So this has been.my favorite song of OTEP's since it came out in 2004, and I always thought it was a song about a child's narrative of suffering in an abusive Christian home. But now that I am revisiting the lyrics, I am seeing something totally new.
This song could be gospel of John but from the perspective of Jesus.
Jesus was NOT having a good time up to and during the crucifixion. Everyone in the known world at the time looked to him with fear, admiration or disgust and he was constantly being asked questions. He spoke in "verses, prophesies and curses". He had made an enemy of the state, and believed the world was increasingly wicked and fallen from grace, or that he was in the "mouth of madness".
The spine of atlas is the structure that allows the titan to hold the world up. Jesus challenged the state and in doing so became a celebrated resistance figure. It also made him public enemy #1.
All of this happened simply because he was doing his thing, not because of any agenda he had or strategy.
And then he gets scourged (storm of thorns)
There are some plot holes here but I think it's an interesting interpretation.
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 (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 (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 (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 (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 Lyrics as written by Regine Chassagne Jeremy Gara
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I just made a profile to respond to this answer, totally agreed!!! Granted today a lot of ppl have the courage to come out like so many have...however there are SO MANY who havent bc of fear, of their religion, of their families...i cld go on...my heart breaks for them because I myself am a lesbian and i know how it feels to know your are different but feel as if there is nothing u can do about it. I was lucky, i came out at 16, right before it started being excepted. Just cldnt live a lie anymore! And thank god I was blessed with supportive parents. There are all these classes in school about not doing drugs, not drinking and driving, or sexual boundaries, not saying these aren't important, but it should be in the texts books that being gay is as normal as having brown eyes or blonde hair. You can not change it, be "healed" by prayer, and its damaging as hell to live a straight life. Ida jumped off a bridge by now. Furthermore, in a little country town like mine, its still not the norm, that making it hard on the ones even who have "came out." I myself don't give a shit what ppl think, and the ones in my family who do not believe in it, we dont bring it up...we are family, we love each other and stick together no matter what. If only......people knew what it did to someone holding it in for so long...and some.....a lifetime.....smh and praying everyday for more ppl to open their eyes and see what I see, feel what I feel, at least try and understand. i do believe it says "We were all created in his image." There is nothing confusing about that to me, Ill probably loose some internet friends over this, but i dont care, thats why they are on the net and not real friends anyway, cause most, in my experience aren't.....quoting the talented, loving, smart man Bob Marley..."Light up the darkness!!"