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Trapped in a Box
No Doubt Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

You're trapped in a box of tremendous size
It distorts my vision, it closes my eyes
Attracts filthy flies and pollutes in the skies
It sucks up our lives and proliferates lies
Trapped in a box

Trapped in a box, four walls as sky
Got a screen for a window about two feet wide
My mind rides and slides as my circuits are fried
No room for thought, use the box as my guide
Trapped in a box

Ooh, trapped in a box
Watch the world as it flocks
To life's paradox
And we're all trapped in a box

Oh, trapped in a box, I'm not alone
I know of others with a box as their home
A light only enters from a crack or a hole
Oh, this is not enough for a human to grow
Trapped in a box

Ooh, trapped in a box
Watch the world as it flocks
To life's paradox
And we're all trapped in a box

Always wanting a different view
Instant gratification for you
Reality gone with a single click
I just hope that, that switch won't stick

Ah trapped in a box my life becomes void
And all of the thought for myself's now destroyed
Controlling my mind, what to eat, what to buy
Subliminal rules, how to live, how to die
Trapped in a box

Ooh trapped in a box
Watch the, the world as it flocks
To life's paradox
And we're all, we're trapped in a box
Ooh, trapped in a box
Watch the world as it flocks
To life's paradox
We're all trapped in a box

Ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh
(We're all trapped in a box)

Overall Meaning

The song Trapped in a Box by No Doubt is a critique of the banality and conformity of modern living, where people are trapped inside their own personal boxes or bubbles, unable to break free from the confines of their technology and consumer culture. The lyrics describe the experience of being trapped in a box of tremendous size which distorts vision and closes eyes. The box attracts filthy flies and pollutes the skies, sucking up lives and proliferating lies. The walls of the box limit free thought and movement, with no possibility for personal growth. The chorus repeats the phrase "Trapped in a box" highlighting the idea that we are all trapped and unable to escape our technological, consumerist society.


The song raises the issue of how people are becoming increasingly disconnected from the natural world and each other. The box represents our modern lifestyle, with the screen acting as a window, limiting our view and providing a false sense of reality. The lyrics suggest that we are becoming increasingly isolated and reliant on our technology, which is ultimately limiting our ability to live fully.


Overall, Trapped in a Box is a powerful message against conformity and encourages people to break free from their boxes and embrace the world beyond their screens, striving for real connection and experiences.


Line by Line Meaning

You're trapped in a box of tremendous size
The world that you live in is so vast that it's almost impossible to escape from it.


It distorts my vision, it closes my eyes
The world you exist in can be overwhelming and it often obscures the truth from view, blinding you to what's really going on.


Attracts filthy flies and pollutes in the skies
The world that we've built around ourselves is full of negative elements that poison our lives and corrupt our environment.


It sucks up our lives and proliferates lies
The world consumes us and feeds us lies that distract us from finding true fulfillment.


Trapped in a box
Repetition of the chorus to emphasize being stuck in a confining world.


Trapped in a box, four walls as sky
Continuing to describe the surroundings as a bleak space with very few opportunities for growth.


Got a screen for a window about two feet wide
The only way to see beyond the walls is through a limited, technology-based interface.


My mind rides and slides as my circuits are fried
The technology-driven world you inhabit has drained your creativity and control, leaving you at the mercy of your devices.


No room for thought, use the box as my guide
The world leaves little space for critical thinking and encourages the acceptance of what's presented through technology-based means.


Ooh, trapped in a box
Repetition of the chorus to emphasize being stuck in a confining world.


Watch the world as it flocks
Observing the masses as they mindlessly follow the status quo.


To life's paradox
The ironic nature of the world's oppressive and limiting nature.


And we're all trapped in a box
We're all affected by the world we live in and its limitations.


Oh, trapped in a box, I'm not alone
There are others that feel and experience the same confinements and limitations.


I know of others with a box as their home
Others have made the same choices and become limited by the greater world around them as well.


A light only enters from a crack or a hole
Even the tiny sparks of hope and inspiration are difficult to find when the rest of the world is so overwhelming.


Oh, this is not enough for a human to grow
Even when humans cling to hope, it's not enough to achieve overall growth in a confining world.


Always wanting a different view
The innate desire of humans to seek out new experiences and escape from the confining world they inhabit.


Instant gratification for you
The world around us encourages instant gratification and immediate pleasure as opposed to genuine fulfillment through self-discovery.


Reality gone with a single click
The world we live in is so fluid and changing that what feels like reality is always subject to change.


I just hope that, that switch won't stick
Hope that we don't become so entrenched in the confined world that we can no longer see a way out.


Ah trapped in a box my life becomes void
The world drains the passion and spirit from our lives and leaves a void in its place.


And all of the thought for myself's now destroyed
Individual thought and exploration of self are lost in a world that encourages blind acceptance and technological consumption.


Controlling my mind, what to eat, what to buy
The world regulates our choices and consumption to encourage greater control and extension of its reach.


Subliminal rules, how to live, how to die
The subtle, insidious regulations of the world that shape and control our entire lives.


Ooh trapped in a box
Repetition of the chorus to emphasize being stuck in a confining world.


Watch the, the world as it flocks
Observing the masses as they mindlessly follow the status quo.


We're all, we're trapped in a box
We're all affected by the world we live in and its limitations.


Ooh ooh ooh ooh
Instrumental break.


Ooh
Conclusion of instrumental break.


(We're all trapped in a box)
Reiterating the theme that the world constrains us all.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Eric Matthew Stefani, Gwen Renee Stefani, Thomas Dumont, Tony Ashwin Kanal

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@edithvega8127

Trapped in a box of tremendous size
It distorts my vision, it closes my eyes
Attracts filthy flies and pollutes in the skies
Sucks up our lives and proliferates lies
Trapped in a box
Trapped in a box, four walls as sky
Got a screen for a window about two feet wide
My mind rides and slides as my circuits are fried
No room for thought, use the box as my guide
Trapped in a box
Trapped in a box
Watch the world as it flocks
To life's paradox
We're all trapped in a box
Trapped in a box I'm not alone
I know of others with a box as their home
Light only enters from a crack or a hole
This is not enough for a human to grow
Trapped in a box
Always wanting a different view
Instant gratification for you
Reality gone WITH a single click
Just hope that that switch won't stick
Trapped in a box my life becomes void
All I thought for myself is now destroyed
Controlling my mind, what to eat, what to buy
Subliminal rules: how to live, how to die
Trapped in a box
Always wanting a different view
Instant gratification for you
Reality gone WITH a single click
Just hope that that switch won't stick



All comments from YouTube:

@DancemomsGirlys

my funeral song

@gildedsinn

+DancemomsGirlys lmao xD

@AwestaKhalid

+DancemomsGirlys lol that was hilarious!

@dirtyx4241

You made my night!

@_swampfirefae1087

What a truly original comment. ._."

@AwestaKhalid

_ sampfirefae​ lighten up, Francis 

57 More Replies...

@lilymae7516

Her brother was an amazing song writer as well. This family is talented! Never forget Eric Stefani.

@rachaelb.

Yes, never forget! I believe he might have been one of her inspirations to start her singing career.

@eltravo2112

And he casually just builds an amazing career as an animator for the Simpsons. So much talent in their family!

@munkieblues2474

@Rachael B. from what i read years ago her brother wanted a band but didnt want to sing so he got Gwen to sing them, would you belive she was shy first few times on stage.
i love the wackiness too the songs, makes you wanna be a inflatable waving hands car sale thing XD

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