I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Binary Star Lyrics

We was handcuffed, in the back of a bus, forty of us
We were all restrained and traveling in a crowded vehicle, with no sense of control or freedom.

The road it was rough, plus nobody I could trust (trust)
The journey was difficult and challenging, and I had no one to rely on or confide in.

Headed upstate, no chance for escape
I was being transported to a place far away, where there was no hope of escaping from the situation I was in.

Barbed wire and guards in the gun tower secured the gate
The prison was heavily fortified and guarded, making it virtually impossible to escape or seek freedom.

My uncle's fate, was life without parole
My uncle was given a sentence of imprisonment for the rest of his life, with no chance of parole or release.

Thank God (thank God) I was blessed with an outdate, I can't wait
I felt grateful to have a scheduled release date from prison, and eagerly anticipated the day I would regain my freedom.

But I got to, you probably wouldn't have did what I did
Despite the circumstances I found myself in, I had to persevere and make the most of my situation. Perhaps not everyone would have been able to do so under the same circumstances.

To catch a bid, but I'm not you
I became incarcerated, but I am not defined solely by this experience, nor can anyone else truly understand what I went through unless they have lived it themselves.

I got a crew still on the street, they don't write me letters
I have friends who are still living their lives outside of prison, but they do not make an effort to keep in touch or offer support.

No time to visit a brotha, or bother to send me cheddar
My friends are too busy to come visit me or even send me money to provide for myself in prison.

Never did I sweat it, I know they got a life to live
I never let this lack of support bring me down, because I understand that my friends have their own responsibilities and priorities to attend to.

My man J, had a wife and kid
One of my friends, J, has a family to provide for and is unable to offer me much support while I am in prison.

And these are the consequences, my actions committed
I am in prison because of the choices and actions I have taken in my life, and now must face the consequences of those decisions.

Some cats that I used to visit, now I live with
Some of the people I used to visit in prison are now my cellmates or fellow inmates, and I have become part of this new community.

Along with swillas, killers, drug dealers, some rich brothas
In prison, I am living among people who have committed various crimes and come from all walks of life.

Crackheads, con artists, child molesters, dick suckers
There is a wide range of people with different backgrounds and criminal histories in prison, including those who have committed unspeakable crimes.

All types of individuals, sorta like a melting pot for criminals
Prison is a place where many different types of people are brought together, creating a diverse yet dangerous environment.

The system is designed to stock it plentiful
The prison system is designed to hold and punish as many people as possible, creating a profitable industry of incarceration.

This old cat from the hood
An older person from my neighborhood.

Told me, "Out of every bad situation comes some good"
This wise person imparted the lesson that even in difficult circumstances, there can still be some positive outcomes or growth.

It's understood, prison ain't good for my health
I recognize that being in prison is detrimental to my physical and mental well-being.

Lookin in the mirror, introducin me to myself
Being in prison has forced me to reflect on myself and my actions, and get to know myself on a deeper level.

I studied my thoughts, my ways, the routes I took
I have taken the time to analyze my own thoughts, behaviors, and decision-making that led me to end up in prison.

Though I read daily, it ain't all about the books
Even though I spend a lot of time reading in prison, the most important lessons I have learned have come from my own personal experiences and reflection.

It's all about the lessons you learn, through your experience
The most valuable insights and knowledge come from the experiences and challenges we face, rather than just reading about them or being told what to do.

Applyin it in a positive way, period
The true test of wisdom and personal growth is in applying the lessons we learn in a positive way and making meaningful changes to our lives and behaviors.

All praise due to Allah, I used to scheme
I used to engage in negative and harmful behaviors, but now give thanks to my faith for helping me find a better path.

'Til he showed me the straight way - sirat al mustaqeem
My faith has helped me find a clear and righteous path in life, leading me away from harmful behaviors and towards a more positive and fulfilling existence.

Now I'm on the V-I, tellin Moms about Islam
Having been released from prison, I am free to share my faith with others and share my experiences of personal growth.

