| UNCHAINED | Free, like the melody in popular song |
| HAUNTING | Like the melody from the film "The Ghosts" (8) |
| ANTHEM | Scan the melody in part song (6) |
| BASS | Singer who rarely gets the melody in a choir |
| CANSO | Part that carries the melody in descant otherwise (5) |
| SOPHIECRUZ | Young American activist who is known for ensuring continuance of the DAPA program and was featured in the short Free Like the Birds: 2 wds. |
| PAROLE | Free, like the character of Dasaratha in the Ramayana, maybe? (6) |
| STERILE | Germ-free - like the atmosphere in an operation theatre ? (7) |
| LAWLESS | Perfect, lead-free, like the Wild West? (7) |
| SNAGLESS | Tangle-free, like the Texas rig (8) |
| FINAL | The last in a series of something such as acts in a play, exams in a curriculum, letters in a word or games in a tournament; or, the concluding pitch of a modal melody in music (5) |
| ARID | You get one free, like in the desert |
| ARSON | Crime featured in popular song (5) |
| GREENSLEEVES | Cabbage etc - doesn't eat, one hears, in popular song (12) |
| MAKESHIFT | Reaches note in popular song. That's expedient (9) |
| YEAH | 'Yes' in popular song (4) |
| ONTHEPALACE | Free, like drinks in the king's personal wine cellar? (3 wds.) |
| UNBOWED | Free, like violin in mint condition? (7) |
| WEDDING | Event where one may hear the song colloquially known as "Here Comes the Bride," the melody of which is shown in the circled notes when played in F major |
| PROBONO | Free, like some legal work: 2 wds. |
