--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can cage the singer but not the song." description: "\"You can cage the singer but not the song.\" — Harry Belafonte" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dca/harry-belafonte-4893_cage_you-can-cage-the-singer-but-not-the-song_1093870.png" --- # You can cage the singer but not the song. ![“You can cage the singer but not the song.” quote by Harry Belafonte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dca/harry-belafonte-4893_cage_you-can-cage-the-singer-but-not-the-song_1093870.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dca/harry-belafonte-4893_cage_you-can-cage-the-singer-but-not-the-song_1093870.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dca/harry-belafonte-4893_cage_you-can-cage-the-singer-but-not-the-song_1093870.png) > “You can cage the singer but not the song.” [Harry Belafonte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-belafonte/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. External constraints can limit the performer, but the underlying message or song remains free. **In simple terms:** You can control the performer, not the art itself. Key Takeaway Protect creative expression despite restrictions. Themes freedom artistic integrity control Mood defiant hopeful Type political inspirational When to use this quote - political protest - media regulation - artist contracts Key Concepts censorship performance rights creative resilience Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep your message alive under constraints? - What forms of expression can bypass direct control? A Different Perspective Sometimes the “song” can be suppressed indirectly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cage/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [The sun and its light, the ocean and the wave, the singer and his song — not one. Not two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/the-sun-and-its-light-the-ocean-and-the-wave-the-singer-and-his-song/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [I've always felt that to deliver a song successfully, you have to be an actress. A good actress becomes the part, just as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vesta-williams/i-ve-always-felt-that-to-deliver-a-song-successfully-you-have-to-be/) [Vesta Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vesta-williams/) > [If I'm anything, I'm not a singer but I'm a song stylist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/if-i-m-anything-i-m-not-a-singer-but-i-m-a-song-stylist/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [It's the singer not the song that makes the music move along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-townshend/it-s-the-singer-not-the-song-that-makes-the-music-move-along/) [Pete Townshend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-townshend/) > [No one remembers the singer. The song remains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/no-one-remembers-the-singer-the-song-remains/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [The force of my love was strong. The Sea Lion lay down long. Song in the air, why should singer care? When singer can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sage-francis/the-force-of-my-love-was-strong-the-sea-lion-lay-down-long-song-in/) [Sage Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sage-francis/) > [I'm a singer, song-writer, actor, actress, athlete. Girl, I'm everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bretman-rock/i-m-a-singer-song-writer-actor-actress-athlete-girl-i-m-everything/) [Bretman Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bretman-rock/) > [... what is so important is that you play for the artist and for the record and for the song ... everything else falls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-burton/what-is-so-important-is-that-you-play-for-the-artist-and-for-the/) James Burton > [“I am the blade that is swung by your hand, Slicing a rainbow's arc, I am the clapper, but you are the bell, Tolling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/i-am-the-blade-that-is-swung-by-your-hand-slicing-a-rainbow-s-arc-i/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [I've never gone to a singer with a song and said 'why don't you try this?' or tried to get a record like that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/i-ve-never-gone-to-a-singer-with-a-song-and-said-why-don-t-you-try/) [Henry Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/) > [I think singing and acting go hand in hand. Take an R&B singer: one song says, 'I love you,' the next is, 'Baby, don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-t/i-think-singing-and-acting-go-hand-in-hand-take-an-r-b-singer-one/) [Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/) > [Though the singer is silent…there is still the truth of the song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denver/though-the-singer-is-silent-there-is-still-the-truth-of-the-song/) [John Denver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denver/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) > [“If you can choose your way into a cage, you can choose your way out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-kempton/if-you-can-choose-your-way-into-a-cage-you-can-choose-your-way-out/) [Beth Kempton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-kempton/) > [“The cage has gotten bigger, and we can expect bigger beasts from it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mallory/the-cage-has-gotten-bigger-and-we-can-expect-bigger-beasts-from-it/) Jason Mallory ## More by Harry Belafonte > [As a matter of fact, compromise is what oppression feeds on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-belafonte/as-a-matter-of-fact-compromise-is-what-oppression-feeds-on/) [Harry Belafonte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-belafonte/) > [I think being born in America and growing up exclusively within the American boundaries of race and race oppression is a very different experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-belafonte/i-think-being-born-in-america-and-growing-up-exclusively-within-the/) [Harry Belafonte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-belafonte/) > [Fascism is fascism. Terrorism is terrorism. Oppression is oppression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-belafonte/fascism-is-fascism-terrorism-is-terrorism-oppression-is-oppression/) [Harry Belafonte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-belafonte/) > [If you believe in justice, if you believe in democracy, if you believe in people's rights, if you believe in the harmony of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-belafonte/if-you-believe-in-justice-if-you-believe-in-democracy-if-you-believe/) [Harry Belafonte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-belafonte/) > [Each time we arrive at a new level in extricating ourselves from economic, social, spiritual domination, we have a moment when we dance in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-belafonte/each-time-we-arrive-at-a-new-level-in-extricating-ourselves-from/) [Harry Belafonte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-belafonte/) > [I'm not quite sure precisely when social and political activism became a visible brand of my DNA, but it seems to me that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-belafonte/i-m-not-quite-sure-precisely-when-social-and-political-activism/) [Harry Belafonte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-belafonte/) > [In poor environment, I find great inspiration. Many of the men and women whom I admire as artists, the things they write, the songs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-belafonte/in-poor-environment-i-find-great-inspiration-many-of-the-men-and/) [Harry Belafonte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-belafonte/) > [I didn't like The Wiz and it wasn't because black people were doing it. I didn't like The Wiz because it was a