Soundgarden

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Oh, you wired me awake and hit me with a hand of broken nails
Yeah, you tied my lead and pulled my chain to watch my blood begin to boil

[Chorus]
But I'm gonna break, I'm gonna break my
I'm gonna break my rusty cage and run
Yeah, I'm gonna break, I'm gonna break my
I'm gonna break my rusty cage
And run

[Verse 2]
Too cold to start a fire, I'm burning diesel, burning dinosaur bones
Yeah, I'll take the river down to Stillwater and ride a pack of dogs

[Chorus]
But I'm gonna break, I'm gonna break my
I'm gonna break my rusty cage and run
Yeah, I'm gonna break, I'm gonna break my
I'm gonna break my rusty cage
And run

[Bridge]
Hit like a Phillips head into my brain
It's gonna be too dark to sleep again
Cutting my teeth on bars and rusty chains
I'm gonna break my rusty cage
And run
[Outro]
When the forest burns along the road
Like God's eyes in my headlights
And when the dogs are lookin' for their bones
And it's rainin' icepicks on your steel shore
Well, I'm gonna break, I'm gonna break my
I'm gonna break my rusty cage and run
Well, I'm gonna break, I'm gonna break my
I'm gonna break my rusty cage
And run

Soundgarden, the legendary Seattle-based grunge band, is often credited with being one of the pioneers of the grunge movement that emerged in the late 1980s. "Rusty Cage" is one of their most popular and successful songs, which was released as the third single from their third studio album, Badmotorfinger. The song was written by the band's lead vocalist Chris Cornell, and it quickly became a classic of the genre while still enjoying airtime on alternative rock stations till date.

About Rusty Cage

"Rusty Cage" was released in 1992, and it quickly became a hit for Soundgarden. The lyrics of the song are well known for their cryptic and ambiguous nature. The song is said to be inspired by the writings of the American novelist, playwright, and poet Sam Shepard. Its lyrics involve themes of mental stress, self-imprisonment, and escapism, and while the lyrics can be ambiguous, they still manage to touch the listeners. The song opens with a sinister riff played by Kim Thayil on guitar and a heavy percussion beat with Chris Cornell's voice forming dominant over the instruments throughout the song.

One of the aspects that make "Rusty Cage" so significant is the level of skill shown in its construction. The song's structure is complex in nature, which showcases the band's proficiency and dexterity. The guitar work done by Thayil is impressive, complex, and varied throughout the song. Cornell’s voice is dynamic—with his falsetto in the chorus sections giving the song even more depth and personality.

The song's success can be attributed not only to its construction but also to the emotions that it evokes in the listeners. This track feature is one of the highest-energy Soundgarden songs, and the lyrics are powerful, with singer Chris Cornell's vocals carrying a sense of desperation and pain.

"Rusty Cage" quickly became a fan favorite and was also critically acclaimed by music critics when it was released. The song's music video, which was directed by Matt Mahurin and features Chris Cornell driving through a dark, eerie landscape, is just as haunting as the song.

Despite the song's popularity, it took several years for it to achieve commercial success. It was not until Johnny Cash covered the song on his 1996 album, Unchained that it hit the mainstream. Cash's version is a significant departure from the original and brings a new interpretation to its lyrics. His cover outfitted the song with the respect and attention it deserved and brought Soundgarden’s original version back under the popular culture spotlight.

Wrapping Up

"Rusty Cage" is one of those special songs that continue to be played and appreciated by music fans from all over the world, precisely because it was crafted with so much love and enthusiasm by Soundgarden. All these years after its initial release, it's still an incredible track that portrays Soundgarden’s classic blend of heavy, intense rock with Cornell's unique vocal abilities. With this track, Soundgarden managed to create a haunting and timeless masterpiece that reinforces the importance of grunge music as an art form.

• Release Date: April 1992
• Artist: Soundgarden