The Prisoner
Dan & Dan Lyrics
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Spent his whole life working on
The dreams of other men
Never took the chances that he always wanted to
Lived his life through heroes
And his heroes never knew
He said, don't put me in a suit and tie
When my time comes for me
With all the dreams I never dreamed
Put me in a t-shirt and my faded dungarees
Turn me into fire into something
Unpredictable and free
Billy understood why he was angry all the time
Everybody loved him
'Cause he never spoke his mind
Got down on his knees said to his God deliver me
Take away this other man that I pretend to be
He said, don't put any words
Inside of my mouth when I'm dead
Don't put me in a box
With everything I left unsaid
Don't say anything
You don't know what was in my head
Turn me into fire, let the fire speak for me instead
Billy met a man transcended
All his hatred for himself
Billy asked him how he did this
Billy asked him how it felt
Before he got his answer
Something woke him from his sleep
Man was just an apparition it was just a dream
He said, don't play no haunted dirges
In the church when I am gone
Don't put me in a box
With all of my unwritten songs
Let me lay a while with my favorite records on
Turn me into fire
Something faithful to itself to gaze upon
Half moon casts a brilliant light
Upon the autumn leaves
Searching through his failings
Looking for his destiny
Billy took the filter hose and went into the garage
Pulled it through the window
Started up the car
Sat there with the taste of life and death
Inside his mouth
Turned the engine off and went back in the house
He said, don't put me in a column
In the paper when I'm gone
Don't put me in a box
Where I can never see the sun
Bring me down the river, let me hear the river run
Lay my ashes on the water
Let it turn me and the river into one
Don't put me in a suit and tie
When my time comes for me
Don't put me in a box
With all the dreams I never dreamed
Put me in a t-shirt and my faded dungarees
Turn me into fire into something
Unpredictable and free
Billy drove into the city every day at six am
"The Prisoner" by Dan & Dan tells the story of Billy, a man who has spent his entire life working for others and suppressing his own desires. He has always admired heroes and lived his life vicariously through them, never taking the chances he yearns for. The lyrics express Billy's plea to be remembered as someone who broke free from societal expectations and lived his life authentically. He rejects the idea of being confined to a suit and tie in death, asking instead to be remembered as unpredictable and free. Billy's anger stems from his inability to speak his mind, as he is loved by everyone for his silence. He prays to be delivered from the person he pretends to be and longs for his true thoughts and desires to be heard.
In his search for self-discovery, Billy encounters a man who transcends his own self-hatred, inspiring Billy to ask how he achieved such peace. However, before he receives an answer, he awakens from what turns out to be a dream or apparition. This experience further emphasizes Billy's internal struggle and desire for liberation.
The song's final verse takes a darker turn as Billy contemplates suicide. He sits in his car with the taste of life and death in his mouth, but ultimately decides against it and returns home. He pleads not to be remembered in a negative light after his death, longing instead to be laid to rest in nature, where he can be one with the river and find peace.
Overall, "The Prisoner" portrays Billy's journey to break free from the constraints and expectations placed upon him, ultimately seeking authenticity and liberation.
Line by Line Meaning
Billy drove into the city every day at six am
Billy had a routine of going to the city every morning at six o'clock
Spent his whole life working on
The dreams of other men
He dedicated his entire life to fulfilling the ambitions and goals of others
Never took the chances that he always wanted to
He never seized the opportunities he truly desired
Lived his life through heroes
And his heroes never knew
He found solace in living vicariously through his idols, but they were unaware of his admiration
He said, don't put me in a suit and tie
When my time comes for me
Don't put me in a box
With all the dreams I never dreamed
He expressed his wish not to be confined or labeled after his passing, with his unfulfilled aspirations unacknowledged
Put me in a t-shirt and my faded dungarees
Turn me into fire into something
Unpredictable and free
Instead, he desired to be remembered as someone spontaneous, untamed, and liberated
Billy understood why he was angry all the time
Billy comprehended the reasons behind his constant anger
Everybody loved him
'Cause he never spoke his mind
Despite not expressing his true thoughts, people admired him
Got down on his knees said to his God deliver me
Take away this other man that I pretend to be
In a moment of vulnerability, he pleaded to be freed from the false identity he presented to the world
He said, don't put any words
Inside of my mouth when I'm dead
He requested not to be misrepresented or have words attributed to him after his death
Don't put me in a box
With everything I left unsaid
He desired not to be confined with all the thoughts and emotions he never expressed
Don't say anything
You don't know what was in my head
He cautioned against making assumptions about his inner thoughts and feelings
Turn me into fire, let the fire speak for me instead
Instead, he wanted his passion and intensity to serve as his voice and representation
Billy met a man transcended
All his hatred for himself
Billy encountered an individual who had overcome self-loathing
Billy asked him how he did this
Billy asked him how it felt
Billy inquired about the man's method and the emotions associated with his transformation
Before he got his answer
Something woke him from his sleep
However, before receiving a response, he was interrupted by an awakening or disturbance
Man was just an apparition it was just a dream
The man he spoke to turned out to be a figment of his imagination, only existing in a dream
He said, don't play no haunted dirges
In the church when I am gone
He requested not to have mournful and gloomy music played at his funeral
Don't put me in a box
With all of my unwritten songs
He desired not to be confined with his unexpressed music and creativity
Let me lay a while with my favorite records on
Instead, he wanted to rest in peace, surrounded by his beloved music
Turn me into fire
Something faithful to itself to gaze upon
He wanted to transform into something vibrant and true to itself, worthy of admiration
Half moon casts a brilliant light
Upon the autumn leaves
The half moon illuminates the autumn foliage with a stunning radiance
Searching through his failings
Looking for his destiny
Amidst his mistakes and shortcomings, he sought to find his true purpose
Billy took the filter hose and went into the garage
Billy grabbed the hose used for filtering and entered the garage
Pulled it through the window
Started up the car
He threaded the hose through a window and ignited the car's engine
Sat there with the taste of life and death
Inside his mouth
As he sat inside the car, the sensation of both life and death overwhelmed him
Turned the engine off and went back in the house
He deactivated the engine and returned to the house
He said, don't put me in a column
In the paper when I'm gone
He didn't want to be featured in an obituary or any other form of commemoration in the newspaper
Don't put me in a box
Where I can never see the sun
He requested not to be confined where he would never experience freedom or joy
Bring me down the river, let me hear the river run
Instead, he wished to be taken to a river and listen to the soothing sound of its flowing waters
Lay my ashes on the water
Let it turn me and the river into one
He desired for his ashes to be scattered on the water, uniting his essence with the river
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Dan Pallotta
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind