Genesis:In the Cage

“In the Cage”
Artist:	Genesis
Albums:	The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (1974)

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He wakes in a cold sweat with a strong urge to vomit. There's no sign of the cocoon and he can see more of the cave about him. There is much more of the glowing water dripping from the roof and stalactites and stalagmites are forming and decomposing at an alarming rate all around him. As fear and shock register, he assures himself that self-control will provide some security, but this thought is abandoned as the stalactites and stalagmites lock into a fixed position, forming a cage whose bars are moving in towards him. At one moment there is a flash of light and he sees an infinite network of cages all strung together by a ropelike material. As the rocky bars press in on Rael's body, he sees his brother John outside, looking in. John's face is motionless despite screams for help, but in his vacant expression a tear of blood forms and trickles down his cheek. Then he calmly walks away leaving Rael to face the pains which are beginning to sweep through his body. However, just as John walks out of sight, the cage dissolves and Rael is left spinning like a top.

There's sunshine in my stomach
Like I just rocked my baby to sleep
There's sunshine in my stomach
And I can't keep me from creeping sleep
Sleep, deep in the deep

Rockface moves to press my skin
White liquids 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 wretching
In the cage
Get me out of this 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 are 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 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 falling on my head
They keep falling on my
Raindrops keep falling 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 strait-jacket
Just like Twenty-Second Street
When they got me by my neck and feet
Pressures building
Can't take any more
My headaches charge
My earaches roar
In the pain
Get me out of this pain

If I could change to liquid
I could fill the cracks up in the rock
But I know that I am solid
And I am my own bad luck
But outside John disappears and my cage dissolves
and without any reason my body revolves

Keep on turning
Keep on turning
Turning around
Spinning around