Back Against the Wall
Ofln - Cage The Elephant Lyrics


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Tonight, I'll have a look and try to find my face again
Buried beneath this house
My spirit screams and dies again
Out back, a monster wears a cloak of Persian leather
Behind the TV screen, I've fallen to my knees

I said, you've got me where you want me again and I can't turn away
I'm hanging by a thread and I'm feeling like I'll fall
I'm stuck here in between these shadows of my yesterday
I want to get away, I need to get away

Blanket of silence makes me want to sink my teeth in deep
Burn all the evidence of fabricated disbelief
Pull back the curtains, took a look into your eyes
My tongue has now become a platform for your lies

I said, you've got me where you want me again and I can't turn away
I'm hanging by a thread and I'm feeling like I'll fall
I'm stuck here in between these shadows of my yesterday
I want to get away, I need to get away

Now you know, yeah
You've got my back against the wall
Oh God, I ain't got no other place to hide
Chained down, like a sitting duck just waiting for the fall
You know, yeah
You've got my back against the wall

Deep in the jungle, camouflaged by all the fallen leaves
A hand holds up the sky while, shamefully, I make my plea
The altar's calling, but my legs won't seem to stand
Guess I'm a coward scared to face the man I am

I said, you've got me where you want me again and I can't turn away
I'm hanging by a thread and I'm feeling like I'll fall
I'm stuck here in between these shadows of my yesterday
I want to get away, I need to get away

Now you know, yeah
You've got my back against the wall
Oh God, I ain't got no other place to hide
Chained down, like a sitting duck just waiting for the fall
You know, yeah
You've got my back against the wall

Now you know, yeah
You've got my back against the wall
Oh God, I ain't got no other place to hide
Chained down, like a sitting duck just waiting for the fall




You know, yeah
You've got my back against the wall

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Back Against the Wall" by Cage The Elephant speak about feeling trapped and helpless, as if the singer's back is against the wall. The first verse describes a sense of losing oneself and feeling like a monster in hiding. The line "blanket of silence makes me want to sink my teeth in deep" could refer to a feeling of suffocation and the desire to break free from it. The second verse speaks about feeling betrayed by someone close and being stuck in a situation where the singer is constantly lied to. The chorus repeats the image of feeling trapped against a wall, with nowhere else to go. The ending verse describes a sense of shame and cowardice, with the singer feeling unable to confront their own problems head-on.


The song is an exploration of the feeling of being trapped, and the desperation that comes with it. The repeated refrain of "you've got my back against the wall" emphasizes this feeling, as if someone else has all the power and control over the singer's life. The use of violent imagery such as "sink my teeth in deep", "chained down", and "fall" reinforces this idea of powerlessness and being trapped in a life that the singer doesn't want.


One interpretation of the song could be that it's about addiction, with the singer feeling trapped by their own substance abuse. Another interpretation could be that it's about relationships, with the singer feeling stuck in a toxic relationship and unable to break free.


Line by Line Meaning

Tonight, I'll have a look and try to find my face again
I'm lost and I don't know who I am. I need to search and rediscover myself.


Buried beneath this house
I'm trapped in a physical place that's holding me down.


My spirit screams and dies again
My soul is suffering, and I feel like giving up.


Out back, a monster wears a cloak of Persian leather
There's something dangerous lurking in the shadows of my life.


Behind the TV screen, I've fallen to my knees
I'm emotionally and mentally exhausted, and I feel defeated.


Blanket of silence makes me want to sink my teeth in deep
I'm surrounded by quietness that feels suffocating.


Burn all the evidence of fabricated disbelief
I want to get rid of anything that's lying to me or holding me down.


Pull back the curtains, took a look into your eyes
I need to confront the truth and face reality head-on.


My tongue has now become a platform for your lies
I'm being fed lies, and I'm struggling with speaking up against it.


Now you know, yeah You've got my back against the wall
I'm backed into a corner, and I don't know how to escape.


Oh God, I ain't got no other place to hide
I feel exposed and vulnerable, with nowhere to turn to for safety.


