Caged Bird
J. Cole Lyrics

Yeah, caged bird
The singer compares themselves to a caged bird.

Something like a caged bird
The singer continues to compare themselves to a caged bird, emphasizing their trapped state.

Caged bird
Once again, the singer asserts that they are like a caged bird.

Yeah, look
The artist invites the listener to pay attention to their words.

You ain't a man till you stop chasing your friends, my nigga
To be truly independent and mature, one must stop following the crowd and make their own decisions.

Think for yourself, make your own plans, my nigga
Related to the previous line, the singer counsels self-reliance and self-directed action.

I'll be lying if I said I ain't understand, my nigga
The singer acknowledges that it can be hard to break away from peer pressure and find one's own path.

Cause who you gon' follow when the leaders all get swallowed
When those in positions of authority are corrupted or led astray, it becomes difficult to find a good example to follow.

By reefer clouds and bottles
The artist suggests that drug and alcohol abuse are among the things that can distract and mislead people.

In and out of county jail
The criminal justice system disproportionately affects black men and can keep them trapped in cycles of incarceration and recidivism.

This is hell, see the young black males in packed cells
The singer describes the dehumanizing and oppressive conditions of the prison system, particularly for black men.

With they heads down
The image of bowed heads suggests resignation and defeat.

And they fists clenched tight
On the other hand, the image of clenched fists suggests anger and frustration.

Thinking "I could bust a hole through this wall / And bitch I just might"
The singer imagines the rebellious impulses that incarceration can foster.

It's just like the caged bird I sing a song / Hoping they open up these bars and send a nigga home
The singer continues to compare their own experience to that of a caged bird, and hopes for freedom.

I cry when I'm alone
The artist reveals that they experience sadness and despair in private.

I'm wondering why would God send me here
The artist questions the justice of their situation and the role of a higher power.

Knowing that they hate us
The singer acknowledges the systemic racism and prejudice that contribute to the oppression of black people.

Knowing that they make us feel like we evil so we kill our people
The singer suggests that the negative portrayal of black people in society can lead to self-hatred and violence among members of the same community.

Without a second thought, in every lesson taught by OGs
The artist implicates older, influential members of the black community in perpetuating a culture of violence.

We full of real nigga wisdom, so we proceed
The artist suggests that this violent culture is reinforced and glamorized through certain cultural messages.

Like real niggas who been stripped of our humanity
The artist reflects on the dehumanizing effects of systemic racism and oppression, and how they can contribute to a culture of violence within the black community.

I see the judge's eyes, I know that he ain't understanding me
The singer reflects on the systemic bias within the criminal justice system, and how it often fails to provide justice or understanding for black defendants.

Freedom's just an illusion, that's my conclusion / And if it ain't, then how my niggas keep on losin' theirs?
The artist contemplates the lack of true freedom and justice in society, particularly for black people.

This goes out to childhood friends that's doin' years / Prison tats on they backs like souvenirs / We wish that you was here / A mother's tear spilled on this page / A brother's tear spilled on this page / How many days left?
The singer mourns the lost potential and suffering of friends and family members who are incarcerated.

And can you find peace when you released / Still filled up wit' rage / Back on the streets just to peep that you still in the cage
The singer considers the difficulty of re-entering society after incarceration, and how the experience can leave people feeling trapped and angry.

Well, it's the oratory vet / Turned down king slash poet laureate
The singer introduces himself as a skilled orator who uses his talent to speak truth to power through music.

Used to paint a picture with a story of neglect
The artist describes their earlier work, which often focused on the ways that marginalized individuals are mistreated and ignored by society.

I could've been a shorty drinking 40s on the steps / With a shorty on my lap / With a shorty on the way coming shortly to protect
The artist reflects on how their life could have taken a very different path, and how they avoided some of the pitfalls that many young black men fall into.

I could've been a dealer in the party with the X / But I'm hardly in the mix and I partially confess
The singer acknowledges that they are not immune to the temptations and pressures of the street life, but also asserts that they have made different choices than some of their peers.

I definitely got a couple parts in me that I regret
The singer admits to having made mistakes along the way, despite their overall success.

Is the cup half-empty or is it half-full?
The artist contemplates whether to focus on the negatives or positives in their life.

I fill mine up with Hennessy, then get back to him
The artist suggests that they cope with life's challenges by drinking alcohol, but also by returning to their music and passion for writing.

I'm just a jazz musician trapped in a rap form
The artist uses a metaphor to describe their artistic identity and the ways they blend different traditions and influences.

You think you standing for something you on a trap door
The singer cautions against false confidence and arrogance, suggesting that one can easily fall into traps and pitfalls without realizing it.

Well it's the, Mr. Introspective
The artist describes their style and approach to music, which often involves thoughtful exploration of personal experience and societal issues.

I'm a dreamers dream, a sort of an inception
The singer describes their creative vision as a kind of dream within a dream, with layers of meaning and complexity.

I never fiend for the scene but I dreamed of the things / That a Mercedes brings, like slow sex with fast women
The singer suggests that they are not motivated by the superficial trappings of fame and money, but does enjoy some of the perks that come with success.

Drinking cognac I'm past grinning / A sexy dress, fat ass in it / But still hit it till I'm half-winded / Cause niggas tell me I'm the shit
The singer continues to describe their experiences with fame and luxury, but also subverts traditional notions of masculine bravado and pleasure by emphasizing vulnerability.

Well I be hitting all these dimes / See I'm caged by the visions of the blind
The artist describes their romantic and sexual exploits, but also acknowledges that they feel trapped by the expectations of the music industry and society more broadly.

I started as a king / Turned to a slave / Put us in our chains / We was forced to entertain
The artist reflects on the history of slavery and systemic oppression of black people, suggesting that many forms of entertainment and cultural production have their roots in this legacy of exploitation and degradation.

Thinking bout the present day I'm living off the stage / Wonder if a nigga ever get up out this cage
The singer reflects on their life and the ways that they still feel trapped and limited by societal expectations and systems of power and oppression.

As I sing
The singer returns to the metaphor of the caged bird, suggesting that they will continue to express themselves and voice their struggles through music, even if they cannot escape their confinement.