It's empty in the valley of your heart
The sun, it rises slowly as you walk
Away from all the fears
And all the faults you've left behind

The harvest left no food for you to eat
You cannibal, you meat-eater, you see
But I have seen the same
I know the shame in your defeat

But I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck

And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again

'Cause I have other things to fill my time
You take what is yours and I'll take mine
Now let me at the truth
Which will refresh my broken mind

So tie me to a post and block my ears
I can see widows and orphans through my tears
I know my call despite my faults
And despite my growing fears

But I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck

And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again

So come out of your cave walking on your hands
And see the world hanging upside down
You can understand dependence
When you know the maker's hand

So make your siren's call
And sing all you want
I will not hear what you have to say

'Cause I need freedom now
And I need to know how
To live my life as it's meant to be

And I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck

And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again

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Lyrics submitted by Nobody-special, edited by 1770, dodgerblue

The Cave Lyrics as written by Edward James Milton Dwane Benjamin Walter David Lovett

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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The Cave song meanings

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When I first heard this song the first that came to mind was “Allegory of the Cave” by Plato. This song seems to fit in perfectly with the meaning of Plato’s work, and this band truly understands the symbolism of that story. I'll break it down.

“Because I have other things to fill my time You take what is yours and I'll take mine Now let me at the truth Which will refresh my broken mind.” In Plato’s “The Cave,” the meaning is to find and release oneself, and others, from the ignorance and false intelligence that they are stuck in. The lines where the singer wants to refresh their broken mind, speaks significantly to this aspect. Also in “Allegory of The Cave,” the prisoner returns back to the cave to free the others from this deep rooted ignorance, which is was also seen in the previous lines, “I won’t let you choke on the noose around your neck.” The relation to Plato’s work is obvious here because of the significant theme of helping others see the truth and light.

“So come out of your cave walking on your hands And see the world hanging upside down You can understand dependence When you know the maker's land.” Although Plato’s work speaks nothing of seeing the world upside down, the relation between these two works cannot be ignored. Plato encourages people to see the truth, and not just the shadows of what reality is. These lines encourage the same thing, because when you view the world upside down, your perspective of reality is shifted and you can see the world for what it truly is. Both Plato and Mumford & Sons encourage viewing the world differently, and as it really is.

“Because I need freedom now And I need to know how To live my life as it's meant to be.” In Plato’s “The Cave,” the prisoner that has left the cave comes back to help others see the truth which he has seen, and he has learned how to live life and see things as they truly are. By escaping from this cave, the former prisoner now sees life as it is, and he has discovered how to live life.

To conclude and tie together these thoughts about Mumford & Sons’ “The Cave,” this song could be viewed as a conversation between the escaped prisoner and the singer, who is ready to escape the cave. The beginning of the song starts with the singer talking to those who are still left in the cave, by describing how they should change. Then the singer goes on to assure his assistance, by saying “I won’t let you choke on the noose around your neck.” This relates to Plato’s work because of the released prisoner’s efforts to help the others in the cave despite their resistance. Then the singer goes on to say that he wants to find the truth “which will refresh [his] broken mind,” and that he’ll find strength in pain and he’ll change his ways. The similarities between this song and Plato’s Cave are undeniable. The song continues by encouraging the people left inside the cave to come out and see the world differently, and as it really is.

I just wrote an essay about this song, and I am super pumped to see that people also see the relation between this song and Plato's Cave, because that was the first thing I thought of upon hearing the song. What a great song!

When I first heard this song the first that came to mind was “Allegory of the Cave” by Plato. This song seems to fit in perfectly with the meaning of Plato’s work, and this band truly understands the symbolism of that story. I'll break it down. “Because I have other things to fill my time You take what is yours and I'll take mine Now let me at the truth Which will refresh my broken mind.” In Plato’s “The Cave,” the meaning is to find and release oneself, and others, from the ignorance and false intelligence that they are stuck in. The lines where the singer wants to refresh their broken mind, speaks significantly to this aspect. Also in “Allegory of The Cave,” the prisoner returns back to the cave to free the others from this deep rooted ignorance, which is was also seen in the previous lines, “I won’t let you choke on the noose around your neck.” The relation to Plato’s work is obvious here because of the significant theme of helping others see the truth and light. “So come out of your cave walking on your hands And see the world hanging upside down You can understand dependence When you know the maker's land.” Although Plato’s work speaks nothing of seeing the world upside down, the relation between these two works cannot be ignored. Plato encourages people to see the truth, and not just the shadows of what reality is. These lines encourage the same thing, because when you view the world upside down, your perspective of reality is shifted and you can see the world for what it truly is. Both Plato and Mumford & Sons encourage viewing the world differently, and as it really is. “Because I need freedom now And I need to know how To live my life as it's meant to be.” In Plato’s “The Cave,” the prisoner that has left the cave comes back to help others see the truth which he has seen, and he has learned how to live life and see things as they truly are. By escaping from this cave, the former prisoner now sees life as it is, and he has discovered how to live life. To conclude and tie together these thoughts about Mumford & Sons’ “The Cave,” this song could be viewed as a conversation between the escaped prisoner and the singer, who is ready to escape the cave. The beginning of the song starts with the singer talking to those who are still left in the cave, by describing how they should change. Then the singer goes on to assure his assistance, by saying “I won’t let you choke on the noose around your neck.” This relates to Plato’s work because of the released prisoner’s efforts to help the others in the cave despite their resistance. Then the singer goes on to say that he wants to find the truth “which will refresh [his] broken mind,” and that he’ll find strength in pain and he’ll change his ways. The similarities between this song and Plato’s Cave are undeniable. The song continues by encouraging the people left inside the cave to come out and see the world differently, and as it really is. I just wrote an essay about this song, and I am super pumped to see that people also see the relation between this song and Plato's Cave, because that was the first thing I thought of upon hearing the song. What a great song!

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rachelmarie181on May 16, 2011 Link
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