After their freshman release on Uprising Records, 'Compassion Fills the Void', they released three albums for Solid State Records in 1999, 2001, and 2003 respectively. In addition, they set forth on several U.S. and European tours in the early to mid-00s. Gaining momentum, they found some widespread notice for their spunky cover of "Get This Party Started" as a part of the 'Punk Goes Pop' album series.
Stretch Arm Strong then signed to We Put Out Records, a label on East West (itself a branch of the Warner Music Group), having fulfilled their deal with Solid State. Their next LP, 'Free At Last', was recorded in April-May 2005 with James Paul Wisner (producer of albums by Further Seems Forever and Underoath) and released in fall of the same year. Facing various difficulties, the band wound down their live performances and called it quits in 2010. In 2022 they reformed.
Set Free
Stretch Arm Strong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want to set you free
I want to bare your burden
Why won't you let me?
Is it so hard to let me in?
It takes a spark for the fire to begin
I will always love you
I will stand by your side
Please don't close your eyes
There are so many lies
Please don't close your ears
There are so many fears
No one made you step out of line
It's just a gradual digression over time
Choking and gasping for a breath of hope
Reaching for something to cling to at the end of your rope
Wipe the tears from your face
You and I will win this race
This is my promise to you
Frustration sets in
When will the healing begin?
Set free
The song "Set Free" by Stretch Arm Strong is about wanting to help someone who is struggling, but being met with resistance from that person. The song asks why the person won't let the singer help them, and encourages them to open up and trust. The image of "bare[ing] your burden" implies that the person is carrying some heavy emotional weight, and the singer wants to help them release it. They promise to always love and support the person, and reassure them that they will win the battle they are facing. The repeated phrase "set free" is a call to release the burdens the person is carrying and to find hope and healing.
The song captures the frustration and helplessness that can come with wanting to help someone who doesn't want to be helped. The lines "Please don't close your eyes / There are so many lies / Please don't close your ears / There are so many fears" suggest that the person is shutting out the world and not wanting to face the reality of their situation. The gradual digression mentioned in the song suggests that the person didn't end up in this state overnight, but rather through a series of small steps that led them down a path of struggle and pain. The song offers hope and encouragement that the person can turn things around and find healing.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to liberate you
I want to free you from any mental or emotional burden that you have been carrying around
I want to set you free
I want to help you escape from any negative feelings, emotions, or experiences that are holding you back
I want to bare your burden
I want to take on any emotional or mental weight that you have been carrying on your shoulders
Why won't you let me?
What is preventing you from sharing your troubles with me and allowing me to help you?
Is it so hard to let me in?
Is it difficult for you to open up and share your problems with me?
It takes a spark for the fire to begin
All it takes is a small sign of hope to start the process of recovery and healing
I will always love you
No matter what happens, I will always care for you
I will stand by your side
I will be there to support you through any obstacles that you encounter in your life
A special place in my heart is where you'll reside
You will always hold a cherished spot in my heart that no one else can ever take
Please don't close your eyes
Don't give up on finding a way out of your pain and difficulties
There are so many lies
There may be many falsehoods that you need to overcome in order to find the truth
Please don't close your ears
Don't ignore the help and guidance that others are trying to offer you
There are so many fears
You may be dealing with many different sources of anxiety and apprehension that are making it difficult to move forward
No one made you step out of line
No one forced you to become overwhelmed or disheartened
It's just a gradual digression over time
Over a long period of time, small setbacks or disappointments may have led to your current state of mind
Choking and gasping for a breath of hope
Feeling suffocated and in desperate need of any glimmer of optimism or positivity
Reaching for something to cling to at the end of your rope
Searching for any source of support or guidance to help you get through your hardships
Wipe the tears from your face
It's time to be strong and try to overcome your obstacles
You and I will win this race
Together, we can overcome whatever challenges we need to face and emerge victorious
This is my promise to you
I vow that I will always be here for you and support you in any way that I can
Frustration sets in
Feeling disappointed and upset that things are not progressing as rapidly or smoothly as you had hoped
When will the healing begin?
Wondering when you will start to feel better and come out of your negative cycle of emotions
Set free
You can finally start to let go of your troubles and pain and move forward with a sense of freedom and liberation
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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