Jack in the Box
Elysian Fields and DJ Cam Lyrics
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Living in this box
Closed in on all sides
No light, just dark
He kept me under the bed
I'd pray for it to stop
He's lock me safely away
And lie on top
Out comes Jack in the Box
Doing tricks and taking licks
Out comes Jack in the Box
I was an uncut marionette
Hanging by his steel cable thread
I was a shadow dancer
A thousand shakes of red
There's too much light, it's far too bright
I see things much too clearly
There's too much light, it's far too bright
Oh so weary
Pop the latches, open the hatches
Out comes Jack in the Box
Doing tricks and taking licks
Out comes Jack in the Box
If this is all of life outside
Please put me where I'm happy
Where I won't know what to think of this
Black and black, almost sleeping
Please lock me up
Shut me up
Shut up
Jack in the Box
Please lock me up
Shut me down
Jack in the Box
The lyrics of Elysian Fields's Jack In The Box describe the experience of being imprisoned, both physically and mentally, and the desire to escape. The singer has been confined in a box for seven years with no light and no hope of escape. She was kept there by someone who would lock her in and lie on top of her, making her feel trapped and desperate. However, she also speaks of a Jack in the Box, who pops out and takes over as a kind of release, but still controlled by the person who put her in the box. She compares herself to a marionette, hanging by a steel cable thread, and a shadow dancer with a thousand shakes of red, creating the image of a person under constant stress.
The desire to escape from this life does not come from a desire for freedom but rather to be put somewhere where she is happy, even if she does not understand it. The final lines repeat the plea to be locked up, but this time to shut her down along with the Jack in the Box. The last shout of "Jack in the Box" can be interpreted as an expression of pent-up anger or a realization that the only escape from this situation is through self-destruction.
Line by Line Meaning
It's been seven years now
I have been trapped in this box for seven years
Living in this box
I have been confined to this small space
Closed in on all sides
There is no way out, as all sides are sealed
No light, just dark
There is no light inside the box, only darkness
He kept me under the bed
I was kept hidden under the bed by my captor
I'd pray for it to stop
I would pray for my captivity to end
He's lock me safely away
My captor would lock me up to keep me from escaping
And lie on top
My captor would lie on top of the box to keep me trapped inside
Pop the latches, open the hatches
The box is opened, releasing me from my captivity
Out comes Jack in the Box
The toy known as 'Jack in the Box' pops out of the box
Doing tricks and taking licks
The toy performs amusing actions and experiences mistreatment
I was an uncut marionette
I was like an uncarved puppet, molded by my captor's will
Hanging by his steel cable thread
I am suspended by my captor's whims and desires
I was a shadow dancer
I was forced to dance like a shadow, without my own will
A thousand shakes of red
I experienced intense fear, causing my entire body to shake
There's too much light, it's far too bright
The sudden exposure to light is overwhelming and blinding
I see things much too clearly
The clarity of my newfound environment is too overwhelming
Oh so weary
I feel tired and drained after being kept in darkness for so long
If this is all of life outside
If this new world is all there is to life, it is disheartening
Please put me where I'm happy
I want to be placed in a place where I can experience joy
Where I won't know what to think of this
A place where I can be free of the trauma experienced in my captivity
Black and black, almost sleeping
A state of tiredness and fatigue
Please lock me up
I want to be locked up, but this time for safety and security
Shut me up
I want to be free from the burden of my past experiences and put them behind me
Jack in the Box
Referring back to the toy, perhaps as a metaphor for being trapped and mistreated
Shut me down
I want to be free from my trauma and start anew
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RITCHIE CORDELL, SAL TRIMACHI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind