The beast in me
Is caged by frail and fragile bars
Restless by day
And by night rants and rages at the stars
God help the beast in me

The beast in me
Has had to learn to live with pain
And how to shelter from the rain
And in the twinkling of an eye
Might have to be restrained
God help the beast in me

Sometimes it tries to kid me
That it's just a teddy bear
And even somehow manage to vanish in the air
And that is when I must beware
Of the beast in me
That everybody knows
They've seen him out dressed in my clothes
Patently unclear
If it's New York or New Year
God help the beast in me

The beast in me


Lyrics submitted by toterkater

The Beast In Me Lyrics as written by Nick Lowe

Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

The Beast In Me song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

7 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    General Comment

    Everyone is mostly right. Though it was written long after the worst of it, the song is definitely about Cash's drug use specifically. That said, no he himself didn't write it; his son-in-law, Nick Lowe (who also sang 'The Sopranos version'), did, for him.

    And while it is about that in specific, in general, it can be about any personal demon that affects a person for the worse, whether it be anger, drug/drink abuse, phobias or simply under-confidence. Anything that you may have thought was 'done with', that wouldn't affect you again. Anyone that has had any issue (which is, basically, everyone) must be able to relate.

    The best part of the song for me? The single acoustic guitar that most people accompany the song with. It highlights (1) the calm saneness of the person when 'the beast' is not around AND (2) just how fragile the person is, all at the same time.

    andrewspon April 11, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    altough i dont know what time in his life this song was written, this song is most deffinitley about his drug abuse.

    jinx_me6on December 20, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    except that he didn't write it...

    stanlavisbad2on February 21, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    it could mean any beast, be it drugs, sex, violence, etc., anything that gives us any form of 'power' over whatever (lol, I'm stoned)

    angrygoatmanon February 08, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    nick lowe, carlene carter's ex wrote it for cash.

    DBT dadon April 13, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this song is about internal conflcit one is facing -- whether it be a personal and emotional ordeal or whatever. I prefer Lowe's version, honestly, as much as I love Cash...

    LoveisBlindnesson April 16, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The Hangover 2 brought me here. I only used to know the Sopranos version of this song, and now I love the Cash version

    McScrittleson July 24, 2011   Link

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

Album art
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him. There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Album art
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
Blue
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.