Lyrics
One day when I was a boy on the verge of becoming a man
Reflecting on a childhood memory when transitioning to manhood.
I spent the day on my grandpa's farm, he said he needed a hand
Spending a day on the grandfather's farm, offering help.
Half a mile up the road, in an irrigation ditch, some foxes made a den
Finding foxes' den in an irrigation ditch half a mile away.
He said "I hate to kill them, son, but if I don't they'll eat my hens"
Grandfather expressing concern about foxes threatening his hens.
And wild things ain't meant to live in cages
Expressing the belief that wild creatures shouldn't be confined.
Wild things are born to run free
Highlighting the natural freedom of wild beings.
And I know you ain't seen me in ages
Acknowledging a long absence but asserting a retained wild nature.
But there's still some wild in me
Asserting the persistence of a wild essence within oneself.
We fired up the pump, it was loud as hell, and the water began to raise
Describing the noisy process of raising water in an irrigation pump.
Somehow the mama fox got away, but we trapped the daddy in a cage
Capturing the father fox while the mother escapes.
"Take the cage to the house," grandpa said. I think he wanted the pelt
Grandfather suggesting taking the caged fox, possibly for its fur.
But the whole damn time, all I could think was how that poor fox felt
Expressing the narrator's empathy for the trapped fox's feelings.
Because wild things ain't meant to live in cages
Reiterating the belief that wild creatures shouldn't be confined.
Wild things are born to run free
Emphasizing the inherent freedom of wild beings.
And I know you ain't seen me in ages
Addressing the prolonged absence but asserting retained wildness.
But there's still some wild in me
Affirming the enduring presence of a wild essence.
I was told to leave the cage on the porch, wash up and come inside
Following instructions to leave the caged fox on the porch.
I felt so bad for the foxes' fate, so sad its babies died
Expressing sorrow for the fate of the foxes and their offspring.
Now I was raised to mind my kin, and respect what my elders know
Balancing respect for elders with a personal decision to defy.
But I reckon they don't know everything, so I let that poor fox go
Choosing to release the trapped fox despite conflicting values.
Because wild things ain't meant to live in cages
Reiterating the belief that wild creatures shouldn't be confined.
Wild things are born to run free
Emphasizing the intrinsic freedom of wild beings.
And I know you ain't seen me in ages
Addressing the extended absence while asserting retained wildness.
But there's still some wild in me
Affirming the enduring presence of a wild essence.
Yeah, there's still some wild in me
Concluding with a confirmation of the enduring wild nature within.
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