MY BODY IS A CAGE – Arcade Fire
Tabbed by: BlueVeins
Tuning: Standard (EADGBe)
The important thing about this song is the heavy build-up, so make sure you play louder
more aggressive at the end, but in this case I think it goes without saying. I would
fingerpicking the first part of the song, slowly strumming the second part and strum
in the last part. This tab is really just an indication of what is being heard, rather
what the guitar actually plays. Enjoy!
When you’re fingerpicking the first part here, I would recommend picking the root and
fifth for the minor chords and the root and the octave for the major chords, but of course
can just mess around with the chords the way you like.
Gm
My body is a cage
Bb
That keeps me from dancing
Cm
With the one I love,
D
But my mind holds the key.
Gm
My body is a cage
Bb
That keeps me from dancing
Cm
With the one I love,
D
But my mind holds the key.
Gm
I’m standing on a stage
Bb
Of fear and self-doubt
Cm
It’s a hollow play,
D
But they’ll clap anyway.
Gm
My body is a cage
Bb
That keeps me from dancing
D
With the one I love,
D#
But my mind holds the key.
Cm D#
You’re standing next to me.
Cm D#
My mind holds the key.
(The organ gets louder here, so strum the chords in stead of fingerpicking them.)
Gm
I’m living in an age
Bb
That calls darkness light,
Cm
Though my landscape is dead
D
Still the shapes fill my head
Gm
I’m living in an age
Bb
Whose name I don’t know
Cm
Though the fear keeps me moving,
D
Still my heart beats so slow.
Gm
My body is a cage
Bb
That keeps me from dancing
D
With the one I love
D#
But my mind holds the key.
Cm D#
You’re standing next to me.
Cm D#
My mind holds the key.
N.C.
My body is a…
(This is where the song explodes, and the pattern is the same but with a slight
The chords are held for the same amount of time as in the previous parts, but there is a minor
after the D which is hold for one measure until it repeats. It sounds confusing, but
you listen to the song, it’s rather simple. This variation is played until the Gm Bb D progression.)
Gm Bb Cm D Gm
e|--3-----6--------3--------5--------3--|
B|--3-----6--------4--------7--------3--|
G|--3-----7--------5--------7--------3--|
D|--5-----8--------5--------7--------5--|
A|--5-----8--3--5--3--3-----5--------5--|
E|--3--5--6--------------6-----6--5--3--|
Gm
My body is a cage.
Bb
We take what we’re given.
Cm
Just because you’re forgotten,
D
That don’t mean you’re forgiven.
Gm
I’m living in an age
Bb
That screams my name at night,
Cm
But when I get to the doorway
D
There’s no one in sight.
Gm
I’m living in an age
Bb
They laugh and I’m dancing
D
With the one I love,
D#
But my mind holds the key.
Cm D#
You’re standing next to me.
Cm D#
My mind holds the key.
Fm* Gm* *Played at the 8th and 10th fret on the A string.
Set my spirit free
Fm* Gm*
Set my spirit free
Fm* Gm*
Set my body free
Fm* Gm*
Set my body free
Fm* Gm*
Fm* Gm*
Fm* Gm*
Set my spirit free
Fm* Gm*
Set my body free
Fm* Gm*
Ooohoooooo
Fm* Gm*
Ooohoooooo
