The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
I want to be locked in a cage
I want to be strapped in a chair
I want to be where you are
If my insanity comes
Wrapped up inside your...
I want to break my legs
In case a thought to escape
Keep the hammer out of my reach
If my pounding impulse comes
Wrapped up inside your arms
Locked up inside you
Hold me down cause I want to know you
You bring calm to my rage
You are life and I'm thirsting for you
Hold me, hold me locked in a cage
I love to be caught by you
I want to be trapped in your arms
Your cage is rest to my bones
Your cage is peace to my soul
Wrapped up inside your arms
Locked up inside you
Hold me down cause I want to know you
You bring calm to my rage
You are life and I'm thirsting for you
Hold me, hold me locked in a cage
Wrapped up inside your arms
Wrapped up inside your arms
I'm inside your arms
I'm inside your arms
Hold me down cause I want to know you
You bring calm to my rage
You are life and I'm thirsting for you
Hold me, hold me locked in a cage
Hold me down cause I want to know you
You bring calm to my rage
You are life and I'm thirsting for you
Hold me, hold me locked in a cage
I want to be strapped in a chair
I want to be where you are
If my insanity comes
Wrapped up inside your...
I want to break my legs
In case a thought to escape
Keep the hammer out of my reach
If my pounding impulse comes
Wrapped up inside your arms
Locked up inside you
Hold me down cause I want to know you
You bring calm to my rage
You are life and I'm thirsting for you
Hold me, hold me locked in a cage
I love to be caught by you
I want to be trapped in your arms
Your cage is rest to my bones
Your cage is peace to my soul
Wrapped up inside your arms
Locked up inside you
Hold me down cause I want to know you
You bring calm to my rage
You are life and I'm thirsting for you
Hold me, hold me locked in a cage
Wrapped up inside your arms
Wrapped up inside your arms
I'm inside your arms
I'm inside your arms
Hold me down cause I want to know you
You bring calm to my rage
You are life and I'm thirsting for you
Hold me, hold me locked in a cage
Hold me down cause I want to know you
You bring calm to my rage
You are life and I'm thirsting for you
Hold me, hold me locked in a cage
Lyrics submitted by lacewhisper
Locked in a Cage Lyrics as written by Korene M Cooper John Landrum Cooper
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
This song is an awesome "crunch guitar" song.