Satisfy
Jerry Cantrell Lyrics
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How you cage a bird aflight
Feathers bright
To show your might
Are you such a stone
Smile greasy, you pick my bones
Crawl inside
Hard times on the refugee
Keep a sidesteppin' over me
Not sure but you think you might
Can you see when there is no light
Tell me once again
That you'd like to be my friend
While we run
A race of one
Do you feel the same
My head hung high in shame
You install
A trophy wall
Hard times on the refugee
Keep a sidesteppin' over me
Not sure but you think you might
Can you see when there is no light
Please me
Satisfy
One request
Choose to live...
The lyrics to "Satisfy" by Jerry Cantrell seem to be addressing someone who is intimidating and domineering. The first stanza contains the metaphor of a caged bird, suggesting that the person in question is trying to control someone else's freedom and individuality. The reference to feathers being bright could imply that the person is attracted to something flashy and attention-grabbing, rather than valuing substance or character. The next line, "To show your might," reinforces the idea that this person is concerned with exerting power over others.
In the second stanza, the lyrics are more confrontational, using imagery of bones and crawling inside to suggest a lack of empathy or regard for others. The line "Have you no life" seems to accuse the person of being empty or purposeless, and perhaps trying to fill that void by controlling someone else.
The bridge of the song raises the possibility that the singer and the person being addressed were once friends, but now the singer feels ashamed and belittled. The reference to a "trophy wall" suggests that this person collects people they feel they have conquered or dominated in some way, adding them to a collection of sorts.
The chorus of the song seems to be a plea for the person to consider the singer's desires or needs. "Please me/Satisfy/One request/Choose to live" could be interpreted as the singer asking the person to stop trying to control them and instead focus on shared goals or positive connection.
Overall, the lyrics paint a picture of a toxic relationship where one person is using power and intimidation to control the other. The singer seems to be trying to break away from this dynamic and assert their own agency and worth.
Line by Line Meaning
I would like to know
The singer wants to understand something.
How you cage a bird aflight
The singer is questioning how someone can capture a bird in flight, with its feathers shining as it flies, to prove their power over it.
Feathers bright
The bird's feathers are brightly colored, adding to its beauty and wonder in flight.
To show your might
Capturing the bird shows the power and control of the captor over the creature.
Are you such a stone
The artist questions whether the person they are addressing has emotions, feelings or empathy at all.
Smile greasy, you pick my bones
The person being addressed takes advantage of the singer and their resources, leaving them with nothing afterwards.
Crawl inside
The person being addressed seems to be insincere and manipulative, trying to get close to the singer in a deceptive way.
Have you no life
The artist wonders whether the person being addressed has their own purpose or passion that they pursue, or whether they are only focused on manipulating others for their own gain.
Hard times on the refugee
The artist feels like a refugee and is struggling to make it through tough times.
Keep a sidesteppin' over me
Despite the artist's struggles, others seem to just ignore them or use them as a stepping stone to their own success.
Not sure but you think you might
The singer wonders if the person being addressed even realizes what they're doing or how their actions affect others.
Can you see when there is no light
When things are dark and difficult, can this person still see the humanity and worth of others?
Tell me once again
The singer wants confirmation from the person being addressed on a prior statement or promise.
That you'd like to be my friend
The singer questions the sincerity of the person being addressed, who claims to want to be friends with them.
While we run
The singer and the person being addressed are engaged in some sort of competition or activity together.
A race of one
Despite being in some sort of competition with the other person, the artist feels like they're on their own - the other person is not truly invested in the competition or relationship.
Do you feel the same
The artist questions whether the person being addressed has genuine feelings for them or is simply using them.
My head hung high in shame
The singer is embarrassed or ashamed by the way they've been treated by the other person.
You install
The other person puts something in place or creates something to show off their own achievements or success.
A trophy wall
This 'installation' is likely a wall dedicated to displaying awards, achievements, or other accomplishments in order to assert dominance over others.
Please me
The artist wants to be satisfied or pleased in some way.
Satisfy
The artist is requesting that the other person fulfill their desires or needs in some way, whether it be emotionally, physically, or otherwise.
One request
The singer has only one demand or wish for the other person to fulfill.
Choose to live...
The other person has a choice to make about how they will treat the artist and live their life, and the artist is asking them to make the right decision.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Jerry Cantrell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind