My Body Is a Cage
Sara Lov Lyrics
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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
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
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 body free
Set my body free
Set my body free
Set my body free
The lyrics of Sara Lov's "My Body Is a Cage" describe the internal struggle of the singer between their body and mind. The repetitive refrain "My body is a cage/That keeps me from dancing with the one I love/But my mind holds the key" creates a sense of frustration and imprisonment. The singer feels trapped and unable to act on their desires because their physical limitations restrict them.
The second verse's opening lines, "I'm standing on the stage/Of fear and self-doubt/It's a hollow play/But they'll clap anyway," illustrates the singer's insecurity and fear about exposing themselves emotionally or physically. Despite their fears, though, the singer recognizes that they have the power to overcome their obstacles with their mind. The line "Just because you've forgotten, that don't mean you're forgiven" could be interpreted as a message to oneself, reminding oneself that past failures or mistakes cannot hold them back in the present.
The bridge of the song highlights the societal pressures and complexities that the singer is trying to navigate. The line "I'm living in an age/That calls darkness light" suggests a world turned upside down, one in which the truth is hard to see or distinguish from falsehood. The singer's "dead" language still shapes their thoughts, indicating perhaps a disconnect between their mind and the world around them.
Overall, the song is an introspective exploration of the singer's own internal struggles, calling attention to the tension between one's desires and one's limitations, and the need for the mind to overcome the body.
Line by Line Meaning
My body is a cage
The physical limitations of my body keep me from being able to do what I truly desire
That keeps me from dancing with the one I love
These limitations specifically prevent me from experiencing the joy of physical connection with the person I love
But my mind holds the key
Despite the limitations of my body, I still have control over my thoughts and attitude
I'm standing on the stage
I feel exposed and vulnerable
Of fear and self-doubt
My insecurities and anxiety are like an audience consuming my every thought and action
It's a hollow play
Everything I'm doing feels empty and meaningless because of the weight of my limitations
But they'll clap anyway
Despite my inner struggle, others may still perceive my performance as good, giving me fleeting validation
You're standing next to me
The person I love and desire is right next to me, adding to my longing
I'm living in an age
I'm currently existing in a certain time period
That calls darkness light
The societal norms and expectations of my time are misguided or even corrupt
Though my language is dead
Even though what I communicate may not be understood by the mainstream
Still the shapes fill my head
It's still important to me to express myself, and I have ideas and thoughts that persist in my mind
Whose name I don't know
The age I'm living in doesn't even have a proper name yet, because it's still being shaped
Though the fear keeps me moving
My intense fear of failure and inadequacy constantly drives me forward, even if it's not always in a positive direction
Still my heart beats so slow
I may be functioning on the outside, but I'm not actually fully alive or passionate about what I'm doing
We take what we're given
We often blindly accept what's been handed to us or what's expected of us
Just because you've forgotten, that don't mean you're forgiven
Even if someone else forgets or overlooks a past wrong, it still has the power to affect the present
That screams my name at night
I'm inundated with reminders of the societal expectations that haunt me in my sleep
But when I get to the doorway
When I try to make a move or break free from the constraints of my body and society, I'm blocked
There's no one in sight
I don't have the support or resources to conquer those limitations or expectations
Set my body free
I long to be able to use my body to do what I love and need to do
Set my body free
I plead for release from the suffocating limitations of my body
Set my body free
I ask for liberation from the frustration and longing that holds me back
Set my body free
I cry out for freedom from the cage that traps me
Contributed by Kaelyn K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.