“Free Your Mind” is a song by the American female group En Vogue, from their second album, Funky Divas (1992). It was written and produced by Foster and McElroy, who drew inspiration from the Funkadelic song “Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow.”
The song encourages people to confront their own prejudices and biases. It delves into various stereotypes that exist in society and the harm that they cause.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what the lyrics mean.
“Free Your Mind” Lyrics Meaning
[Intro]
Prejudice, wrote a song about it
Like to hear it? Here it go
Free your mind
The “Intro” begins with the singer mentioning prejudice and then teasingly asks if the listener wants to hear about it. The phrase “Like to hear it? Here it go” is a playful way of introducing the topic, implying that the song will address prejudice directly.
[Verse 1]
I wear tight clothing, high heeled shoes
It doesn’t mean that I’m a prostitute, no no
I like rap music, wear hip hop clothes
That doesn’t mean that I’m out sellin’ dope, no no no
Oh my forgive me for having straight hair, no
It doesn’t mean there’s another blood in my heir, yeah yeah
I might date another race or color
It doesn’t mean I don’t like my strong black brothers
In Verse 1, the singer is addressing the stereotype that women who dress in a certain way, such as wearing tight clothing and high heels, are automatically assumed to be prostitutes. However, she asserts that her choice of clothing does not define her occupation or character, singing, “I wear tight clothing, high heeled shoes, it doesn’t mean that I’m a prostitute, no no.”
The line “I like rap music, wear hip hop clothes, that doesn’t mean that I’m out sellin’ dope, no no no,” challenges the assumption that people who enjoy rap music and wear hip hop-inspired clothing are involved in illegal drug activities.
In the line “Oh my forgive me for having straight hair, no, it doesn’t mean there’s another blood in my heir, yeah yeah,” the singer addresses the misconception that people with straight hair may not identify with their racial or ethnic heritage. She dismisses this assumption by affirming that her hairstyle does not diminish her connection to her lineage or cultural background.
The line “I might date another race or color, it doesn’t mean I don’t like my strong black brothers” confronts the stereotype that interracial dating suggests a lack of loyalty or pride in one’s own ethnic group. The singer asserts that her choice to date someone of a different race does not diminish her love and respect for people within her own community.
[Pre-Chorus]
Mmm-dah, mmm-dah, mmm-dah, mmm-dah
Why oh why must it be this way?
Mmm-dah, mmm-dah, mmm-dah, mmm-dah
Before you can read me you gotta learn how to see me, I said
In the Pre-Chorus, the singer emphasizes the importance of looking beyond superficial appearances and stereotypes to truly understand a person.
In the line “Before you can read me you gotta learn how to see me, I said,” reading someone refers to comprehending their thoughts, feelings, and experiences on a deeper level.
[Chorus]
Free your mind and the rest will follow
Be color blind, don’t be so shallow
Free your mind and the rest will follow
Be color blind, don’t be so shallow
The line “Free your mind and the rest will follow” suggests that by liberating oneself from narrow-minded thinking and prejudices, one can experience personal growth and positive change.
The phrase “Be color blind, don’t be so shallow” encourages people to look beyond superficial differences such as skin color and to treat everyone equally, regardless of race or ethnicity. It urges listeners to adopt a mindset of inclusivity and fairness, emphasizing the importance of judging others based on their character and actions rather than superficial attributes.
[Verse 2]
So I’m a sista, buy things with cash
That really doesn’t mean that all my credit’s bad, oh
So why dispute me and waste my time?
Because you really think the price is high for me
I can’t look without being watched, and oh
You rang my buy before I made up my mind, OW!
Oh now attitude, why even bother?
I can’t change your mind, you can’t change my color
In Verse 2, the singer addresses the stereotype that Black women, often referred to colloquially as “sistas,” are financially irresponsible or have poor credit. She sings, “So I’m a sista, buy things with cash, that really doesn’t mean that all my credit’s bad, oh.” She refutes this stereotype by stating that her preference for cash transactions does not imply a lack of financial responsibility.
The line “So why dispute me and waste my time? Because you really think the price is high for me” confronts the assumption that Black people are more likely to be questioned or challenged when making purchases, particularly for expensive items. The singer questions why her credibility and purchasing power are doubted simply based on her race.
The singer expresses frustration over feeling constantly observed and judged, even before she has had the chance to make a decision, as she sings, “I can’t look without being watched, and oh, you rang my buy before I made up my mind, OW!”
In the line “Oh now attitude, why even bother? I can’t change your mind, you can’t change my color,” the singer acknowledges that despite her efforts to challenge stereotypes and biases, some people may remain resistant to change.
Deeper Meaning Behind “Free Your Mind”
En Vogue’s hit song “Free Your Mind,” released in 1992, came out during a time when racial tensions were high in the United States. It’s a response to the 1992 Los Angeles Rodney King riots.
The riots were sparked by the brutal beating of Rodney King, a black resident, by four white Los Angeles police officers. Despite video evidence of the incident, the officers were acquitted, leading to widespread unrest.
The phrase “Free Your Mind” was popularized by George Clinton in his song and album “Free Your Mind And Your Ass Will Follow.” En Vogue uses a more literal interpretation of the phrase in their lyrics.
Right from the start with the line “Prejudice, wrote a song about it. Like to hear it? Here it go!” En Vogue made it clear they were addressing an important social issue.
The lyrics urge people to let go of biases and preconceptions, emphasizing the phrase “Free your mind and the rest will follow” as a call to be open-minded and accepting.
In an interview with Golden 1 Center, En Vogue member Terry Ellis said:
When I’m singing it, we feel like we’re delivering a message. It’s a plea to humanity to respect each other. God created us equal; blood is blood, it’s the same color and our spirits and souls are connected in the same way. I believe that’s why it affects so many people, because so many can relate. In some form or fashion everyone has experienced some type of prejudice, in some type of way. The lyrics in that song were actually personal experiences we all had.”
“Free Your Mind” fearlessly confronted various forms of prejudice, including racism, sexism, and homophobia. En Vogue’s message is straightforward: prejudice hurts society, and personal growth means dismantling one’s own biases and accepting others without conditions.

Jacob Carter is a lyricist. He created the lyrics writing course to teach people how to analyze and write lyrics. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature, so he’s skilled at playing with words.
He’s also an amateur guitarist, which means he knows music and melody very well. With this background, he’s a great lyricist you can rely on to learn writing lyrics.