Are you curious about that timeless Rastafar… Read Full Bio ↴(from www.muzic.net.nz)
Are you curious about that timeless Rastafarian sound coming from your radio speakers? Have you wondered where this group from behind the shadows has been hiding all these years, well it’s never to late to discover the distinctive reggae hit making sound of Sweet & Irie.
Sweet & Irie is the creation of singer/ song writer Edward Ru (Lead Vocals) the vibrant front man that is leading a new wave of reggae music from the South Pacific.
Born in South Auckland and raised in Otara, before moving back to his home land of the Cook Islands as a teenager, the young musician was witness to a tough upbringing that in later years would be the inspiration that fuelled his authentic song writing abilities.
“Like any other child raised in that environment, we grew up the hard way, I watched my brother grow up to be a patched member in a gang and I thought I didn’t want the same things for my kids, so through the music I can change that path and work to be an inspiration and a role model to my family” explains Ed.
Although it appears that Sweet & Irie burst on the local music scene with the top 10 hit 'Feels Like Magic' alongside Horsemen Family and their guest appearance on local favourite 'Take It Out South' with Brotha D, the various members of the band have been refining their craft since late 2000 when Ed decided to pick up the Ukulele.
“I decided I wanted to learn the Ukulele and when I picked it up it was a natural progression for me, from there I was inspired to learn other instruments and pursue a career in music” says Ed.
Ed was so inspired with the thought of putting a band together he enrolled in a tertiary course to learn the fundamentals of all instruments, Bass & Rhythm guitar, drums, keyboards and vocal training. After successfully completing the course he went on to do papers in contemporary music, graduating in 2005.
“As soon as the course was finished I set my sights on uplifting the nation with my irie sound, and Sweet & Irie was born on that day” laughs Ed.
With a powerfully distinctive voice and a passion for live performance Sweet & Irie wasted no time in establishing a name for the band, doing locals gigs and opening support dates, however Ed thought there had to be a better way to get the attention of the people and hopefully a few record labels along the way and constructed a plan to get his music heard.
In 2006 using penetrating lyrics that touched on a subject that had began to effect the wider community of Aotearoa Sweet & Irie independently recorded and released 'Ban the Burn' an ante P song that cut home with a number of people culminating with the self funded and directed video getting played on local music TV station C4.
Follwing the attention generated from 'Ban The Burn' Sweet & Irie had a chance meeting with Dawn Raid CEO Brotha D at a family Day Concert in West Auckland, the band exchanged numbers and Brotha D expressed interest in the band and said when you’re ready come and see me and we’ll get you in the studio.
Fortunately for both parties Sweet & Irie took that advice on board and 1 year later in June of 2007 they dropped off their demo to the Dawn Raid HQ, Brotha D remembering the powerful vocal ability of the lead singer invited the band to feature on his upcoming album 'Element Of Surprise', the first song recorded was 'Take It Out South' which went on to be the lead single off the album and gained significant radio & video play all over the country firmly cementing the name Sweet & Irie in the minds of local fans.
With a certified local anthem under their belt Dawn Raid wasted no time in signing the band to the chart topping label and begin work on their debut album 'Sweet & Irie'.
Scheduled for release in 2008, the debut album features powerfully distinctive & passionate vocals from lead singer Ed Ru, with lyrics influenced by the Irie legacy of the legendary Bob Marley. Original songs like 'Uncle Bob' & 'Sweet & Irie' are timeless Rastafarian tunes that speak to the foundation of reggae while new songs like 'Mama, Don’t Cry' & 'My Girl' catapult the sound into a new dimension ready for sound systems and radio speakers everywhere.
'Sweet & Irie' the new sound of Reggae in the South Pacific”
Set Me Free
Sweet & Irie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feel just the same
Heads on the wall
Maybe you're just playing games
Set me free
Mauled by her hound
Hangin' around
Is this for real
Set me free
Ah set me free
Ah set me free, from you
Taken by force
By you of course
Far from my bed
I know I'd rather be dead
Set me free
Ah set me free
Ah set me free, from you
Fire in my brain
Burn me insane
Making your mark
Don't leave me here in the dark
Set me free
Call me a saint
That's what I ain't
Inside my head
Maybe I'd feel better dead
Set me free
Ah set me free
Ah set me free, from you
The lyrics of "Set Me Free" by Sweet & Irie are quite dark and deep, dealing with themes of bondage, abuse, and mental torture. The song starts with the lines "Gagged, ball and chained; Feel just the same; Heads on the wall; Maybe you're just playing games," which depict the feeling of being restricted and suffocated. The next lines explain how the singer is under the control of a woman who has a hound as her pet, which adds to the eeriness of the situation. The chorus of the song simply pleads to be set free from this oppressive environment.
The second verse of the song talks about how the singer was taken by force by the woman, which reflects the idea of being trapped against one's will. The line "Far from my bed, I know I'd rather be dead," illustrates the desperation and hopelessness of the situation. The third verse talks about the mental torture that the singer is experiencing, with the line "Fire in my brain, burn me insane," conveying the intense emotional pain. The final lines of the chorus reveal that the singer is not a saint, but rather someone who is broken and struggling to cope with the situation.
Overall, "Set Me Free" is a powerful and intense song that explores themes of bondage, abuse, and mental captivity. The lyrics are full of metaphors and symbolism that depict the suffocating feeling of being trapped and the desperate need for freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
Gagged, ball and chained
Feeling trapped and unable to speak freely, like being bound and silenced.
Feel just the same
The experience of being gagged and restrained gives the same feelings of being trapped.
Heads on the wall
The feeling of being trapped in a difficult situation and banging your head against a wall, struggling to escape.
Maybe you're just playing games
Doubts about the sincerity of the person responsible for the situation, wondering if they are making things difficult intentionally.
Set me free
A hope for freedom, for release from the situation of feeling trapped and oppressed.
Mauled by her hound
Being attacked or hurt by someone else's aggression, forced to suffer from their actions.
Hangin' around
Stuck in the same place, unable to move or escape from a difficult situation.
Is this for real
Feeling unsure or doubtful about the reality of the situation and whether it will ever come to an end.
I don't know when I'll be found
Uncertainty about the ability to escape or find a way out, feeling lost and alone in a difficult situation.
Ah set me free
A repeated plea for freedom, expressing a deep desire to escape the current difficulties.
Taken by force
Being forced or coerced into something against one's will, feeling trapped and oppressed.
By you of course
Feeling like the situation is being controlled or imposed by a particular person, making it even more difficult to escape.
Far from my bed
Being physically removed from a place of comfort and safety, feeling vulnerable and exposed.
I know I'd rather be dead
Feeling like the situation is so unbearable that death would be preferable to continuing to suffer.
Fire in my brain
Feeling intense and uncontrollable emotions, like the brain is on fire with anger, fear, or anxiety.
Burn me insane
Being driven to the brink of madness by the intensity of the situation and the emotions involved.
Making your mark
Feeling like the other person is intentionally causing harm or leaving a lasting negative impact on one's life.
Don't leave me here in the dark
Feeling abandoned or ignored by others, without help or support when it is needed most.
Call me a saint
Being praised or respected for one's actions or behavior, even when it is not entirely deserved or genuine.
That's what I ain't
Feeling like the praise or respect is unwarranted, and that one's real character or actions are being overlooked or dismissed.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, DEAN REYNOLDS PUBLISHING
Written by: GAVIN CHRISTOPHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind