My Body Is A Cage
Peter Gabriel Lyrics


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My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key

My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key
I'm standing on a stage
Of fear and self-doubt
It's a hollow play
But they'll clap anyway

My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key

You're standing next to me
My mind holds the key

I'm living in an age
That calls darkness light
Though my language is dead
Still the shapes fill my head

I'm living in an age
Whose name I don't know
Though the fear keeps me moving
Still my heart beats so slow

My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key

You're standing next to me
My mind holds the key
My body is a

My body is a cage
We take what we're given
Just because you've forgotten
That don't mean you're forgiven

I'm living in an age
That screams my name at night
But when I get to the doorway
There's no one in sight

My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key

You're standing next to me
My mind holds the key

Set my spirit free




Set my spirit free
Set my body free

Overall Meaning

In Peter Gabriel's song "My Body Is A Cage", the singer speaks of a feeling of confinement, which is created by his own physical body. He feels that he is trapped and cannot fully connect or express his emotions, particularly with the person he loves, because of his body. However, he feels that his mind holds the key to his freedom. He describes himself as standing on a stage of fear and self-doubt, where he is performing to please others, despite feeling hollow. He sees his body as a cage that keeps him incarcerated, and yet, in the midst of all this, he is aware that his mind holds the key.


Gabriel's use of metaphor, such as the body being a cage, and the mind holding the key is a powerful reflection of the human condition. Many of us can relate to the feeling of being constrained or restricted in some way, whether physical or emotional, and how our minds can help us to find the freedom that we crave. The song speaks to the importance of the mind in finding personal freedom and liberty.


Line by Line Meaning

My body is a cage that keeps me From dancing with the one I love But my mind holds the key
I feel confined and restrained physically, which prevents me from being with the person I love, but mentally, I have the power to overcome it.


I'm standing on a stage Of fear and self-doubt It's a hollow play But they'll clap anyway
I am constantly battling with anxiety and lack of self-confidence while pretending to be someone I'm not, but people will still applaud me regardless.


You're standing next to me My mind holds the key
You are close to me, but I am still struggling and only my mind can save me.


I'm living in an age That calls darkness light Though my language is dead Still the shapes fill my head
I exist in a time where people misinterpret things and distort the truth, and even though no one speaks my language anymore, I still have vivid images in my mind.


I'm living in an age Whose name I don't know Though the fear keeps me moving Still my heart beats so slow
I am alive in a generation that I cannot name, and although I am afraid, I continue to move forward, even though my heart beats slowly.


My body is a cage We take what we're given Just because you've forgotten That don't mean you're forgiven
I am trapped and limited by my physical body and the circumstances that I am given, and just because someone forgets what they did wrong, it does not mean they are forgiven.


I'm living in an age That screams my name at night But when I get to the doorway There's no one in sight
I am living in a period where my name is being called out frequently, but when I get to where I think someone is calling me, no one is actually there.


Set my spirit free Set my spirit free Set my body free
I am yearning to be liberated, both mentally and physically.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jeremy Gara, Regine Chassagne, Richard R Parry, Tim Kingsbury, William Butler, Win Butler

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

@laurahall3094

"My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key
My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key
I'm standing on a stage
Of fear and self-doubt
It's a hollow play
But they'll clap anyway
My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key
You're standing next to me
My mind holds the key
I'm living in an age
That calls darkness light
Though my language is dead
Still the shapes fill my head
I'm living in an age
Whose name I don't know
Though the fear keeps me moving
Still my heart beats so slow
My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key
You're standing next to me
My mind holds the key
My body is a
My body is a cage
We take what we're given
Just because you've forgotten
That don't mean you're forgiven
I'm living in an age
That screams my name at night
But when I get to the doorway
There's no one in sight
My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key
You're standing next to me
My mind holds the key
Set my spirit free
Set my spirit free
Set my body free

If this doesnt get pinned, will someone repost them? So good.



@HealthyPlanet

"My Body Is A Cage" lyrics

My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key

My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key

I'm standing on a stage
Of fear and self-doubt
It's a hollow play
But they'll clap anyway

My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key

You're standing next to me
My mind holds the key

I'm living in an age
That calls darkness light
Though my language is dead
Still the shapes fill my head

I'm living in an age
Whose name I don't know
Though the fear keeps me moving
Still my heart beats so slow

My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key

You're standing next to me
My mind holds the key
My body is a

My body is a cage
We take what we are given
Just because you've forgotten
That don't mean you're forgiven

I'm living in an age
That screams my name at night
But when I get to the doorway
There's no one in sight

I'm living in an age
That laughs
When I'm dancing
With the one I love
But my mind holds the key

You're standing next to me
My mind holds the key

Set my spirit free
Set my spirit free
Set my body free
Set my body free

Set my body free



@Drejzik123

Lyrics :

My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key

My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key
I'm standing on a stage
Of fear and self-doubt
It's a hollow play
But they'll clap anyway

My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key (x2)

My mind holds the key ...
I'm living in an age
That calls darkness light
Though my language is dead
Still the shapes fill my head
I'm living in an age
Whose name I don't know
Though the fear keeps me moving
Still my heart beats so slow

My body is a ... is a ... is a ... is a ...(...)

MY BODY IS A CAGE ! (x2)

But my mind holds the key...

