Jimin Takes On Critics and Finds Liberation in New “Set Me Free Pt. 2” Music Video

After a year-long wait, BTS’s Jimin has finally debuted as a solo artist with his pre-release single, “Set Me Free Pt. 2,” off his upcoming album “Face,” which comes out March 24.

Jimin teased a first look at his pre-release single and music video on March 14 and 15 in two 30-second clips. They showed him staring down the camera in a black leather jacket as his backup dancers, all dressed in black, danced in formation behind and around him. While Jimin doesn’t dance a single move in either clip, the fact that his backup dancers are going hard to the haunting music filled fans with anticipation over the epic choreography that was sure to come. And boy, does the final product deliver!

Jimin’s “Set Me Free Pt. 2” Song Meaning

“Set Me Free Pt. 2” is a hip-hop-tinged track with powerful horns and a choir delivering haunting backing vocals. The song is about Jimin facing his fans and haters as his true self, no matter how scary it may be. At one point, Jimin sings, “I won’t hide anymore even if it hurts.” Later, he sings, “I won’t stop even if they mock me.” He calls out his haters outright, exclaiming, “Just get out of my way! Shut up, f*ck off! I’m on my way.” But ultimately, the song continually circles back to Jimin finding his freedom to pursue the path he wishes. “Fly away, butterfly. Finally free,” he sings at multiple points in the song.

Jimin’s “Set Me Free Pt. 2” Music Video

While simple, the “Set Me Free Pt. 2” music video packs a serious punch. The video sees Jimin dancing among his backup dancers in what looks like a panopticon (a theoretical circular prison where a single security guard can observe inmates without the prisoner knowing when they are being watched). Jimin is covered head to toe in black at the start of the video, but at the song’s midpoint, the screen goes dark, only for Jimin to emerge from the darkness with no shirt under his leather jacket, revealing words in gothic font tattooed all over his torso.

Dancers swarm around Jimin throughout the video and point at him and mock him when he sings lyrics like, “I won’t stop even if they mock me,” but by the end of the video, they lift him up into the air as he sings, “Set me free,” over and over. When they drop him to the ground in the last few seconds of the video, he’s suddenly wearing a loose-fitting white outfit that reveals some of the moon tattoos running down his spine – much softer than his previous look. The music video ends as Jimin turns his head to look back at the camera, seemingly teasing what’s to come in his next music video for “Like Crazy.”

Jimin’s “Set Me Free Pt. 2” Music Video Tattoos Meaning

Super sleuth fans figured out that the words tattooed on Jimin’s torso are actually a German poem by Rainer Maria Rilke. The poem goes:

I live my life in ever widening circles,
each superseding all the previous ones.
Perhaps I never shall succeed in reaching
the final circle, but attempt I will.

I circle around God, the ancient tower,
and have been circling for a thousand years,
and still I do not know: am I a falcon,
a storm, or a continuing great song?

Jimin’s “Set Me Free Pt. 2” Lyrics in English

The lyrics to Jimin’s “Set Me Free Pt. 2” in English are as follows, according to the video’s subtitles.

VERSE 1
I got a good time
Yeah time to get mine
I wandered in a maze
Hennessy and night

“I never stop, I never stop”
Again, repeat
“I never stop, f*ck all your opps”
Finally free

Ah yeah, ah yeah
I’m standing at the edge
Not yet, not yet
I won’t look back
Now yeah, now yeah
Fly away, butterfly
Finally free

PRE-CHORUS
Look at me now
I won’t hide anymore even if it hurts
Going insane to stay sane
Raise your hands for the past me

CHORUS
Now set me free
Set me free
Set me free
Set me free
Set me free
Set me free
Set me free
Set me free
Set me free

VERSE 2
I got feel low
Still in a maze
But I got no time to break soul
Just let me flow

Hey fool, just get out of my way
Shut up, f*ck off
I’m on my way

Ah yeah, ah yeah
It’s begun, my prime time
Forget, forget
I’ll gladly hop on
Now yeah, now yeah
Fly away, butterfly
Finally free

PRE-CHORUS
Look at me now
I won’t stop even if they mock me
Going insane to stay sane
Raise your hands for the past me

CHORUS
Now set me free
Set me free
Set me free
Set me free
Set me free
Set me free
Set me free
Set me free
Set me free
Set me free