Rusty Cage

Soundgarden

You wired me awake
And hit me with a hand of broken nails
You tied my lead and pulled my chain
To watch my blood begin to boil

But I'm gonna break
I'm gonna break my
I'm gonna break my rusty cage and run

Too cold to start a fire
I'm burning diesel burning dinosaur bones
I'll take the river down to still water
And ride a pack of dogs

I'm gonna break
I'm gonna break my
I'm gonna break my rusty cage and run

Hits like a Phillips head into my brain
It's gonna be too dark to sleep again
Cutting my teeth on bars and rusty chains
I'm gonna break my rusty cage and run

When the forest burns along the road
Like God's eyes in my headlights
When the dogs are looking for their bones
And it's raining icepicks on your steel shore

I'm gonna break
I'm gonna break my
I'm gonna break my rusty cage and run


Lyrics submitted by jt

Rusty Cage song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

40 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +7
    General CommentI LOVE the way he uses the rusty term. Not only is it symbolic for trapped anger (the cage) it's also rusty, meaning that no matter what it won't open for it has rusted over. But now it's time to let go. You've reached your breaking point to where you become fearless and careless. A point to where not even rust can hold you back.
    Defanieon May 02, 2011   Link
  • +6
    General CommentBadmotorfinger is excellent.. an orgasmic burst of creativity at a time and a place when a lot of good music was coming out of seattle (this came out the same day as Nevermind)... amazing song .. and
    "Anything after badmotorfinger sucks." I have no idea what this is supposed to mean.. Superunknown amazingly enough was even better than Badmotorfinger.. Down on the upside was great aswell..
    bharQon June 23, 2006   Link
  • +4
    General CommentKyleKraze wrote:

    "Anything after badmotorfinger sucks."

    Are you for real? Superunknown is an awesome album!
    Releaseon June 17, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General CommentTo me this one is about putting up with abuse in a relationship and then finally reaching a point where you refuse to take anymore and leave.
    Trashazonon January 08, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General CommentI agree with the abuse theories. Chris Cornell's parents were Irish Catholics and they split when he was a kid. His mom's maiden name is Cornell and Chris, as well as his siblings, changed his last name to this from Boyle. Maybe his dad was abusive and that's where he got the inspiration to write Rusty Cage. This is probably one of my favourite Soundgarden songs. Anything after Bad Motorfinger sucks.
    kylekrazeon December 15, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General Commenthey? whats all this talk about down on the upside, badmotorfinger and superunknown, doesnt anybody care to mention louder than love? thats a great fucking cd i mean that bad is just badass but back to the song
    definetely sounds like a bad relationship and all the shit you go through tryin to get rid of that person
    mindlessidiot44on September 22, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General CommentGreat song. Johnny Cash's cover is wicked. I don't think this is one of those incredibly subtle songs that need serious explication. This puppy rears up on its hind legs and puts the bite on you fierce, which is why Cash covered it (he says in his liner notes that he's been this angry before).
    ButtOfMalmseyon May 07, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Commenti first heard this song on the soundtrack of the game
    ROAD RASH>
    fell in love with soundgarden after, Next Biggest Song by soundgarden? Pretty Noose!!!!!!!
    hsingarajahon April 27, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General CommentAwesome song. It has to be my favorite song intro ever. And the change in tempo from quick paced to Black Sabbath sluggishness is awesome too.
    As for what mindlessidiot said, I didn't really think Louder than Love was refined enough. They weren't matured enough musically then.
    No I still think their last 3 were the best in their own way cause the music for all three of them were very different (Metal based to Psychedelic to a more Progressive rock
    Tallbob88on February 17, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Commentum. thought I remember from a long time ago an interview saying its about a construction worker trapped all day in hellish working conditions, driving a backhoe or some equipment which has a rusty cage (you sit in to drive.) The guy dreams all day about breaking the cage and running. Even if that is not true, I always used it in my head when I drove machinery. I realized I wasn't the only one in hell working construction. don't remember what radio station I heard the interview or who it was
    dukfukon February 13, 2013   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!

Back to top