Free World
maccoll kirsty Lyrics
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I thought of you when they closed down the school
And the hospital too
Did they think that you were better?
They were wrong
You had so many friends
They all left you in the end
And I'll see you baby when the clans rise again
Women and children united by a struggle
Going down
You've got to walk into the water
With your sister and your daughter
In this free world
If I wore your shades could I share your point of view?
Could I make you feel better?
Paint a picture, write a letter?
Well I know what you're saying
But I see the things you do
And it's much too dangerous
To get closer to you
And I'll see you baby when the clans rise again
Women and children united by the struggle
Going down
With a pocketful of plastic
Like a dollar on elastic
In this free world
(I wouldn't tell you if I didn't care)
And I'll see you baby when the clans rise again
Women and children united by the struggle
And the ghettoes are full of mercedes benz
And you'd never hurt a friend
Who wouldn't tell you
It's cold and it's going to get colder
You may not get much older
You're much too scared of living
And to die is a reliable exit
So you push it and you test it
With 'thunderbird' and 'rivin'
And I'll see you baby when the clans rise again
Women and children united in the struggle
In this free world baby
Got to take it got to grab it
Got to get it up and shag it
In this free world
Going down
You've got to get into the water
Like a lamb goes to the slaughter
In this free world baby
Going down
With a pocketful of plastic
Like a dollar on elastic
In this free world
(I wouldn't tell you if I didn't care)
The song "Free World" by Kirsty MacColl explores themes related to inequality, social justice, and the individual's personal struggles. It starts with a reference to a school and hospital being closed down, possibly as a result of the lack of resources and funding. The singer then addresses someone who seems to have been abandoned by their friends and community, possibly due to their dangerous habits, such as alcohol or drug abuse. The singer expresses a desire to connect with this person and to understand their perspective, but acknowledges the risk involved.
The chorus of the song, "I'll see you baby when the clans rise again, Women and children united by the struggle, Going down, You've got to walk into the water, With your sister and your daughter, In this free world," suggests a hopeful message of unity and solidarity in the face of adversity. The imagery of walking into the water represents a cleansing, a rebirth, and a renewed sense of determination to fight for a better world.
The lyrics also reflect a sense of resignation towards the inevitability of death, with lines such as "It's cold and it's going to get colder, You may not get much older, You're much too scared of living, And to die is a reliable exit." However, instead of glorifying self-destruction, the singer encourages the person to seize the opportunity to live fully and freely, even if it means pushing their limits.
Overall, the song "Free World" encourages the listener to engage with the challenges of life and society courageously, to seek empathy and connection with others, and to work towards a more just and equitable world.
Line by Line Meaning
I thought of you when they closed down the school
I remembered you when they took away education from us
And the hospital too
And even medical care became inaccessible to us
Did they think that you were better?
Did they believe some of us deserved opportunities more than others?
They were wrong
They were misguided in choosing who deserves better
You had so many friends
You knew so many people
They all left you in the end
They eventually abandoned you
'cause they couldn't stand the patter
Because they couldn't tolerate your words and behavior
And I'll see you baby when the clans rise again
I'll be with you when we come together as a community again
Women and children united by a struggle
Women and children coming together for a common cause
Going down
Descending into chaos
You've got to walk into the water
You have to face the challenges ahead
With your sister and your daughter
With your family by your side
In this free world
In this society that is supposed to be free and equal for all
If I wore your shades could I share your point of view?
If I could see things the way you do, would I understand your perspective?
Could I make you feel better?
Could I lift your spirits and give you hope?
Paint a picture, write a letter?
Express myself creatively to communicate with you
Well I know what you're saying
I hear your words and understand them
But I see the things you do
But I observe your actions
And it's much too dangerous
And it's too risky to get too close to you
To get closer to you
To try to understand you on a deeper level
With a pocketful of plastic
Carrying a lot of money
Like a dollar on elastic
Like money that expands and contracts
In this free world
In this society that is supposed to be free and equal for all
(I wouldn't tell you if I didn't care)
(I'm only telling you because I care about you)
And the ghettoes are full of Mercedes Benz
Even in the poorest areas, there are people flaunting their wealth
And you'd never hurt a friend who wouldn't tell you
You would never intentionally harm someone who is honest with you
It's cold and it's going to get colder
The present is harsh, and the future will be even worse
You may not get much older
You might not live for much longer
You're much too scared of living
You're too afraid to fully experience life
And to die is a reliable exit
Death seems like an easier way out
So you push it and you test it
So you keep tempting fate
With 'thunderbird' and 'rivin'
With dangerous substances like drugs and alcohol
Got to take it got to grab it
We have to seize any opportunities that come our way
Got to get it up and shag it
We have to work hard and put in effort to make the most of our chances
Going down
Descending into chaos
You've got to get into the water
You have to face the challenges ahead
Like a lamb goes to the slaughter
Like going to your own death
In this free world baby
In this society that is supposed to be free and equal for all
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: K. MACCOLL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Matt Stone
Always loved Kirsty in the day. Totally forgot about this song until I played her greatest hits cd in my car. As soon as it started, I went wow. Must have played this song 20 times on the last 24 hours. A great song by a wonderful artist. So sadly missed.
Frank Carmack
I remember when I first heard KITE when it was released. I was blown away by "Free World" and understood it as a reaction to Thatcherism and "greed is good." Little did anyone know how eerily it saw the current world's state of affairs. I miss her now more than ever. Requiem aeternum, Kirsty MacColl.
Alison Freebairn-Smith
One of the greatest records ever recorded. She was one of my musical heroes. Steve Lillywhite did a great job with this record!! :)
Marc Lawrence
Favourite Kirsty song by miles. Johnny Marr with the searing guitar. Pure energy in this song is breath taking. "`Can I borrow your shades, can i share your point of view". Beautiful & edgy - just like Kirsty.
Randallw0rth
Reminds me lyrically of New Model Army, another great band from that era.
PopolBruh826
That's not Johnny Marr lol. It's Pete Glenister. Definitely Marr-influenced playing though so I can see why you thought it was him.
GMC
When I first heard this I thought it sounded very much like the Smiths
Bikewithlove
Kirsty was a genius. I loved this album from day one. The older I get; especially in these times, she gets smarter and smarter. It's like she predicted the future.
Arcturas the Moo Cow
She was perfect. You only get one artist like Kirsty in your lifetime, if you are lucky.
chuckpadgettmusic
I’ve been lucky to run across another singer-songwriter that I hold in as high regard as I do Kirsty. Check out Polly Paulusma and see if you don’t agree.