Released: 2022
Rock anthems are powerful creatures; they have the ability to encapsulate entire spectrums of human emotion in just a few stanzas. “Free” by Florence + The Machine is no exception, serving as a cathartic ode to the struggles with anxiety and the brief, luminous moments of liberation found in music and dance. Frontwoman Florence Welch, with her ethereal voice, captures the relentless tug-of-war between feeling overwhelmingly confined by one’s own mind and the ephemeral release found in artistic expression.
The song kicks off with a candid admission of Welch’s internal turmoil, pondering aloud whether being medicated would dull the sharp edges of her emotions. The lyrics “Sometimes, I wonder if I should be medicated / If I would feel better just lightly sedated” plunge us into the visceral reality of someone grappling with their mental health. This isn’t just rock rebellion of the old school; it’s vulnerability, wrapped in a melody. The repetition of being “picked up” and “put down” alludes to the unpredictable highs and lows that accompany anxiety, feeling chewed up and spit out by one’s own psyche.
There’s a moment of reprieve in the chorus, where music becomes Welch’s salvation. “But I hear the music, I feel the beat / And for a moment, when I’m dancing, I am free.” Here, the song transforms into an anthem for anyone who’s ever found solace in the thumping bass of a drum or the strum of a guitar. It speaks to the universal truth in rock and beyond: sometimes, losing yourself in music is the only way to find peace, however fleeting it may be.
The bridge of the song invokes a heavy metaphor, comparing the singer’s struggles to Christ on the cross. This imagery might feel grandiose to some, yet it perfectly encapsulates the magnitude of internal suffering and the human quest for purpose in pain. “Is this how it is? Is this how it’s always been? / To exist in the face of suffering and death / And somehow still keep singing?” is a powerful reflection on the enduring spirit of humanity and artists alike. Through music, Welch confronts her personal demons, offering them up in a raw, unfiltered plea for release.
In wrapping up, “Free” by Florence + The Machine doesn’t just rock the boat, it attempts to steer it through the stormy waters of mental health, landing on the shores of freedom through music. It’s a reminder that rock, at its core, is about confronting the darkness and finding a flicker of light in the noise. Florence Welch, through her soaring vocals and brutally honest lyrics, invites us to embrace our battles, to dance through the pain, and, for a moment, to be truly free.
