My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key
My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key
I'm standing on a stage
Of fear and self-doubt
It's a hollow play
But they'll clap anyway
My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key
You're standing next to me
My mind holds the key
I'm living in an age
That calls darkness light
Though my language is dead
Still the shapes fill my head
I'm living in an age
Whose name I don't know
Though the fear keeps me moving
Still my heart beats so slow
My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key
You're standing next to me
My mind holds the key
My body is a,
My body is a cage
We take what we're given
Just because you've forgotten
That don't mean you're forgiven
I'm living in an age
That screams my name at night
But when I get to the doorway
There's no one in sight
I'm living in an age
That laughs when I'm dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key
You're standing next to me
My mind holds the key
Set my spirit free
Set my spirit free
Set my body free
Set my body free
Set my spirit free
Set my body free
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key
My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key
I'm standing on a stage
Of fear and self-doubt
It's a hollow play
But they'll clap anyway
My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key
You're standing next to me
My mind holds the key
I'm living in an age
That calls darkness light
Though my language is dead
Still the shapes fill my head
I'm living in an age
Whose name I don't know
Though the fear keeps me moving
Still my heart beats so slow
My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key
You're standing next to me
My mind holds the key
My body is a,
My body is a cage
We take what we're given
Just because you've forgotten
That don't mean you're forgiven
I'm living in an age
That screams my name at night
But when I get to the doorway
There's no one in sight
I'm living in an age
That laughs when I'm dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key
You're standing next to me
My mind holds the key
Set my spirit free
Set my spirit free
Set my body free
Set my body free
Set my spirit free
Set my body free
Lyrics submitted by mad_world87, edited by akimika, Mellow_Harsher
"My Body Is a Cage" as written by Regine Chassagne Jeremy Gara
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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!
Social anxiety is a disorder that most people who have it, will develop it in their teens and without treatment or recognising the disorder will have for several years. I really think that he is singing about how he has had this disorder and knows that he can not be close to the one he loves because of his anxieities, a lot of the lines are more literal then you
Other parts of the lyrics that suggest this are also 'Though my language is dead, still the shapes fill my head' people who suffer from social anxiety are often very quiet and reserved because it is social interaction and attention from others that sets off their anxieties, so even though they might be passionate, cultured people their mental illness has made their 'language' or ability to communiate 'dead'.
The title of the song also suggest his/her anxieites are set off from their awkwardness or low confidence in the way they look or physically behave which is preventing them from being themselves and acting as they naturally would.
or just having a relationship that would be frowned upon in society in general. it's heartbreaking, really.
it is all these songs... a true song of personal tragedy... perfect.
As you say, it truly is a remarkable personal confession of a persons own tragedy, this day is the day I realized how delicately amazing it really is.
As for the songwriters standpoint, I think his is driven from the same feeling, and in this case I'd say caused by his fears he isn't a good enough songwriter/musician. He's aware he has ideas, which to him look awesome, but he's not sure the others will really think the same. So he's trying to overcome his fears and trying to let himself do his best.
Throughout the song he seems rather dispirited and melancholy, though he seems to understand that she will always be with him, in his head or in his heart, hence, his mind holds the key. He doesn’t feel good about it, though.
I think this song is about the moment right after someone dies- the interim split second between life and death. The speaker has one instant to think about his future, or eternity, or what's going to happen to him and what he deserves.
The "one I love" is Jesus; the stage is "of fear and self doubt" because for one last moment the speaker doesn't know if he'll go to heaven or if heaven even exists.
Somehow, though, he realizes that his "mind holds the key"- either to let him in, or to lead him on elsewhere.
He doubts himself, though, because he's been corrupted by the age where "darkness is light". Is he worthy? Is anyone?
Then, at the end, Jesus comes and stands next to him. I picture this all occurring on the top of a mountain, surrounded by a clear blue sky. Heaven is close but he's not in it yet; the speaker is still tied down physically.
This is when the key changes- it becomes more optimistic- and he turns to Jesus and asks him to "set my body free."
The song ends. The listener does not get to find out what happens because the instant isn't over. Maybe it never will be.
He's standing on a stage of fear and self doubt, this might mean he's contemplating whether or not he should die but he fears she may not be there when his spirit is free..
"It's a hollow play but they'll clap anyway" could be saying he has no purpose without her and no reasons to live in so much pain because everyone dies in the end.
"I'm living in an age That calls darkness light" may mean people today don't show if they are sad and he shows his feelings and his sadness (Though my language is dead).
Or it could mean he DOESN'T show his sadness because the way of openly expressing your feelings is dead.
But either way he still can't get her out of his head (Still the shapes fill my head)
"I'm living in an age Whose name I don't know" He doesn't know what is happening around him because he feels too dead inside to notice anything around him, but the fear of never seeing his love again even if his spirit is freed keeps him alive (Though the fear keeps me moving Still my heart beats so slow).
"Still turning in the night" He is having nightmares about when he dies, and his spirit is freed, she isn't there anyways. (But when I get to the doorway There's no one in sight)
"Realizing I'm dancing With the one I love" He might as well be dead because, to him, he feels dead.
I'm still working on the "We take what we're given Just because you've forgotten, that don't mean you're forgiven" part.
I thought the homosexual interpretation was also interesting and plausible. I think there are some commonalities to both ways of looking at things, though, that might be both more broad and more true to the song's DNA. It's about feeling isolated and alienated both from and due to one's circumstances, and about longing not to be defined so narrowly by those around us, who, in so doing, are complicit in our imprisonment. I'm sure there are many more situations these feelings might apply to.
Music is wonderful, and so is this song.