Field Guide - “You Could Be Free”

Today, we’re excited to premiere “You Could Be Free,” the latest single from the Manitoba-based indie-folk project Field Guide. Prior to this release, Dylan MacDonald, the songwriter behind Field Guide, shared “Leave You Lonely,” a loose and full sounding predecessor that tackled the challenges of fighting complacency and disconnection. “You Could Be Free” acts as a nice thematic accompaniment, and yet is a bit of a foil, as Macdonald uses sparser instrumentation to explore emotions that exist in a similar realm.

“You Could Be Free” embodies the spirit of a cold Manitoban winter, one where the bitter, frosty wind and frigid temperatures lead to prolonged hibernation. His dulcet guitar playing and hushed vocals feel as if they’re flowing out of a cozy room, tucked away from the harsh realities of the outside world. But beyond the song’s dynamic and disarming sonic palette, the lyrics have a much more digging bite to them, as MacDonald grapples with the feelings of guilt and shame that stems from seeing your loved ones assume your own baggage. Those feelings are no more apparent than in the opening verse, where MacDonald encourages his loved ones to reject complacency and look out for themselves: “Don't you go easy on me. If I cannot get myself out. Take all your things and just leave.”

Macdonald shared the following on the deeper meaning of the lyrics:

It’s tough to see your own struggles affect someone you love—watching them take on your heaviness can really bring on a feeling of guilt. When I wrote this, I was feeling a need to be pushed out of the dark place that I was in. I felt myself thinking “don’t accept this from me.”

Listen to the track below.

“You Could Be Free” is available on all streaming platforms. It’s the second single from Field Guide’s forthcoming eponymous full-length album, which is set for release on October 28th via Birthday Cake Records. You can pre-order the record via Bandcamp. Keep up with Field Guide by following him on Instagram.