First Entry- Womanly Text

Alicia Keys, one of my favorite musicians, is well known for her powerful voice and her talents as a pianist. She is also a poet, and has recently expanded her resume to include a role on the silver screen. Her music ranges from inspirational songs to those that tell tales of love and relationships. Whatever type of song she performs, her music has helped me through many life experiences over the past few years.
One of my favorite songs by Alicia Keys is on her first album and is entitled, “Caged Bird.” I find this song especially powerful because I think many women can relate to the lyrics. Throughout history, women have been forced into silence and complacency when battling the injustices presented to them by society. As a result, they have felt isolated and underappreciated. I value this song because it exemplifies how a woman feels as she is forced to hide her true feelings with a smile. It details how the people who force Keys to smile and to be complacent have no idea how she feels; they do not care enough to ask. Additionally, the people who are holding her “prisoner” are taking away her livelihood by putting her on display and allowing her to be the object of insensitive viewing, thus treating her as if she is not a person, but a mere animal. The word revelry implies that she feels devalued, or even that she is simply being held for the sake of someone else’s entertainment and pleasure. I like the fact that this song seems to imply the bigger picture of allowing women the same everyday rights as men have. Keys sings that she recognizes her own beauty, along with her self-worth, which is very inspirational. She then goes on to ask the question, “Why not just set her free?” I like this line because it hints not only that it makes no reason for women to not be able to show emotion (in this case), but that there are really no real reasons why a woman should be caged. Finally, the overall message of this song is that keeping someone prisoner, whether figuratively or literally, is detrimental to her existence. Once she is set free, she will not be happy, as well as have the capability to spread her happiness and beauty, benefiting others.
I feel like this text could apply to anyone. The only way that I feel it is “womanly is in its diction, with the use of female pronouns. Aside from pronominal usage, this song could be used to describe the feelings on anyone who has been oppressed, and that is why I really appreciate it. Hopefully anyone who hears the song will be moved to appreciate other people, specifically women.
















Alicia Keys - Caged Bird Lyrics



Right now I feel like a bird
Caged without a key
Everyone comes to stare at me
With so much joy and revelry
They didn't know how I feel inside
Through my smile I cry
They don't know what they're doing to me
Keeping me from flyin'
That's why I say that
I know why the caged bird sings
Only joy comes from song
She's so rare and beautiful to others
Why not just set her free
So she can
Fly, fly, fly
Spreading her wings and her song
Let her
Fly, fly fly
For the whole world to see
She's like caged bird
Fly, fly
Oh just let her fly
Just let her fly
Just let her fly
Spread the wings
Spread the beauty…