The Strokes - Heart In A Cage Lyrics | SongMeanings (2024)

Lyrics submitted byelectricityscape

Heart In A Cage Lyrics as written by Julian Casablancas

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• +5

  My Interpretation

  I think this song is about him not being able to admit his feelings for his ex because he wants to keep face but it is really killing him. In the first verse he is talking about how maybe people are pressuring him into telling her and accusing him of not confessing for the right of his music which they think is wrong. He's almost arguing back with them here saying that he knows he doesn't feel good when he's just sleeping around and he doesn't write better music when he's down in the dumps. (I also have always thought this line is maybe a dig at singers/song writters who claim they write better when they're on drugs as an excuse). And obviously just saying for them not to try and teach him anything and he knows he's doing crap.

  "The heart beats in its cage" is him telling us how his feelings and heart are all locked up and not coming out.

  The second verse is quoting him on all the lies hes telling her by saying he doesn't love her and denying it for the reason we don't find out and he's just telling her all this crap almost as if to hurt her. The next bit then being him sort of breaking down in anger at himself when he leaves because he didn't just say how he felt. The eating alone bit I think maybe being a reference to them staying up late together just talking and eating like they used to but now he's saying how she's doing this alone.

  The next verse is him now trying to explain himself to her now that theres no one on his back and he's trying to be honest but he's too late and she's not putting up with it anymore. Then the following verse is him trying to find her at his concert and he's searching through the crowd but she's not there anymore and he's talking about how he got so excited thinking she'd still come and now he's the one being let down.

  It's all a really powerful song.

  See Also

  The Heart: Anatomy, Function, and ConditionsThe Meaning Behind The Song: Heart in a Cage by The Strokes - Old Time MusicThe heart plays a hidden role in our mental health

  Catriiiionaon December 01, 2012Link

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• +4

  General Comment

  This song is really impressive - at first I thought it was a bit muddled, but now it's really opened up a lot. The guitar and drum interaction is really cool, and the lead is pretty hyper by Strokes standards. I can't believe those pretentious ^%@#ers over at Pichfork gave it two stars or something - the Strokes have clearly fallen off their 'cool list'. Lousy tryhard hipsters...

  caitsith01on December 16, 2005Link

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• +1

  General Comment

  i heart th first linenot the best song off the new album

  xx--xyon December 08, 2005Link

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• +1

  General Comment

  This is my favorite song on the CD :DStrokes lyrics are more of a percussion insturment, so I've got nothing to say concerning meaning - but it's a lot crisper than the first effort

  EnvyZeroon January 02, 2006Link

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• +1

  General Comment

  he is referring to the central truth that we feel so many motions that in the end seem so frivolous and annoying because everyone gets to the same idea. When he says "so dont teach me no lessons, cause i've already learned", it is a microcosmic allegory, like most strokes songs, for the meaning of almost every critical and enlightening realization that we all come to within the course of our lives. We all reach these great heights and then in the end get stuck in the paradoxical situation of "ive done all this sh*t and come to understand all of these different but equally life-changing things, but i still am only human, hence "the heart beats in its cage". But hey, its all up for interpretation.

  elliottpillifanton February 17, 2006Link

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• +1

  General Comment

  i think this song doesn't have tons of hidden meanings & is instead very blatant & self expalnatory, all of the lines can be taken as very literal parts of his life, even if said from someone else's perspective (i doubt it's HIM fighting crowds at a concert to find someone: more like others doing that TO HIM). the only meataphor i really see is the title which is a great way of saying he's in a fishbowl living with EVERYONE watching & unfortunately, commenting........but at least some of us see his talent, charisma & lust for life & thank him for making music for us!!!

  terri kayeon August 18, 2006Link

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• General Comment

  I've only heard one song off the new album, but these lyrics sound great. Can't wait for the album and to see them at manchester!!

  bloc_party15on December 14, 2005Link

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• General Comment

  so good k thx

  a_transienton December 24, 2005Link

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• General Comment

  Reminds me of Queens Of The Stone Age. Queens Of The Stone Age at its best. And that is damn good...

  Wicked!on January 02, 2006Link

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• General Comment

  Oh he gets left, left, left, left, left, left, left, left

  there's pne too many left's

  lld3on January 04, 2006Link

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