Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, Lead vocal by Davy Jones. Musicians … Read Full Bio ↴Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, Lead vocal by Davy Jones. Musicians on track are: Gerry McGee and Louis Shelton (Acoustic guitar), Michael Rubini (Harpsichord), Bonnie Douglas and Paul Shure (Violin), Myra Kestenbuam (Viola), and Fred Seykora (Cello). Issued on the LP-album "The Monkees" on Colgems records.

I Wanna Be Free
The Monkees Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I wanna be free
Like the bluebirds flying by me
Like the waves out on the blue sea
If your love has to tie me
Don't try me, say good-bye
I wanna be free

Don't say you love me, say you like me

But when I need you beside me
Stay close enough to guide me
Confide in me, whoa-oh-oh

I wanna hold your hand
Walk along the sand
Laughing in the sun
Always having fun
Doing all those things
Without any strings to tie me down
I wanna be free

Like the warm September wind, babe
Say you'll always be my friend, babe
We can make it to the end, babe
Again, babe, I've gotta say
I wanna be free

I wanna be free
I wanna be free

Overall Meaning

The Monkees’s "I Wanna Be Free" is a song about the desire for independence and freedom in a romantic relationship. The singer compares his or her desire for freedom to that of the bluebirds’ flight and the waves’ movement in the ocean. He or she implies that if the love of their partner is going to restrain them, then they would rather say goodbye and be free. The singer urges their partner to be upfront about their feelings - if they only like them, they should say so instead of pretending to love them. He or she requests their partner to stay close enough to guide them but to also confide in them. The singer longs for a carefree, uncomplicated life where they can hold hands, walk on the beach, and laugh under the sun without any strings attached.

The song's lyrics carry a deep meaning, and it's relatable for many people who want to move ahead in life without being held back by someone or something. The reference to the "bluebirds flying by me" suggests a person who is free-spirited, independent, and unimpeded in their movement. The singer communicates that he or she needs a partner who will support, guide, and confide in them, but not someone who will hold them back.

Line by Line Meaning

I wanna be free
The singer desires to have complete freedom in his life.

Like the bluebirds flying by me
The singer wishes to be as free as a bird with no restraints holding him back.

Like the waves out on the blue sea
The singer wants to be as free as the ocean waves that are unrestricted and constantly moving.

If your love has to tie me
The artist does not want to be tied down or restricted by a romantic partner's love.

Don't try me, say good-bye
If the artist's partner is not willing to give him complete freedom, he would rather end the relationship.

Don't say you love me, say you like me
The singer is not interested in a romantic partner who will try to control or restrict him with their love.

But when I need you beside me
Despite wanting freedom, the singer still desires companionship from his partner.

Stay close enough to guide me
The artist wants his partner to be there for him and offer support when he needs it, but without trying to control him or restrict his freedom.

Confide in me, whoa-oh-oh
The artist wants his partner to communicate with him honestly and openly, sharing their thoughts and feelings with him.

I wanna hold your hand
The artist desires physical affection and closeness with his partner.

Walk along the sand
The singer wants to share romantic moments with his partner, such as walking on the beach.

Laughing in the sun
The artist desires to experience joy and happiness with his partner, enjoying the simple pleasures of life.

Always having fun
The singer values having fun and enjoying life with his partner.

Doing all those things
The singer wants to share a variety of experiences with his partner.

Without any strings to tie me down
The singer wants to experience these things freely, without any restrictions or constraints placed on him.

Like the warm September wind, babe
The artist wants his freedom to feel as natural and effortless as the wind.

Say you'll always be my friend, babe
The artist wants his partner to value their friendship as much as their romantic relationship.

We can make it to the end, babe
The singer believes that he and his partner can have a long and successful relationship if they both respect each other's freedom.

Again, babe, I've gotta say
The singer is reiterating his desire for freedom and honesty in his romantic relationship.

I wanna be free
The song concludes with the same sentiment as the opening line: the artist wants to be liberated and unrestricted in his life and relationships.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOBBY HART, TOMMY BOYCE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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