Dave Matthews Band – Break Free

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  General Comment:I feel like this song is loaded with lust and desire. Sounds like he really wants to have and keep her but knows she's going to "break free" at some point. Like she's at a point in her life where she's unbound to paths that anything could happen to her. And I get the impression that it's also about the intensity between two people when the chemistry is just mind blowing.

  Flag blueberryhearton July 07, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:The girl knows she's sexy: "She says 'I make you wanna climb right out yourself'";
  the guy wants her: "I'd love to get some of that, girl".
  She won't give it to him. They both know better. That's why, "I drink your poison if you fill the cup". Like, if she's up for it, then he us but he's not going to cross the line. They both know they can't. Maybe they're in different relationships but the attraction is strong. It's kind of like, "I won't tell if you won't tell" type of thing.
  
  This song reminds me of sex and lust. However, I do see the connections with the drugs and the suicide. But I like the sex interpretation better. ;)

  Flag trn3ngoon September 03, 2009   Link

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    trn2ngo you are very close. For all of you wishing to know what this song is really about... The guy in this song fell hard for a girl that was not his wife. The love between these two flowed freely and effortlessly, they would talk about all sorts of things and he would make her laugh so hard, head back, and carefree. She fell deeply for him too but refused to cross the line with him and commit adultery even though the love between them was powerful and impossible to ignore. It sometimes seemed like a game to him because she gave him small tastes of her affection and love but would never completely give in because of her beliefs. It drove him crazy and the "poison" refers to how maddening it was for him. (Anyone notice the glass of kyrptonite (poison that makes a strong man weak) that the girl serves him up in the Funny the Way It Is video?) The girl was spiritual (a bit religious) and she wouldn't cross the line and ruin a marriage and a family (Lying in the Hands of God: "save your sermons for someone whose afraid to love" and Squirm for that matter where he is telling her to "forget what you believe" and listen to her desires). Her strong feelings and desire for him eventually drove her to dramatically cut it off in order to end the tempation, telling him it was over for good and never to call or contact her again ("she goes down so hard she might never come back" and in lying in the hands of god he asks, "why would you, cut the wings off a butterfly"), breaking both their hearts. She moved across the country to get as far away from him and the situation as possible hence "break free" and the line: "she don't need anyone, she don't need me". The sad thing is she always loved him and always will. Maybe he knows that so he keeps singing about it...

    Flag snjon July 10, 2011  
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  General Comment:This is about longing for someone who may not feel the same.

  Flag thebanddmbon December 17, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:When I first started reading the lyrics, to me, the first verse and the chorus sounded like he was describing a drug.
  
  She says “I make you wanna climb right out yourself”
  (It'll be a greaaat high)
  But have to give up your life
  (but it will ruin your life)
  like heroin or something.
  
  On 7.8.06, Dave added some lyrics-
  "yeah she don't need anyone, no
  she's gonna break free"
  (this sounds like an addict saying you know "i don't need help, i can do it myself"
  
  and the repeated "She's gonna break free"
  sounds like she's gonna break free from her habbit.
  
  I know none of it fits together, nor is it probably what Dave was meaning at all, but it's what it sounded like to me and I thought it would be a great use of words to describe that situation.

  Flag machine_on December 24, 2007   Link

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    Being a recovering drug addict, i can see how this would relate to the desire and use of drugs. That was the only thing I could think of when i listened to the song for the first and 2nd........and every other time...

    Flag Joesiteson December 10, 2008  
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  General Comment:I don't think this song has any hidden religious or sexual meaning behind it. I can really relate to it though and it reminds me a lot of the themes of "crush" and "fool to think". To me it is about falling for someone who may or may not feel the same as you, but you're so wrapped up in the person that you feel like you would do whatever it takes to win them over.

  Flag dmb2step317on July 27, 2007   Link

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  General Comment:This song is obviously about him and his wife. He was full of lust and thats all he thought about when he asked her to marry him and he wasnt thinking that he was giving up his life for this woman.