Chained down, like a sitting duck just waiting for the fall
I'm stuck and helpless, waiting for something bad to happen.


Deep in the jungle, camouflaged by all the fallen leaves
I'm surrounded by chaos and confusion that's hiding the way forward.


A hand holds up the sky while, shamefully, I make my plea
I feel small and insignificant, while the world seems to be falling apart around me.


The altar's calling, but my legs won't seem to stand
I want to find peace and comfort, but I'm too weak to go after it.


Guess I'm a coward scared to face the man I am
I'm full of self-doubt and worry, and I'm scared to confront who I truly am.


I want to get away, I need to get away
I need an escape from my current situation, but I don't know where to go.


I'm hanging by a thread and I'm feeling like I'll fall
I'm barely holding on, and I fear that I'll give up any moment.


I said, you've got me where you want me again and I can't turn away
Someone or something else has control over me, and I'm powerless to fight back.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Brad Shultz, Daniel Tichenor, Jared Champion, Lincoln Parish, Matt Shultz

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

@Diesel1Dain

[Verse 1]
Tonight, I'll have a look and try to find my face again
Buried beneath this house, my spirit screams and dies again
Out back, a monster wears a cloak of Persian leather
Behind the TV screen, I've fallen to my knees

[Pre-Chorus]
I said, you've got me where you want me again and I can't turn away
I'm hanging by a thread and I'm feeling like I'll fall
I'm stuck here in between these shadows of my yesterday
I want to get away, I need to get away

[Verse 2]
Blanket of silence makes me want to sink my teeth in deep
Burn all the evidence of fabricated disbelief
Pull back the curtains, took a look into your eyes
My tongue has now become a platform for your lies

[Pre-Chorus]
I said, you've got me where you want me again and I can't turn away
I'm hanging by a thread and I'm feeling like I'll fall
I'm stuck here in between these shadows of my yesterday
I want to get away, I need to get away

[Chorus]
Now you know, yeah, you've got my back against the wall
Oh God, I ain't got no other place to hide
Chained down, like a sitting duck just waiting for the fall
You know, yeah, you've got my back against the wall

[Verse 3]
Deep in the jungle, camouflaged by all the fallen leaves
A hand holds up the sky while, shamefully, I make my plea
The altar's calling, but my legs won't seem to stand
Guess I'm a coward scared to face the man I am

[Pre-Chorus]
I said, you've got me where you want me again and I can't turn away
I'm hanging by a thread and I'm feeling like I'll fall
I'm stuck here in between these shadows of my yesterday
I want to get away, I need to get away

[Chorus]
Now you know, yeah, you've got my back against the wall
Oh God, I ain't got no other place to hide
Chained down, like a sitting duck just waiting for the fall
You know, yeah, you've got my back against the wall
Now you know, yeah, you've got my back against the wall
Oh God, I ain't got no other place to hide
Chained down, like a sitting duck just waiting for the fall
You know, yeah, you've got my back against the wall



All comments from YouTube:

@DrBeauHightower

Loved their original sound. Rocked the shit out of these guys back in 2010

@Garrett1240

Yes! When they kept it garage rock. I’ve grown to like their new stuff but it took years.!

@dood9191

hell yeah.

@thewriter6546

Me too, I heard this song on a UFC Road To The Octagon back in the day

@zrules60

so ur gay?

@dood9191

@Z Rules What?

32 More Replies...

@gabriellutz7576

Why isn't this band more popular? Their music is amazing.

@jacksonmcnnally8937

theyre pretty popular

@abrahamg5510

I don't like it when a band goes mainstream because in a way they lose their true form and skills and turn to what the media looks as good.

@jacksonmcnnally8937

abraham Lizaola are you sure about that? You cant generalize all bands, cage the elephant is one of the bands that doesnt give a fuck about the media and they do whatever feels right to them. Aint no rest for the wicked is their most popular song yet its a one of a kind song, each album is different and they will never go mainstream.

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