freezing71
100 percent!
@user-sq4ex9wf5x
I thought so too!!!I can't keep from watching them !! EVERYTHING!!!
@deathbygrinning
Killer line-up that made beautiful music together! Amazing musicianship.
@empoweredselfishnesstv4102
Still listening in 2023.
I just lost my dad and my sister eight months apart. This song is timely for me.
I set my dad and sister free to soar!🙏🏾❤
@220773
So soar you two! 😙
@TMANN-jo1ps
Sorry about both of your losses.
@azzz4708
@@TMANN-jo1psCondolences on such major losses. 🙏
@eulissbenoit816
May they rest in God my friend