  Flag DMBest41on May 28, 2007   Link

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  General Comment:tydeus, the songs that i have commented on reflects daves interpretation of an absolute idea from the spirits reflection as it is witnessed in the finite physical circumstances. (it is mostly vague in symbolic description as is the new testament is viewed the same way).
  Its not rehashed religious diatribe but it can be seen as deep spirit content. it doesnt box any idea in but expresses all of the highest values man can view his circumstances as well as nature in.
  
  in this world no one will love another to their death..thats altruistic and bold but rarely accomplished. yet all humans will die for Gods love. thats inevitable.
  
  I simply make a viewpoint of the absolute origin of the idea..its daves individual perspective of how he describes what he is sensing.
  
  in this song "breaking free" is being released of a habit. released from believing a lie.
  during the experience or intervention someone will take the anger and wrath and negative consequences as the habit or belief structure is spent and a better nature eventually replaces it.
  
  this is spirit warfare with a physical reaction. you could call it an exorcism if you like
  
  it carries a whiplash of a physical consequence with the victim becoming the sacrifice as he is seen rescuing the loved one that is inflicted.
  
  why do you think all that sacrificial lamb stuff is taked about so much and made so strong a subject.
  
  mankind becomes that sacrificial lamb to his neighbor..
  thats the absolute idea...

  Flag Me2on November 06, 2006   Link

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    hey i know you posted this a while ago, but i felt i should post this just so if even you dont read this, people who see your messages are not dissuaided:
    
    Dave Matthews is a self proclaimed Atheist, there are many videos of him saying it, he doesnt hide it. He uses gods name many times in songs as a metaphore for "good" and the devil as a metaphore for "evil", but he does not beleive in god.
    
    He does infact say that each persons beleifs are there own and he does not say that he is always right, for instance the best line proving this is in his once played song "I wont give it away" (youtube.com/…) he says:
    
    "I just wish i could beleive, that god is watching over me, but when im dead im dead, aint no heaven or hell waiting for me" this shows that he wishes he could beleive in god and just assume that everything will all be alright at the end of the day, but he is logical and cannot beleive this because it is foolish to him.
    
    all im saying is that he obviously shows he is not against others beleiveing in god, but to say that all these songs of his are about god is not just rediculous but Factually flat out wrong.

    Flag rhymereasonon August 19, 2010  
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  General Comment:Ok, I already posted on this song once but I was talking about this song to a friend who gave me their opinion, which I thought was interesting because it never crossed my mind. The song can be interpreted as suicide, she's gonna break free. This song could be seen as almost a Romeo & Juliet situation. Several lines can be interpreted this way. Dave says he'll give up everything to have her love, which could be life. He talks about climbing out of yourself, possibly your soul after death. "You might have to give up your life or I'll give up everything to have your love." The woman he's singing about is crying, which can be seen as she is depressed, and Dave is telling her he'll follow her. There's a few other lines that support this, "she goes down so hard she might never come back."
  
  This isn't necessarily my opinion, but an interpretation I thought was interesting. Me2, do you really believe every song is about God? You need to step outside of that box you're in every once in a while.

  Flag tydeuson November 02, 2006   Link

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  General Comment:breakfree is about releasing a wrong choice within yourself.
  
  when we ask God to forgive us of a wrong..we recognize both sides of the issue as well as the fact we cannot solve the problem ourself. we must let go of the problem, giving it to God to resolve...and breakfree of its hold on our life.
  
  breakfree is about two persons. one having the problem and the other the answer. the problem must be released and set free..or the person must break free of its power of hold.
  
  you could call it an intervention where one persons cup contains the poison and another persons cup contains the cure and their sharing drinks together.
  
  this song relates to crush and crash where two come together and exchange whats within themselves

  Flag Me2on October 11, 2006   Link

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  General Comment:i saw the debut of this song at darien lake this summer...absolutely killer. musically its awsome with the jam at the end and the sweet catchy sax line...the lyrics are great what are you talking about...i think it could possibly be about dave being tempted with an affair...its obviously sexual "i want to get inside you" "she goes down so hard"...and he refers to the girl as poison and that to have her he has to give up his life hence the affair...just my two cents but a killer song

  Flag remebr2thngson September 24, 2006   Link

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