“The meaning in this song is so complicated. I had many free associative sessions where I would sit down with a tape of the music and wrote down whatever came into my head. Sticking with pure inspiration until the very end was a good thing. You limit meaning when you refine it too much.”
Not Even Jail
Interpol Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll lay down in houses
If things come alive
I'll subtract pain by ounces
Yeah, I will start painting houses
If things come alive
I promise to commit no acts of violence
Either physical or otherwise
I'll say it now
I'll say it now
Say it now
Oh I'll say it now
Cause I want it now
When personality is scar tissue
We travel south with this use
I'm subtle like a lion's cage
Such a cautious display
Remember take hold of your time here
Give some meanings to the means
To your end
Not even jail
We marshal in the days of longing
We tremble like aimless children
And wait to watch the fire
And airing on the side of caution
Betraying all the symptoms
But girl you shake it right
I will bounce you on the lap of silence
We will free love to the beats of science
And girl you shake it right
I'll say it now
Oh but all this to learn and your hair's so free
Can't you feel all the warmth of my sincerity
You make motion when you cry
You're making peoples lives feel less private
Don't take time away
You need motion when you cry
We all hold hands
Can we all hold hands
When we make new friends
I pretend like no one else
To try to control myself
I'm sort of like a lion's cage
Such a cautious display
Remember take hold of your time here
Give some meanings to the means
To your end
Not even jail
The opening lines of Interpol's "Not Even Jail" display a sense of self-awareness and determination that exposes a desire to live with honesty and authenticity no matter the cost. By laying down his glasses and laying down in houses, the singer is declaring his willingness to be vulnerable and to actively engage in the world around him if it comes alive in a meaningful way. He promises not to commit acts of violence, physical or otherwise, suggesting a newfound clarity and stability in his life. It feels like an early admission that his personality has become scarred with experience.
The second verse of the song adds depth to the themes introduced at the beginning. The singer acknowledges he is cautious and approaches people and situations with carefulness, comparing his display to that of a lion's cage. He then encourages the listeners to take hold of their time here and give their lives meaning, without letting the fear of vulnerability or harm hold them back. These lyrics could be seen as an acknowledgement of the power of fear and how it can stunt one's personal growth and sense of fulfillment. The repeated phrase 'not even jail' at the end of each verse could be interpreted as an expression of the singer's fearlessness in the face of any kind of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll lay down my glasses
I'll let go of any preconceived notions of how things should be
I'll lay down in houses
I'll make myself vulnerable and open to new experiences
If things come alive
If the world around me becomes more vibrant and interesting
I'll subtract pain by ounces
I'll do my best to lessen any negative feelings, no matter how small the improvement
Yeah, I will start painting houses
I'll take on new projects and tasks to energize myself
If things come alive
If the world around me becomes more vibrant and interesting
I promise to commit no acts of violence
I vow to use my strength and power for good, not destruction
Either physical or otherwise
In all aspects of my life
If things come alive
If the world around me becomes more vibrant and interesting
I'll say it now
I'll speak up about my desires and intentions
I'm subtle like a lion's cage
I may seem imposing, but I'm really restrained and cautious
Such a cautious display
I'm avoiding potential danger or negative outcomes
Remember take hold of your time here
Make the most of your life while you're alive
Give some meanings to the means
Find purpose in the actions you take to achieve your goals
To your end
To your ultimate destination, whether that be a physical place or a metaphorical state of being
Not even jail
I won't be held back by fear or limitations
We marshal in the days of longing
We move forward despite feeling unfulfilled or unsatisfied
We tremble like aimless children
We're uncertain and afraid, like we don't know what to do
And wait to watch the fire
We wait for something exciting or dangerous to happen
And airing on the side of caution
We're being careful and not taking any unnecessary risks
Betraying all the symptoms
We're not showing our true selves, hiding behind a facade of normalcy
But girl you shake it right
You have the power to inspire and motivate others
I will bounce you on the lap of silence
I'll be there to comfort you in quiet moments
We will free love to the beats of science
We'll celebrate love and connection, even in the midst of chaos and uncertainty
I pretend like no one else
I'm not trying to impress anyone, I'm being myself
To try to control myself
To avoid becoming too emotional or vulnerable
Can't you feel all the warmth of my sincerity
Can't you tell how genuinely I feel about you?
You make motion when you cry
You inspire others with your honesty and vulnerability
You're making peoples lives feel less private
You're breaking down barriers and helping people connect on a deeper level
Don't take time away
Don't let life pass you by without making meaningful connections and memories
We all hold hands
We're all in this together, connected by our humanity
Can we all hold hands
Can we come together and support each other through difficult times?
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Carlos Andres Dengler, Daniel Alexander Kessler, Paul Julian Banks, Samuel J Fogarino
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind