Free Four Lyrics – Pink Floyd – Obscured By Clouds
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Free Four (Waters) 4:15
The memories of a man in his old age
Are the deeds of a man in his prime.
You shuffle in gloom of the sickroom
And talk to yourself as you die.
Life is a short, warm moment
And death is a long cold rest.
You get your chance to try in the twinkling of an eye:
Eighty years, with luck, or even less.
So all aboard for the American tour,
And maybe you’ll make it to the top.
And mind how you go, and I can tell you, ’cause I know
You may find it hard to get off.
You are the angel of death
And I am the dead man’s son.
And he was buried like a mole in a fox hole.
And everyone is still in the run.
And who is the master of fox hounds?
And who says the hunt has begun?
And who calls the tune in the courtroom?
And who beats the funeral drum?
The memories of a man in his old age
Are the deeds of a man in his prime.
You shuffle in gloom in the sickroom
And talk to yourself till you die.
01. Obscured By Clouds
02. When You’re In
03. Burning Bridges
04. Gold It’s In The…
05. Wot’s… Uh The Deal
06. Mudmen
07. Childhood’s End
08. Free Four
09. Stay
10. Absolutely Curtains
About the Song
“Free Four” is a song from Pink Floyd’s 1972 album “Obscured by Clouds.” With its clear-cut lyrics and catchy melody, it’s one of the more straightforward and rhythmically driven songs in the band’s catalog. Written by Roger Waters, the song contemplates mortality and the inevitable nature of death, themes that Waters would explore more deeply in later works.
“Free Four” is one of the more direct and accessible tracks on Pink Floyd’s “Obscured by Clouds,” presenting a frank meditation on life’s impermanence. Roger Waters’ lyrics are forthright, delving into the cycles of life and death against the backdrop of a surprisingly upbeat and folk-rock-infused rhythm.
The song’s title, “Free Four,” refers to the freedom of the fourth generation, with Waters considering the legacies and burdens passed down through his family line. The song juxtaposes lively guitar riffs and a catchy chorus with the weighty subject matter of time’s passage and the approach of death, highlighting the contrast between life’s fleeting moments and its more profound truths.
With its pronounced bass line and distinct drum pattern, “Free Four” has a rhythmic quality that stands apart from the album’s more ambient tracks. It was one of the first Pink Floyd songs to receive significant radio play in the U.S., despite—or perhaps because of—its contemplative lyrics set to an almost jaunty tune.
“Free Four” remains a memorable entry in Pink Floyd’s discography, capturing the band’s ability to pair thoughtful commentary with engaging, melodic rock.
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