Back Against the Wall
5.04 - Cage The Elephant Lyrics
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Buried beneath this house
My spirit screams and dies again
Out back, a monster wears a cloak of Persian leather
Behind the TV screen, I've fallen to my knees
I said, you've got me where you want me again and I can't turn away
I'm hanging by a thread and I'm feeling like I'll fall
I want to get away, I need to get away
Blanket of silence makes me want to sink my teeth in deep
Burn all the evidence of fabricated disbelief
Pull back the curtains, took a look into your eyes
My tongue has now become a platform for your lies
I said, you've got me where you want me again and I can't turn away
I'm hanging by a thread and I'm feeling like I'll fall
I'm stuck here in between these shadows of my yesterday
I want to get away, I need to get away
Now you know, yeah
You've got my back against the wall
Oh God, I ain't got no other place to hide
Chained down, like a sitting duck just waiting for the fall
You know, yeah
You've got my back against the wall
Deep in the jungle, camouflaged by all the fallen leaves
A hand holds up the sky while, shamefully, I make my plea
The altar's calling, but my legs won't seem to stand
Guess I'm a coward scared to face the man I am
I said, you've got me where you want me again and I can't turn away
I'm hanging by a thread and I'm feeling like I'll fall
I'm stuck here in between these shadows of my yesterday
I want to get away, I need to get away
Now you know, yeah
You've got my back against the wall
Oh God, I ain't got no other place to hide
Chained down, like a sitting duck just waiting for the fall
You know, yeah
You've got my back against the wall
Now you know, yeah
You've got my back against the wall
Oh God, I ain't got no other place to hide
Chained down, like a sitting duck just waiting for the fall
You know, yeah
You've got my back against the wall
In "Back Against The Wall," Cage The Elephant's lead singer Matt Shultz seems to be trapped in a situation where he can't escape from. The song opens with him feeling lost and trying to find himself again. He feels like he's dying inside and can’t seem to escape the monster that's lurking around him. He's struggling and his mind is pushing him towards the edge. He's stuck between his past and present, but he wants to get away and start afresh.
The second verse is more intense as he describes his frustration towards the person who is trapping him. He wants to speak up and fight back against the lies, but he's too scared to confront the truth. The chorus highlights his vulnerability and how powerless he feels in the situation. He's stuck and has nowhere to go. His back is against the wall and he's just waiting for the inevitable.
The bridge of the song takes us on a metaphoric journey deep into the jungle, where everything is camouflaged, and he's ashamed of his plea. He's scared of facing the truth and standing up for himself. The last chorus repeats the desperate plea for a way out, but he recognizes that his back is against the wall, and there's no other place to hide.
Overall, "Back Against The Wall" is a personal and emotional song about feeling trapped and powerless. It highlights the struggle that many individuals face in their lives when confronted with difficult situations.
Line by Line Meaning
Tonight, I'll have a look and try to find my face again
Searching for my true identity and purpose
Buried beneath this house
Feeling lost and hidden within myself
My spirit screams and dies again
Feeling overwhelmed and defeated by life's challenges
Out back, a monster wears a cloak of Persian leather
Anxiety and fear lurking in the shadows, disguised as something luxurious
Behind the TV screen, I've fallen to my knees
Feeling powerless and helpless in the face of external pressures
Blanket of silence makes me want to sink my teeth in deep
The suffocating feeling of being trapped in one's own thoughts
Burn all the evidence of fabricated disbelief
Overcoming self-doubt and negative beliefs
Pull back the curtains, took a look into your eyes
Confronting someone or something that has been causing inner turmoil
My tongue has now become a platform for your lies
Feeling like someone else's deception is causing personal turmoil
Now you know, yeah / You've got my back against the wall / Oh God, I ain't got no other place to hide / Chained down, like a sitting duck just waiting for the fall / You know, yeah / You've got my back against the wall
Feeling trapped and powerless, unable to escape external pressures and challenges
Deep in the jungle, camouflaged by all the fallen leaves / A hand holds up the sky while, shamefully, I make my plea / The altar's calling, but my legs won't seem to stand / Guess I'm a coward scared to face the man I am
Being lost and helpless while trying to find direction and purpose in life, feeling too afraid to take action and face oneself
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Brad Shultz, Daniel Tichenor, Jared Champion, Lincoln Parish, Matt Shultz
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind