The song promoted Toyah's 1981 studio album Anthem and was a Top 10 chart hit in the UK and Ireland.

The song was written by Toyah Willcox and Joel Bogen, and produced by Nick Tauber.

[2] The lyric originated when Toyah was fourteen and was developed into the final song in 1981.

The two non-album B-sides, "Walkie-Talkie" and "Alien", were eventually included on the 1999 CD reissue of Anthem as well as the 2005 compilation The Safari Singles Collection Part 2: 1981–1983.

Bolstered by the performance of the previous single, "It's a Mystery", and backed by an appearance on Top of the Pops, "I Want to Be Free" entered the UK Top 10 where it would peak at number 8, and helped push the album Anthem into the UK Albums Chart, where it peaked at number 2.