- Jailed-0.mp3
- Jailed-0.mp4
- Jailed-I.mp3
- Jailed-I.mp4
- Jailed-Reggae.mp3
- Jailed-Reggae.mp4
- Jailed-Unplugged-Underground-IV.mp3
- Jailed-Unplugged-Underground-IV.mp4
- Jailed-intro.mp3
[Intro]
Stuck inside these three walls
(The forth is just bars)
Nowhere to hide when nature calls
(You call this stripes and stars)
[Verse 1]
What did I do
Mistaken cue
Your point-of-view
Is quite askew
[Bridge]
What gives you the power
(In our last hour)
To be so wrong
(We don’t have long)
[Chorus]
Stuck inside these three walls
(The forth is just bars)
Nowhere to hide when nature calls
(You call this stripes and stars)
[Verse 2]
One of the few
To try to get through
You won’t pay what’s due
Will you?
[Bridge]
What gives you the power
(In our last hour)
To be so wrong
(We don’t have long)
[Chorus]
Stuck inside these three walls
(The forth is just bars)
Nowhere to hide when nature calls
(You call this stripes and stars)
[Bridge]
Oh, well…
You’ve built this cell
When all else failed —
Jailed
[Outro]
You call this stars and stripes
(Yipes!)
ABOUT THE SONG
This song can be interpreted as a powerful metaphor for how American citizens, through inaction or harmful actions, are effectively trapping themselves by failing to address the climate crisis—a crisis that threatens the very rights and freedoms they cherish. Here’s a breakdown of the metaphor:
[Intro]
The “three walls” represent the self-imposed constraints of ignorance, denial, and delay, while the “fourth wall” of bars symbolizes the irreversible consequences of climate inaction—like being locked in a prison of our own making. The reference to “stripes and stars” contrasts the ideal of freedom with the reality of confinement, suggesting that the very symbols of liberty have been twisted into a facade.
[Verse 1]
The confusion and missteps (“Mistaken cue,” “Your point-of-view is quite askew”) point to societal misjudgments—how priorities like short-term profits and convenience overshadow the urgent need for environmental action. The critique highlights how distorted perspectives lead to destructive decisions.
[Chorus]
The repetition of being “stuck inside these three walls” reinforces the sense of entrapment caused by systemic failures to act on climate change. “Nowhere to hide when nature calls” emphasizes that no one is immune to the consequences of a deteriorating environment. The irony of calling this entrapment “stripes and stars” underscores the disconnect between the nation’s identity and its reality.
[Verse 2]
The frustration with being “one of the few” who recognize and try to address the crisis reflects the struggle of environmental advocates. The accusation, “You won’t pay what’s due,” highlights the refusal of many to take responsibility for their role in exacerbating the problem.
[Bridge]
“What gives you the power to be so wrong” challenges the authority of those perpetuating the status quo. The urgency in “We don’t have long” echoes the narrowing window of opportunity to prevent catastrophic climate outcomes.
[Outro]
The final lines—”Oh, well… You’ve built this cell”—deliver a haunting conclusion: the environmental “prison” is a human creation, born of neglect and selfishness. The sarcastic “You call this stars and stripes (Yipes!)” drives home the irony of a nation priding itself on freedom while actively undermining its future through inaction.
Overall Metaphor
The song reflects the tragic irony of a society capable of protecting its rights and environment but instead choosing to destroy them. Through the lens of climate change, it critiques how citizens’ choices—driven by shortsightedness, apathy, or greed—have created a trap that threatens their own survival and freedom. It serves as both a warning and a call to action to break free from this self-imposed cell before it’s too late.