So this has been.my favorite song of OTEP's since it came out in 2004, and I always thought it was a song about a child's narrative of suffering in an abusive Christian home. But now that I am revisiting the lyrics, I am seeing something totally new.
This song could be gospel of John but from the perspective of Jesus.
Jesus was NOT having a good time up to and during the crucifixion. Everyone in the known world at the time looked to him with fear, admiration or disgust and he was constantly being asked questions. He spoke in "verses, prophesies and curses". He had made an enemy of the state, and believed the world was increasingly wicked and fallen from grace, or that he was in the "mouth of madness".
The spine of atlas is the structure that allows the titan to hold the world up. Jesus challenged the state and in doing so became a celebrated resistance figure. It also made him public enemy #1.
All of this happened simply because he was doing his thing, not because of any agenda he had or strategy.
And then he gets scourged (storm of thorns)
There are some plot holes here but I think it's an interesting interpretation.
I got sunshine in my stomach
Like I just rocked my baby to sleep
I got sunshine in my stomach
But I can't keep me from creeping sleep
Sleep, deep in the deep
Rockface moves to press my skin
White liquid turn sour within
Turn fast, turn sour
Turn sweat, turn sour
Must tell myself that I'm not here
I'm drowning in a liquid fear
Bottled in a strong compression
My distortion shows obsession
In the cave
Get me out of this cave
If I keep my self-control
I'll be safe in my soul
And the childhood belief
Brings a moment's relief
But my cynic soon returns
And the lifeboat burns
My spirit just never learns
Stalactites, stalagmites
Shut me in, lock me tight
Lips are dry, throat is dry
Feel like burning, stomach churning
I'm dressed up in a white costume
Padding out leftover room
Body stretching, feel the wrenching
In the cage
Get me out of the cage
In the glare of a light
I see a strange kind of sight
Of cages joined to form a star
Each person can't go very far
All tied to their things
They're netted by their strings
Free to flutter in memories of their wasted wings
Outside the cage I see my Brother John
He turns his head so slowly round
I cry out "Help!"
Before he can be gone
And he looks at me without a sound
And I shout out "John please help me!"
But he does not even want to try to speak
I'm helpless in my violent rage
And a silent tear of blood dribbles down his cheek
And I watch him turn away and leave the cage
My little runaway
(Raindrops keep failing on my head, they keep falling on my)
(Raindrops keep failing on my head, they keep falling on my)
(Raindrops keep failing on my head, they keep falling on my)
In a trap, feel a strap
Holding still
Pinned for kill
Chances narrow that I'll make it
In the cushioned straight-jacket
Just like 22nd Street
They got me by my neck and feet
Pressures building, can't take more
My headaches charge, ear aches roar
In this pain
Get me out of this pain
If I could change to liquid
I could fill the cracks up in the rocks
I know that I am solid
And I am my own bad luck
Outside John disappears, and my cage dissolves
Without any reason my body revolves
Keep on turning
Keep on turning
Keep on turning
Keep on turning
Keep on turning
Turning around
Just spinning around
(Round, round, round, round)
Like I just rocked my baby to sleep
I got sunshine in my stomach
But I can't keep me from creeping sleep
Sleep, deep in the deep
Rockface moves to press my skin
White liquid turn sour within
Turn fast, turn sour
Turn sweat, turn sour
Must tell myself that I'm not here
I'm drowning in a liquid fear
Bottled in a strong compression
My distortion shows obsession
In the cave
Get me out of this cave
If I keep my self-control
I'll be safe in my soul
And the childhood belief
Brings a moment's relief
But my cynic soon returns
And the lifeboat burns
My spirit just never learns
Stalactites, stalagmites
Shut me in, lock me tight
Lips are dry, throat is dry
Feel like burning, stomach churning
I'm dressed up in a white costume
Padding out leftover room
Body stretching, feel the wrenching
In the cage
Get me out of the cage
In the glare of a light
I see a strange kind of sight
Of cages joined to form a star
Each person can't go very far
All tied to their things
They're netted by their strings
Free to flutter in memories of their wasted wings
Outside the cage I see my Brother John
He turns his head so slowly round
I cry out "Help!"
Before he can be gone
And he looks at me without a sound
And I shout out "John please help me!"
But he does not even want to try to speak
I'm helpless in my violent rage
And a silent tear of blood dribbles down his cheek
And I watch him turn away and leave the cage
My little runaway
(Raindrops keep failing on my head, they keep falling on my)
(Raindrops keep failing on my head, they keep falling on my)
(Raindrops keep failing on my head, they keep falling on my)
In a trap, feel a strap
Holding still
Pinned for kill
Chances narrow that I'll make it
In the cushioned straight-jacket
Just like 22nd Street
They got me by my neck and feet
Pressures building, can't take more
My headaches charge, ear aches roar
In this pain
Get me out of this pain
If I could change to liquid
I could fill the cracks up in the rocks
I know that I am solid
And I am my own bad luck
Outside John disappears, and my cage dissolves
Without any reason my body revolves
Keep on turning
Keep on turning
Keep on turning
Keep on turning
Keep on turning
Turning around
Just spinning around
(Round, round, round, round)
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae
In the Cage [New Stereo Mix] Lyrics as written by Michael Rutherford Anthony Banks
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This surely was a highlight in the Genesis career Phil should have stuck to the drums and left Pete to do what he did best. Mind you I hear it was Pete who left good on him