About the song
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Words from the artist’s archive
SAME CAGE lyrics
Artist-supplied lyric sheet, matched by title. The sheet may differ from this released performance. Production notes and alternate promotional cuts are omitted.
Read the lyric sheet
Intro
Hands on the eyes, hands on the ears Hands on the mouth, three brothers, twenty years Smile for the lens, count up the views Same cage, same gold, same kid we used to be
Verse 1
Carol City sunset bleed the blinds, I shut 'em 27th Ave shoot, somebody made us costumes I see the rent past due on the kitchen counter folded I see my cousin slide his hand where the safe was holstered See the boy from Liberty, neck snap, twelve cruiser See his mama on Live with a cross and a tissue Cover my eyes, post the sunset filter, peace sign Pretend the block ain't bleeding while my reach climb Denial is a polished kind of self-care Timeline scroll backwards, baby, I was right there
Chorus
Eyes shut for the photo, open for the count Hands on my mouth, but the receipts get loud Three monkeys in the frame, can't stand who we is Same cage, different gold, same kid we used to be Said we don't see, said we don't hear, said we don't speak But we post every move, every week, every week Eyes shut for the photo, open for the count We hate each other louder than we love the crowd
Verse 2
Heard the eviction read out loud at nine forty-seven Heard her say she pregnant and the room went heavy Heard my pops cough up the lung he said was nothing Heard the chaplain pray the same prayer for cousin Justin AirPods deep, let the 808 do the muffling Two hundred bag of trap soul, vacuum-pack the suffering Told 'em I was praying, I was just on mute Heard the truth and put the headphones over the bruise On the 441 stuck, neck cricked from the bending From the things I let slide and the calls I left pending
Chorus
Eyes shut for the photo, open for the count Hands on my mouth, but the receipts get loud Three monkeys in the frame, can't stand who we is Same cage, different gold, same kid we used to be Said we don't see, said we don't hear, said we don't speak But we post every move, every week, every week Eyes shut for the photo, open for the count Smile a little harder when the cameras fall out
Verse 3
Had the truth in my chest like a chambered round Watched my brother make a choice and ain't make a sound Watched my sister marry into a quieter prison Watched the man I called family steal and stay forgiven What's the difference between coward and a careful man When the body in the river and you washed your hand Publix parking lot, dome light, jaw set, eyes red Third monkey was always me, third monkey was the death
Verse 4
Now in the group chat naming every name I bit Screenshots dropping like a sermon from the pit Tell the cousin he a snake, tell the brother he a thief Tell the homie that his prayer just a hashtag and a wreath We was never solid, we was photographed together Three kings of a kingdom we ain't never even settled Rather lose the page than carry y'all another season Trade the verified blue for a Sunday and a reason I-95 north, Carol City to Aventura Algorithm raised us, the block was the procurer Three monkeys, three exits, three lighters in the basement Burn the temple, let the truth get a hearing
Chorus
Eyes shut for the photo, open for the count Hands on my mouth, but the receipts get loud Three monkeys in the frame, can't stand who we is The lens turn around and we forget how to bow
Verse 5
Lil cousin, listen close, the mask is the prison Every time you close an eye, a piece of you missing Don't post the funeral, don't smile through the wake Don't carry no brother who would not say your name If your circle want your silence more than your soul Trade the cage for the road, even if you go slow The monkeys was a warning, we made 'em a brand Hands down, eyes open, mouth ready, stand
Outro
Eyes open. Ears open. Mouth open. Hands down. Same cage, new keys, 305 to wherever the truth at.
Inside the recording
Hands on the eyes, hands on the ears Hands on the mouth, three brothers, twenty years
Eyes shut for the photo, open for the count Hands on my mouth, but the receipts get loud
Eyes open. Ears open. Mouth open. Hands down. Same cage, new keys, 305 to wherever the truth at.
Excerpts from artist-supplied lyric files matched by title. Lyric sheets may differ from the released performance.