Song lyrics interpretation and meaning analysis

¶ … Song's Lyrics

In terms of commercial success, Destiny's Child was one of the most popular female R&B groups of the late 1990's (Destiny's pp). In 1990, original members Beyonce Knowles and LaTavia Roberson met at an audition in Houston, Texas when they were only nine years old, and began developing an act with the help of Knowles' father (Destiny's pp). In 1992, Beyonce's cousin, Kelendria Rowland joined the group and in 1993, LeToya Luckett joined (Destiny's pp). The group finally landed a recording contract with Columbia in 1997, and made their recorded debut on the 1997's "Killing Time," a song included on the soundtrack of the movie "Men in Black" (Destiny's pp). Then their self-titled debut albums was released in 1998, and by the year 2000, the group was the biggest female R&B group on the scene, and the members indisputable superstars (Destiny's pp).

In November 2004, the group released the album Destiny Fulfilled, which includes the song "Free," a very powerful song, the title of which is used to symbolize many things. The term "free" is used to describe a woman's choice to leave a relationship when her partner is ungrateful and no longer puts her best interests ahead of his own, such as in the lines, "telling lies...I stayed and pacified...While I kept denying the truth" (Free pp). The term is also refers to a woman's need to be "free" to express her emotions through her words, as with the lines, "Finally I don't care...I'm going to keep it real with you," meaning she is no longer going to hide the truth, but is finally going to express herself (Free pp).

The chorus reads, "Ain't no feeling like being free, When your mind's made up, And your hearts in the right place, Ain't no feeling like being free, When you've done all you could...Ain't no feeling like being free, I'm like an eagle set free, And finally I'm looking out for me" (Free pp). The chorus demonstrates how this woman feels about getting out of her relationship. She's expressing how freedom feels, how good it feels to finally stand up for oneself and move on in life. This woman has decided to put the past behind her, including this relationship. She has reached her limit with being used and abused by her lover. In fact, one of the lines reads, "I'm tired of that happening," meaning she has heard his lies and excuses until she cannot bear to hear another word from his mouth (Free pp).