My body is cage

We take what we're given
Just because you've forgotten
That don't mean you're forgiven

I'm living in an age
That screams my name at night
But when I get to the doorway
There's no one in sight

I'm living in an age
That laughs when I'm dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key
You're standing next to me
My mind holds the key
Set my spirit free
Set my spirit free
Set my body free
Set my body free
Set my spirit free
Set my body free



@TheSalsini

♥♥♥
My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key
My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key
I'm standing on a stage
Of fear and self-doubt
It's a hollow play
But they'll clap anyway
My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key
You're standing next to me
My mind holds the key
I'm living in an age
That calls darkness light
Though my language is dead
Still the shapes fill my head
I'm living in an age
Whose name I don't know
Though the fear keeps me moving
Still my heart beats so slow
My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key
You're standing next to me
My mind holds the key
My body is a
My body is a cage
We take what we're given
Just because you've forgotten
That don't mean you're forgiven
I'm living in an age
That screams my name at night
But when I get to the doorway
There's no one in sight
My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key
You're standing next to me
My mind holds the key
Set my spirit free
Set my spirit free
Set my body free

*******************************

Mon corps est une cage qui me retient
De danser avec celui que j'aime
Mais mon esprit est la clé
Mon corps est une cage qui me retient
De danser avec celui que j'aime
Mais mon esprit est la clé
Je suis debout sur une scène
De la peur et du doute de soi
C'est une pièce creuse
Mais ils applaudiront quand même
Mon corps est une cage qui me retient
De danser avec celui que j'aime
Mais mon esprit est la clé
Tu es debout à côté de moi
Mon esprit est la clé
Je vis dans un age
Cela appelle la lumière des ténèbres
Bien que ma langue soit morte
Encore les formes remplissent ma tête
Je vis dans un age
Dont le nom je ne sais pas
Bien que la peur me fasse bouger
Mon coeur bat toujours si lentement
Mon corps est une cage qui me retient
De danser avec celui que j'aime
Mais mon esprit est la clé
Tu es debout à côté de moi
Mon esprit est la clé
Mon corps est un
Mon corps est une cage
Nous prenons ce qu'on nous donne
Juste parce que tu as oublié
Cela ne veut pas dire que tu es pardonné
Je vis dans un age
Ça crie mon nom la nuit
Mais quand j'arrive à la porte
Il n'y a personne en vue
Mon corps est une cage qui me retient
De danser avec celui que j'aime
Mais mon esprit est la clé
Tu es debout à côté de moi
Mon esprit est la clé
Libérez mon esprit
Libérez mon esprit
Libère mon corps............



@patilamolb

My Body Is a Cage
Peter Gabriel
My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key
My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key
I'm standing on a stage
Of fear and self-doubt
It's a hollow play
But they'll clap anyway
My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key
You're standing next to me
My mind holds the key
I'm living in an age
That calls darkness light
Though my language is dead
Still the shapes fill my head
I'm living in an age
Whose name I don't know
Though the fear keeps me moving
Still my heart beats so slow
My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key
You're standing next to me
My mind holds the key
My body is a
My body is a cage
We take what we're given
Just because you've forgotten
That don't mean you're forgiven
I'm living in an age
That screams my name at night
But when I get to the doorway
There's no one in sight
My body is a cage that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love
But my mind holds the key
You're standing next to me
My mind holds the key
Set my spirit free
Set my spirit free
Set my body free



@poppysiddal5860

Crippled chick here; sick, in pain, genetic abnormality, pick one. This song is what’s hiding on the inside.

Peter Gabriel gives it breath and cadence. Hugh Laurie’s performance in House is a gift. I go back to rewatch for the performances but also to remind myself I’m not crazy. There are others. There’s a language to this.

There’s so much truth in your comment. So even though I don’t know you I know what you’ve been through. I’m so sorry, friend.

I wish you strength for when you need it; peace for when you’re alone; freedom from pain for when you can’t take one more moment; and all God’s blessings for every moment here and for eternity.

Mother Mary pray for us. Immaculate Conception hear us. Mediatrix bless us. Ad Jesum per Mariam. 🕊️



@intosilence1773

Listen to the soft rustle
Of the last leaf on the tree
Its the only sound left
It yearns for the old days
That saw many of its brothers
Dancing happily together
Making a green curtain
To cover their naked limbs
Which now lie exposed
It screams and it begs
For warmer and brighter days
When they were all one
Ready to catch the wind
And shake the branches
But alone hangs the one
Counting its last minutes
Before it joins them below
Fearing the long awaited fall
That cannot be postponed
But deep down it knows
That the time has come
That perhaps its for the best
Better to be dead
Than to live in agony
Better to wither away
Than to dangle alone in the cold
Better to cumble to pieces
Than to be forever dry
Better to brush against its fallen brothers
Than against no one at all
It sings its last song
So quietly so sadly
It is nothing but a whisper
That gets lost in the wind
Maybe they'll be back someday
When the cold has stopped
And the sun has returned
To warm their hearts and home
And make their roots strong
But until then it must go
And spare itself the sorrow
That comes when you're alone.



All comments from YouTube:

@CyrusKheshwalla

If you hear this in a series, you know you're watching a good show.

@konchu4u608

Like Gravyard Media's Hollow Knight series?

@starman3533

House md!!

@san-uj3oe

Houseee

@joesfeet5760

Half of us came cause of house

@sohilahamroush7002

DARK

188 More Replies...

@RockSmithStudio

"My body is a cage that keeps me from dancing with the one I love but my mind holds the key"
One of my favorites lines of music ever

@titoufoot3489

it was written by arcade fire, their version is so good

@mariawanker4794

warum, Anna?

@laurahall3094

​​@@titoufoot3489I'll have to look for that. They're Fire

I'm going to repost the lyrics. Hopefully they'll get pinned.

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