Seth Swirsky has written hit songs for dozens of artists, ranging from Rufus Wainwright (“Instant Pleasure”) to Al Green to Tina Turner, Taylor Dayne (“Tell it to My Heart”) among many others. (He’s also written three bestselling books about baseball and made a documentary playing in film festivals currently called “Beatles Stories”).
As a solo artist, his first album – Instant Pleasure – won for Best Pop Album at the 2005 L.A. Music Awards. His follow-up, Watercolor Day, won Best Pop Song (the title track) at the 2010 Hollywood Music and Media Awards.
Ruekberg’s indie credentials are rock solid: He spent the ’90s as writer and singer for Minneapolis-based pop heroes Rex Daisy, who recorded a CD for Geffen Records with producer Paul Fox. He also wrote the soundtrack for the indie cult film classic “Dummy”, which starred Adrien Brody, Milla Jovovich, and Vera Farmiga. Mike’s music has also been heard in other movies and on TV, as well as in football stadiums and blaring from audio greeting cards!
The two met in 2005 and hit it off immediately; both of them admiring each other’s songs, and sharing a taste for vintage pop.
So, they got together and started writing and recording songs. They found that Swirsky’s tuneful optimism balanced nicely with Ruekberg’s pessimistic but passionate style. Their first album “She’s About to Cross My Mind”, in 2007, was the result of those sessions.
After winning many “year-end” polls for Album of the Year with “She’s About to Cross My Mind” and being dubbed by the influential music Magazine SHINDIG! as the new “Power Pop Princes”, they are back with their second album of original material called “As Far As Yesterday Goes”, released on June 1, 2011.
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Free
The Red Button Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Free, you've never been so free
Oleanders, tea and tulips,
Arts and leisure, rainy daydreams
Free, you've never been so free.
You're putting on your makeup
You're going out for air
And I'm not even there.
I'm dying of your beauty
Our love is such a crime
I cannot set you free now
Cause you were never mine.
Chorus
I wanted to believe you
I wanted to be one
But everything word you told me
Was such a loaded gun.
Free, you've never been so free.
Though I cry for you tonight
I can see you from my window
As you go Free.
Oleander, tea and tulips
Arts and leisure, rainy daydreams
Free, you've never been so free
You've never been so free
You've never been so free.
The song "Free" by The Red Button is a melancholic ballad about a lost love. The chorus starts out with the repeated phrase "Free, you've never been so free." The chorus illustrates the idea that the subject of the song, the singer's lover, is finally free from a relationship that has been holding her back. The lyrics in the chorus suggest that she is now able to enjoy the simple pleasures in life, such as oleanders, tea, and tulips, the arts and leisure, and rainy daydreams. The singer directly addresses the subject in the chorus, suggesting that he is yearning for her and wants her to know that he understands her newfound freedom.
The verses focus on the singer's feelings of loss and regret. In the first verse, the singer says that he is dying of the subject's beauty, but their love has become a crime. It is not clear what has made their love a crime, but it is possible that they were not meant to be together for some reason, such as their social status or a pre-existing relationship. The singer continues to express his sadness in the second verse, saying that he wanted to believe in the subject and their love but that every word she spoke was "such a loaded gun." He implies that she was deceitful or manipulative in some way, and that has led to the end of their relationship.
Overall, "Free" is a poignant song about the pain of lost love and the idea of finally being free from a relationship that has been holding you back.
Line by Line Meaning
Free, you've never been so free
You're experiencing ultimate liberation and you're enjoying it to the fullest.
Oleanders, tea and tulips,
You're exposed to the beautiful things around you, enjoying both fragrant flowers and relaxing tea time.
Arts and leisure, rainy daydreams
You find inspiration in artistic endeavors and you rather prefer to stay inside during rainy days to indulge yourself in daylong fantasies.
Free, you've never been so free.
You are so free that it is worth repeating again and again.
You're putting on your makeup
You are getting ready for your new found freedom and enjoying taking care of yourself.
You're going out for air
You're trying to understand yourself better and find some fresh air to breathe and bring clarity to your thoughts.
Tonight's the night we break up
You're over an old relationship and ready to move on with your freedom.
And I'm not even there.
I'm not essential in your newfound freedom or independence.
I'm dying of your beauty
I'm overwhelmed by your beauty and find it hard to let go.
Our love is such a crime
Our love was not accepted by society and we felt guilty about it.
I cannot set you free now
I love you too much to let you go despite realizing that you do not belong to me.
Cause you were never mine.
You were never my possession and I have no right to hold on to you.
I wanted to believe you
I wished to trust you but you proved me wrong.
I wanted to be one
I hoped to have a deep connection with you and be one with you.
But every word you told me
Your words seemed full of hidden meanings and intentions.
Was such a loaded gun.
Your words were dangerous to my feelings and my heart.
Free, you've never been so free.
You are now so free that this line is worth repeating again and again.
Though I cry for you tonight
I am still emotional and heartbroken despite your freedom.
I can see you from my window
I can watch your movements from afar, knowing that you do not need me anymore.
As you go Free.
You're moving on with your freedom, and I am left behind.
Oleander, tea and tulips
You enjoy the beauty of nature and find comfort and relaxation in it.
Arts and leisure, rainy daydreams
You find inspiration in artistic pursuits and indulge in daydreams to escape reality.
Free, you've never been so free
You feel a sense of freedom that is unparalleled and one that cannot be taken away.
You've never been so free
Your freedom is worth repeating and acknowledging one more time.
You've never been so free.
This newly founded sense of freedom is something to treasure and enjoy for as long as possible.
Contributed by Annabelle P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mike Rivers
Brilliant song. Also check out my fav 'Can't Stop Thinkin' About Her'. 'Ooh Girl' really good as well. Obviously Beatles influenced but the sheer quality of these songs leaves me speechless. Thank you guys.
Rick Clare
Fantastic!
rosanna navarro
i hope i could get a shiny cd of this