badly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-belafonte/i-didn-t-like-the-wiz-and-it-wasn-t-because-black-people-were-doing/) [Harry Belafonte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-belafonte/) > [I'm always suspicious of celebrities that write about their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-belafonte/i-m-always-suspicious-of-celebrities-that-write-about-their-lives/) [Harry Belafonte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-belafonte/) > [I became an anti-fascist, and the more I saw what was happening to the peoples of Europe, the Jews, the more I saw the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-belafonte/i-became-an-anti-fascist-and-the-more-i-saw-what-was-happening-to-the/) [Harry Belafonte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-belafonte/) > [Although slavery may have been abolished, the crippling poison of racism still persists, and the struggle still continues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-belafonte/although-slavery-may-have-been-abolished-the-crippling-poison-of/) [Harry Belafonte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-belafonte/) > [Although we had a lot of villainy here in America, Adolf Hitler was certainly the most visible illustration of what would happen if fascism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-belafonte/although-we-had-a-lot-of-villainy-here-in-america-adolf-hitler-was/) [Harry Belafonte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-belafonte/) > [I knew Charlie Parker, and he gave us such a gift with his music. He put so much into so little space, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-belafonte/i-knew-charlie-parker-and-he-gave-us-such-a-gift-with-his-music-he/) [Harry Belafonte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-belafonte/) > [I not only think that they (U.S. leaders) are misguided, but I think they know exactly what they are doing and I think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-belafonte/i-not-only-think-that-they-u-s-leaders-are-misguided-but-i-think-they/) [Harry Belafonte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-belafonte/) > [Peace is necessary. For justice, it is necessary. For hope, it is necessary, for our future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-belafonte/peace-is-necessary-for-justice-it-is-necessary-for-hope-it-is/) [Harry Belafonte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-belafonte/) [Explore all 105 Harry Belafonte quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-belafonte/) ## More Cage quotes > [“The cage has gotten bigger, and we can expect bigger beasts from it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mallory/the-cage-has-gotten-bigger-and-we-can-expect-bigger-beasts-from-it/) Jason Mallory > [“If you can choose your way into a cage, you can choose your way out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-kempton/if-you-can-choose-your-way-into-a-cage-you-can-choose-your-way-out/) [Beth Kempton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-kempton/) > [If you have the mentality that Jon Jones has when he steps into the cage, no one will beat you on the mat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-anderson/if-you-have-the-mentality-that-jon-jones-has-when-he-steps-into-the/) [Corey Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-anderson/) > [I underestimated the difference of fighting in a cage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mirko-cro-cop/i-underestimated-the-difference-of-fighting-in-a-cage/) [Mirko Cro Cop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mirko-cro-cop/) > [“Because knowledge is only a cage if you dwell in isolation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/because-knowledge-is-only-a-cage-if-you-dwell-in-isolation/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [What do you fear, lady?' he asked. 'A cage,' she said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-do-you-fear-lady-he-asked-a-cage-she-said/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Soon, I found myself locked in my own cage of fear and desperation, where my experience of life was getting smaller and smaller.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-moorjani/soon-i-found-myself-locked-in-my-own-cage-of-fear-and-desperation/) [Anita Moorjani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-moorjani/) > [Everyone at home sitting on their couches, they think it's so easy to fight. Stepping inside that cage is probably the hardest thing in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-cerrone/everyone-at-home-sitting-on-their-couches-they-think-it-s-so-easy-to/) [Donald Cerrone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-cerrone/) > [It's life or death for me every single time I step in the cage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-gaethje/it-s-life-or-death-for-me-every-single-time-i-step-in-the-cage/) [Justin Gaethje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-gaethje/) > [The sight of a cage is only frightening to the bird that has once been caught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-field/the-sight-of-a-cage-is-only-frightening-to-the-bird-that-has-once/) [Rachel Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-field/) > [“Do you want to be kept in a little cage? No! Because it is a horror! But then why do you keep a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/do-you-want-to-be-kept-in-a-little-cage-no-because-it-is-a-horror-but/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > ['Luke Cage' is a gift. There's so many different ways you can look at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-younge/luke-cage-is-a-gift-there-s-so-many-different-ways-you-can-look-at-it/) [Adrian Younge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-younge/) > [“They let us be, here, in the cage of our ignorance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/they-let-us-be-here-in-the-cage-of-our-ignorance/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [Tis Vanth's cage. You can just move it out of the way." "I already have," he grumbles. "With my shin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/tis-vanth-s-cage-you-can-just-move-it-out-of-the-way-i-already-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Don’t be a bird that can be restricted from flying by putting in the cage. Be the one, which can fly with the cage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lovely-goyal/don-t-be-a-bird-that-can-be-restricted-from-flying-by-putting-in-the/) [Lovely Goyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lovely-goyal/) [Browse all 431 Cage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cage/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can cage the singer but not the song.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harry Belafonte" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-belafonte/you-can-cage-the-singer-but-not-the-song/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cage" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-belafonte/you-can-cage-the-singer-but-not-the-song/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dca/harry-belafonte-4893_cage_you-can-cage-the-singer-but-not-the-song_1093870.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dca/harry-belafonte-4893_cage_you-can-cage-the-singer-but-not-the-song_1093870.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dca/harry-belafonte-4893_cage_you-can-cage-the-singer-but-not-the-song_1093870.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can cage the singer but not the song.” — Harry Belafonte", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Harry Belafonte", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-belafonte/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can cage the singer but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-belafonte/you-can-cage-the-singer-but-not-the-song/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-belafonte/you-can-cage-the-singer-but-not-the-song/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```