Free Four

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"Free Four"
Single by Pink Floyd
from the album Obscured by Clouds
B-side(s)	Stay (US single) The Gold It's In The... (Italian single)
Released	June 3, 1972 (UK) June 15, 1972 (US) July 10, 1972 (US single) ???, 1972 (Italian single)
Format	7"
Recorded	February, March 1972 Château d'Hérouville, Pontoise, France
Genre	Progressive rock
Length	4:16 3:30 (US single)
Label	Harvest
Writer(s)	Roger Waters
Producer(s)	Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd singles chronology
One of These Days (1971)	Free Four (1972)	Money (1973)
Obscured by Clouds Track Listing
Childhood's End (7)	Free Four (8)	Stay (9)

"Free Four" is a Pink Floyd song written by Roger Waters, with Waters also taking on lead vocals, from the album Obscured by Clouds. It takes its name from the traditional rock and roll countdown at the start of the song "one, two, three, four..." The song deals with themes that would become standard for Roger in albums following this, notably his father's death and the "evils" of the record industry. There are also references to the tragic lifestyle that became Syd Barrett...'So all aboard for the American Tour... and maybe you'll make it to the top....and mind how ya go and I can tell ya 'cos I know, ya may find it hard to get off." In the sense that he overloaded himself on LSD in the attempt to keep it 'real'. Although the song is mellow during the lyrical portions, the guitar solo surprisingly launches into a heavier tone, with a progression that is reminiscent of the instrumental "One of These Days", capturing the classic Pink Floyd guitar sound. "Free Four" was released as a single in 1972 and managed to break into FM radio's top 50 list.