She called me a blasphemous fool, I stayed calm
My mother initially did not approve of my newfound faith and called me names, but I remained level-headed and patient in our discussions.

The world wasn't ready for the changes I made
The people around me were not necessarily supportive or receptive to the positive changes I had made in my life while in prison.

They was waitin for the nigga I was in twelfth grade
People had preconceived notions and expectations of me from my past, and were surprised or resistant to see me grow and evolve as a person.

Everyday, the same old thing, I walked the yard
I spent countless days in the prison yard, with little variation in routine or activities.

Sit up in the chow hall, with Abdul Rahim
I spent time eating meals with a fellow inmate named Abdul Rahim.

Cats waitin in infirmary lines, for they medicines
Other inmates were often waiting in long lines at the prison infirmary, in need of medical attention or medication.

Boorish Americans, walk around with circle sevens
Some prisoners exhibited disrespectful or rude behaviors, while others wore badges indicating their status or level within the prison hierarchy.

And older heads playin horseshoes, sometimes chess
Some older inmates played horseshoes or chess to pass the time and relieve boredom.

Trippin when I first seen a faggot with breasts
I was surprised and taken aback when I first encountered a transgender person in prison.

In the shower with a cat, gettin hit from the back
I witnessed sexual activity between male inmates in the prison shower, including acts of rape and coersion.

White dudes, on basketball courts kickin hacky-sacks
Despite the difficult circumstances, some prisoners found ways to pass the time and enjoy themselves in simple ways.

Ball games, card games, face it
Sports and card games were common pastimes among prisoners.

Everybody, time on they hands, most of it wasted
Most people in prison have a lot of idle time on their hands, which can lead to unproductive behavior or detrimental habits.

Anything to make the time fly soon as possible
People in prison will do whatever they can to make the time pass more quickly, often engaging in risky or dangerous behavior to pass the time.

Some cats used to sleep all day, that's unacceptable
Some inmates would sleep excessively or avoid participating in prison activities altogether, which was frowned upon by other prisoners.

Heads getting cracked over unpaid debts
Some prisoners would become violent or aggressive towards others who could not repay debts owed.

Either a shank or a lock on the side would do the trick
Some prisoners would use makeshift weapons such as knives or locks to harm others or defend themselves.

Correction officers, devil's advocate
The prison guards or correction officers were often unsympathetic to the struggles and complaints of the inmates, and instead acted as antagonists to them.

And when its time to go home, parole boards wasn't havin it
Even when inmates become eligible for parole or release, the board responsible for making these decisions often denies them this chance at freedom.

Life was hell everyday the devil's tryin me
Everyday in prison felt like a living hell, with constant struggles and challenges that tested my resolve and sanity.

But, I paid my debt to society
Despite the difficulties of living in prison, I am able to find some solace in knowing that I have made amends for my past mistakes and errors in judgement.

And after twenty-seven months, of my life
I spent twenty-seven months of my life living in prison.

I'll tell you one thing, I know why the caged bird sings
Through my experiences in prison, I have come to understand and relate to the struggles of other people living in confinement or bondage.

In jail, without the bail (repeat throughout Outro)
The repeated phrase emphasizes the experience of being locked up without the possibility of bail or release.

Yo, yo, yo, yo, yeah, y'knowm sayin?
An common phrase used to indicate agreement or recognition in urban slang.

This goes out to all the caged birds out there, y'knowm sayin?
The artist is using this song as a message of hope and empathy for those who are trapped or confined in some way.

Everybody who know why the caged bird sings, y'knowm sayin?
Those who can relate to the struggles of being confined or oppressed can understand the message of this song and the emotions it evokes.

I know why the caged bird sings.
The artist speaks from personal experience and empathy for the struggles of those in confinement or bondage.

In jail, in jail, in jail, in jail, I sung the same song
The repeated phrase emphasizes the experience of being stuck in a repetitive and monotonous routine while in prison.