With the band Rainbow, Carey appeared on the studio album Rainbow Rising (1976) and on the live albums On Stage (1977) and Live in Germany (1994). Carey performed the keyboard introduction to "Tarot Woman", the first track on the Rainbow Rising album and the keyboard solo on "A Light in the Black", the last cut on the album.
He had a minor hit in the early 1980s with "I Won't Be Home Tonight", and then a bigger hit in 1984 with "A Fine, Fine Day", which reached #22 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and #1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks charts. A follow-up single, "The First Day of Summer", reached #33 on the Hot 100 in July 1984. Both songs are featured on the album, Some Tough City, which hit #60 on the Billboard 200 album chart. Carey opened for Night Ranger on many dates of their 1984 tour in support of this album. His 1985 follow-up album, Blue Highway, did not score a hit.
He also fronted the science-fiction-themed group Planet P Project (initially called just Planet P), which he used as a vehicle for his solo work. Planet P Project released two albums, Planet P (on Geffen Records) in 1983 and Pink World (on MCA Records) in 1984, for which he wrote the lyrics and music, sang the lead vocals, and played most of the instruments. Session performers on lead guitar, saxophones, programming, and drums on some tracks made up the rest of the group. The first album was released on CD in 1992, retitled Planet P Project.
Be Free
Tony Carey Lyrics
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The ones I used to send to you
And what about the promises baby
Where we'd be goin' and what we'd do
And how about the babies
You were gonna have with me
When we gonna stand up and just be
When we gonna stand up and be free
How about those strangers over there
The ones sleeping back to back in the same bed again
(They're) both wishing they could be anywhere else
(They're) both wishing they could start all over again yeah
And how about the lonely people
I'm talking 'bout you and me
When we gonna stand up and just be
When we gonna stand up and be free
It's a long long road to follow though
Your heart will tell you where to go
Baby, I'm still waiting and your so very far away
I'm out here on my island surrounded by the sea
Baby who knows where the time goes
And who knows when we'll ever be free
And what about the winner
The one who leaves you alone for weeks at a time
Your light is growing dimmer baby
And the things you need his money won't buy
And how about the lonely people
I'm talking 'bout you and me
When we gonna stand up and be free
When we gonna stand up and just be
When we gonna stand up and be free
You and me babe
Stand up and be free
Stand up and be free
Talking 'bout you and me
Stand up and be free
The song “Be Free” by Tony Carey is a contemplative reflection on the state of relationships and the human experience. The lyrics speak of lost promises, unfulfilled dreams, and societal pressures that may hinder individuals from living their lives freely. The song opens with a nostalgic reference to roses and promises that the singer had made to his partner. He wonders when they will finally stand up and be free, shedding the societal expectations and pressures that haunt them. The songwriter also highlights the plight of strangers and the lonely people around us, urging them all to stand up and be free as well.
The lyrics of “Be Free” encourage individuals to seek their own paths and follow their hearts even if it means going against the norm. The song’s message is that we should all seek to live our lives on our terms rather than following prescribed scripts. The chorus of the song, which repeats the phrase "When we gonna stand up and be free" emphasizes this message.
One can't help but feel the emotion of seeking freedom from societal pressures in the song "Be Free". The song is an emotional appeal to those who feel trapped by societal norms even as they seek the freedom to never be tied down.
Line by Line Meaning
What about the roses
What happened to the affection you used to show me?
The ones I used to send to you
The flowers that I regularly gifted you with
And what about the promises baby
What ever happened to our plans for the future?
Where we'd be goin' and what we'd do
The places we wanted to go and the things we wanted to accomplish
And how about the babies
What about the children we talked about having together?
You were gonna have with me
The ones that we planned to raise together
When we gonna stand up and just be
When are we going to start living our lives to the fullest?
How about those strangers over there
What about the unhappy couple sitting over there?
The ones sleeping back to back in the same bed again
The two of them sleeping with their backs facing each other
(They're) both wishing they could be anywhere else
Both of them wanting to escape from their current situation
(They're) both wishing they could start all over again yeah
Desiring a chance to wipe the slate clean and start fresh
And how about the lonely people
What about those of us who feel alone?
I'm talking 'bout you and me
I'm referring to us as well
It's a long long road to follow though
The journey we want to embark on is a difficult one
Your heart will tell you where to go
We should follow our hearts to find our path
Baby, I'm still waiting and your so very far away
I'm still waiting for you even though you're far from me
I'm out here on my island surrounded by the sea
I'm alone on my own, isolated from the rest of the world
Baby who knows where the time goes
We don't know where our time on this earth will take us
And who knows when we'll ever be free
We don't know when we will find the freedom that we desire
And what about the winner
What about the one who always gets their way?
The one who leaves you alone for weeks at a time
The one who would abandon us for long periods
Your light is growing dimmer baby
Your spirit is slowly dying
And the things you need his money won't buy
The things you require can't be purchased with money
You and me babe
Both of us, together
Stand up and be free
Break free from everything that's holding you back
Talking 'bout you and me
I'm referring to us, specifically
Stand up and be free
Stand up and seize control of your life
Contributed by Madison D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.