For the love of rock
Vol VI, Issue 7 – Free me (01 Oct 2021)
www.intheloveofrock.com
Name of song– Free me
Band- Uriah Heep
Writer– Ken Hensley
Album-Innocent Victim
Release year– 1977
Chart records–
New Zealand Chart Records-1 (1978)
Free me
“Free me” is one of the most successful songs of the British heavy metal Band-Uriah Heep(A fictional character from Charles Dickens novel-David Copperfield). Uriah Heep is represented as one of the pioneers of British heavy metal scene of the seventies. Although a heavy metal band, Uriah Heep’s”Free me” does not represent a typical heavy metal song. However, it’s free flowing smooth melody with a tinge of rock optimizes with all the rockers, whether hard or soft.
The song was included in Uriah Heep’s11th studio album “Innocent victim” in 1977. The album was second with John Lewton, replacement of David Byron as vocalist. Written and composed by Ken Hensley, “Free me” is no doubt the catchiest number in the album, and perhaps the most successful too.
The song opens with a melodious electric pick lead and acoustic rhythm and John Lawton’s strong vocal drives the song into frenzy. The song has a nice combination of acoustic and electric guitar and perfect harmony of backing vocals. The short but sweet lead guitar of Mick Box lifts the song into a different height. The listener friendly easy lyrics is another striking part of the song. Barely 3 and a half minute long, the song has all the essentials of a typical road friendly traveler’s swinging rock ballad.
The song describes the life of a rider who has to go on his own. The journey involves love which is not able to be takenalong because of individual differences. And the rider does not want to give up everything for love and determines to move ahead on his own. However, the rider wants to be free of the lover’s magical spell. The tragic story of the song is carried as a sweet memory which motivatesthe rider further ahead. It shows how the dark side of life may be turned into bright one with a positively charged perception. The somehow manly nature of the song blends well with the anyone who carries his/her life along.
The song had reached the number one position in New Zealand, and helped make the “Innocent Victim” most successful Uriah Heep album in Germany till date.
No doubt, one of the most well-known songs of British heavy metal band Uriah Heep, “Free me” definitely deserves a prime spot in a rocker’s collection and would remain in the attics of the rocker’s memories forever.
Happy listening!!
Resources- Wikipedia.org, allmusic.com
Free me
Free me, free me
Why won’t you free me
Free me from your spell
Come on and free me
Why won’t you free me
Come on and free me
Free me from your spell
Why should I worry that you might not love
You’re not the only love that I’ve ever had
Your sweet memory will always comfort me
So why should I be feeling sad
As far as I can tell
You knew so well
I was always at the end of the line
I’ve loved you as much
As any man can
But not enough to make you mine
So long easy rider
I know I’ll miss you for a while
But sooner or later
I know that I’ll forget you
And I’ll tell you baby
Free me
Come on and free me
Why won’t you free me
Free me from your spell
Oh baby, free me
Why won’t you free me
Come on and free me
Free me from your spell
We let a good love die
We let it pass us by
Though you tried to keep me hanging on
But with all this doubt
It’ll never work out
So tomorrow I’ll be travelling on
And saying
So long easy rider
I know I’ll miss you for a while
But sooner or later
I know that I’ll forget you
And I’m beggin’ baby
Free me
Oh yeah, come on and free me
Why won’t you free me
Free me from your spell
Oh yeah, come on and free me
I’m on my knees, baby
Free me
Why won’t you free me
Free me from your spell
Free me
Oh babe, come on
Free me
Come on and free me babe
Why won’t you free me
Oh, Free me from your spell
Lyrics link – https://genius.com/Uriah-heep-free-me-lyrics
Video link – https://youtu.be/HAiBMuJC6Hk