At this point in the album’s story, the protagonist, confirmed by Matt to be named Mary, breaks free of her oppressors and begins to revolt.
Musically, the track has an unusual harmonic pattern, where D major and D minor are presented alternatively, after a dominance of D minor tonic chord in the...
[Chorus]
Free, yeah, I'm free
From your ins-ins-inciting
You can't brainwash me
You've got a problem
Free, yeah I'm free
From society
You can't control me
I'm a defector
[Verse 1]
You think you're strong and you can't be broken
But your empire is dissolving
You thought, you thought I was weak
But you got it wrong, look into my eyes, I'm a defector
[Chorus]
Free, yeah, I'm free
From your ins-ins-inciting
You can't brainwash me
You've got a problem
Free, yeah I'm free
From society
You can't control me
I'm a defector
[Verse 2]
Your blood is blue and your mind's turned green
And your belly is all yellow
You believe your throne is too high
To be overthrown, we'll watch it get razed by a defector
[Chorus]
Free, yeah, I'm free
From your ins-ins-inciting
You can't brainwash me
You've got a problem
Free, yeah I'm free
From society
You can't control me
I'm a defector
[Guitar Solo]
[Pre-Chorus]
I'm a defector
[Chorus]
Free, yeah, I'm free
From your ins-ins-inciting
You can't brainwash me
You've got a problem
Free, yeah I'm free
From society
You can't control me
I'm a defector
[Outro — JFK]
We look for strength and assistance
Confident that with your help
Man will be what he was born to be:
Free and independent
Defector was written by Matt Bellamy.
Defector was produced by Robert John Lange & Dominic Howard & Chris Wolstenholme & Matt Bellamy.