“Free” by Florence + the Machine

When people think celebrities are sheltered from ordinary human problems such as anxiety, lead singer of band Florence + The Machine, Florence Welch proves that idea wrong with the song, “Free”. Welch, not a stranger to writing songs about her personal struggles, wrote this song portraying her battle with anxiety.

The Lyrics

She starts the song wondering if she ought to be “medicated” to feel better as her anxiety tends to take control of her and she does her best to hide it. This is not a struggle that she deals with occasionally but multiple times a day. We don’t know the reasons behind her anxiety, but it can definitely be a draining experience going through that feeling like one has lost control over their own mind.

Of course, Welch has tried to help herself by “push(ing) it back” but to no avail. In fact, it probably gets worse every time she does so. Knowing very well she has this problem, Welch isn’t ashamed of sharing it with people. According to her, the struggle is even made worse when they say she’s “too sensitive”. So what does she do? She puts in a great deal of effort to help herself get out of this predicament via heading to the hospital where she can get checked by a medical professional.

Music evidently has been a tool for many to relieve stress, and Welch is no different. In fact, the only time she finds herself completely “free” is when music is present and she’s dancing to the beat.

The bridge is by far, the most interesting part of the song to me. She questions life as it is – if one is always going to suffer ongoing pain and “still keep singing”, which we can deduce means to put on a happy face to the world despite the chaos one could be going through.

Release Date

“Free” is a single from Florence + The Machine’s fifth album, which goes by the title “Dance Fever”. This single, which came out on 20^th April, 2022 via Polydor Records, was preceded by two other singles from the album. They are:

1.  “King”
2. “My Love”
3. “Mermaids”

FYI: Another very relevant track from this album is a song titled “Heaven Is Here“.

Credits

Welsh co-wrote “Free” with American singer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer, Jack Antonoff.

Antonoff is also noted famously as a lead singer with Bleachers and, guitarist and drummer with Fun. He has worked with the likes of Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey and Carly Rae Jepsen.

My General Thoughts on “Free”

Music makes one feel less alone in the world, and that’s what “Free” has given to many fans around the globe.

I think that with this song, Welch and her crew have given a voice to everyone battling with anxiety.