Free Four

"Free Four"
"Free Four"
	Cover of the 1972 Italy single
Single by Pink Floyd
from the album Obscured by Clouds
B-side	"Stay"; "The Gold It's in The...";
Released	10 July 1972
Recorded	February–March 1972; Strawberry Studios, France;
Genre	Folk rock
Length	4:15
Label	Harvest
Songwriter(s)	Roger Waters
Producer(s)	Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd singles chronology

"Free Four" is a song by the English rock band Pink Floyd, written by Roger Waters and released on the band's 1972 album Obscured by Clouds.^[2]^[3]

Recording and lyrics

The song begins with a rock and roll count-in, but in this case Pink Floyd decided to play with words and record, "One, Two, Free Four!" The song deals with reflection of one's life, the "evils" of the record industry, and also makes a reference to Roger Waters' father who was killed in World War 2.^[4] The music begins in an upbeat manner, while the lyrics tell a very cynical and somewhat depressing story. "Free Four" was released as a single in the U.S. in 1972 but did not chart. The song charted at number 29 in the Netherlands and 35 in Wallonia (Belgium).

Cashbox reviewed the single saying "Would you believe a happy song about death?"^[5] Record World said that it "is not only musically excellent but also accessible and commercial enough to hit as a single."^[6]

Track listing

American release
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Free Four"	3:30
2.	"Stay"	3:58
Total length:		7:28

Italian release
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Free Four"	4:07
2.	"The Gold It's in The..."	3:01
Total length:		7:08

German release
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Free Four"	4:08
2.	"The Gold It's in The..."	3:01
Total length:		7:09

Personnel

David Gilmour – acoustic and electric guitars, handclapping
Nick Mason – drums, tambourine, handclapping
Roger Waters – double-tracked lead vocals, backing vocals, bass
Richard Wright – EMS VCS 3

References

^ Wawzenek, Bryan (4 September 2018). "All 167 Pink Floyd Songs Ranked Worst to Best". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
^ Strong, Martin C. (2004). The Great Rock Discography (7th ed.). Edinburgh: Canongate Books. p. 1177. ISBN 1-84195-551-5.
^ Mabbett, Andy (1995). The Complete Guide to the Music of Pink Floyd. London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-7119-4301-X.
^ Manning, Toby (2006). "The Albums". The Rough Guide to Pink Floyd (1st ed.). London: Rough Guides. p. 165. ISBN 1-84353-575-0.
^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cashbox. 15 July 1972. p. 20. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 15 July 1972. p. 1. Retrieved 30 March 2023.

https://www.ultratop.be/fr/song/9bfe/Pink-Floyd-Free-Four https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Pink+Floyd&titel=Free+Four&cat=s

External links

AMG song review

[1] Wawzenek, Bryan (4 September 2018). "All 167 Pink Floyd Songs Ranked Worst to Best". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 28 February 2021.

[fXSLG-2] Strong, Martin C. (2004). The Great Rock Discography (7th ed.). Edinburgh: Canongate Books. p. 1177. ISBN 1-84195-551-5.

[cmOUW-3] Mabbett, Andy (1995). The Complete Guide to the Music of Pink Floyd. London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-7119-4301-X.

[toby165-4] Manning, Toby (2006). "The Albums". The Rough Guide to Pink Floyd (1st ed.). London: Rough Guides. p. 165. ISBN 1-84353-575-0.

[5] "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cashbox. 15 July 1972. p. 20. Retrieved 11 December 2021.

[rw-6] "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 15 July 1972. p. 1. Retrieved 30 March 2023.

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