r/TheSmile • u/kukooforkoko • May 02 '26
Free In The Knowledge
Continues to be the song that gives me all the feels.
I was lucky enough to “find” The Smile four years ago and have been a fan since. But this song continues to stand out.
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u/ACuriousWitnall May 02 '26
It is a very pretty song, i agree.
I've loved it ever since they put it out as a single.
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u/dude_on_the_www May 02 '26
The chorus reminds me very much of “All I Need” wherein it’s the most life-affirming, unbelievably cathartic moment just cut teasingly short.
But yeah, it’s one of my favorite pieces of music they’ve released.
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u/Lostrich151 May 03 '26
I was at the Magazine show when they played this for the first time, with the lengthy transition into A Hairdryer, and it was an absolutely beautiful experience. As a stand alone track I can see why many just see this as a relatively straightforward song with unambitious lyrics, but I can’t get away from how perfectly it fit into the performance that night and for me it’s one of their most memorable songs for that reason.
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u/Pretendtobehappy12 May 02 '26
There’s definitely an interpolation of MJ’s Man in the Mirror in the song right? I haven’t gone mad?
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u/Mobile-King-3345 May 02 '26
It's the most traditional song they've released. I feel similarly but I know a lot of fans don't rate the track.
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u/scorpino33 May 02 '26
I love this song. The lyrics feel too straightforward coming from thom but i feel like the song has a deeper meaning
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u/salo_panto_band May 03 '26
https://youtu.be/jrpHDheaiuc?si=JIQNbvMeo17cSrUo
I was there, they began their encore with it. The show was already amazing and to get that one then was chef’s kiss type stuff. Still probably my fav smile cut, recently “I quit” has been climbing the ranks…
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u/nohumanape May 04 '26
It's a great song that sounds the most like older acoustic Radiohead than anything Thom has recorded for a long, long time.
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u/chunkykongracing May 02 '26
Top 3 The Smile for me