Set You Free

Album: Thickfreakness (2002)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Along with most of the album, this track was recorded the basement of drummer Patrick Carney's old house in Akron, Ohio.
  • This track is the lead single from The Black Keys second studio album. It's a straightforward plea to a love interest to leave her current man, who treats her wrong and probably cheats ("You don't know he's door-to-door"). The singer wants her to walk out the door so that he can set her free. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Paco - St. Paul, MN
  • This was used in the 2003 comedy School of Rock, starring Jack Black, and in the 2009 comedy I Love You, Man, starring Paul Rudd and Jason Segel.
  • After passing on several lucrative licensing deals for fear of looking like sell-outs, the duo eventually licensed this for a Nissan ad in an attempt to boost their fan base.

    "It's helped us immensely," Black Keys lead singer Dan Auerbach told NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross. "Before 'Tighten Up' [from Brothers], we'd never had a real song regularly played on rock radio. We didn't have that support, and getting these songs in commercials was almost like having your song on the radio."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple PilotsSongwriter Interviews

Stone Temple Pilots bass player Robert DeLeo names the songs that have most connected with fans and tells the stories behind tracks from their Tiny Music album.

Carl Sturken

Carl SturkenSongwriter Interviews

Hitmaker Carl Sturken on writing and producing for Rihanna, 'N Sync, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Donny Osmond, Shakira and Karyn White.

British Invasion

British InvasionFact or Fiction

Go beyond The Beatles to see what you know about the British Invasion.

Carol Kaye

Carol KayeSongwriter Interviews

A top session musician, Carol played on hundreds of hits by The Beach Boys, The Monkees, Frank Sinatra and many others.

80s Video Director Jay Dubin

80s Video Director Jay DubinSong Writing

Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.

Kiss

KissFact or Fiction

Kiss is the subject of many outlandish rumors - some of which happen to be true. See if you can spot the fakes.