Why Caged Bird Sings

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreamshis shadow shouts on a nightmare screamhis wings are clipped and his feet are tiedso he opens his throat to sing 

The caged bird singswith a fearful trillof things unknownbut longed for stilland his tune is heardon the distant hillfor the caged birdsings of freedom.(Maya Angelou “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”)

No, no, no, no! Come, let's away to prison. 

We two alone will sing like birds i' th' cage. 

When thou dost ask me blessing, I'll kneel down 

And ask of thee forgiveness. So we'll live, 

And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh 

At gilded butterflies, and hear poor rogues 

Talk of court news; and we'll talk with them too- 

Who loses and who wins; who's in, who's out- 

And take upon 's the mystery of things, 

As if we were God's spies; and we'll wear out, 

In a wall'd prison, packs and sects of great ones 

That ebb and flow by th' moon.

Why Do Caged Birds Sing?

Talk about a truly changed character, Lear has gone from a prideful foolish old man. To one with wisdom and age.  Throughout the play he has refused all reason! When faced with the reason of true love versus the empty flattering words of love, he banished the source of true love "Hence and avoid my sight!" to save the image of his pride. He must not be wrong! Later when all power resides in his two evil daughters, he is faced with his will and the power of his daughters--he runs away into the night, the storm of all storms in order to hold to his will and his word. "Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! rage! blow! You cataracts and hurricanoes, spout .../Singe my white head!" He would rather face nature head on than admit he was wrong, he still believes that pride will make him happy!  

Then why do birds sing? 

They sing for each other, they are the closest to humans than any other species.  They use song to communicate with each other and like us it is a language that is learned from each other.  In a cage with everything removed and his pride crushed, why will Lear sing? Because he is with Cordelia, he has finally realized through all hell that it is the ones that love him most that make him happy.  If he is with her in jail, he has cause to sing, to talk, and a reason for joy!  Without having the 'world' they can have the world.  The mysteries of the world they can unfold, stories can be spoken, songs sung, and laughter had, as long as they are together.  He finally sees that his world, his joy, and his happiness are in the one who loved him most.  Happiness is found in others that truly love, and not in pride and power and worldly possessions.

They will sing together of freedom, of the outside world, of prayer, and God.  And together they will be happy.  ...Caged Birds Sing for Each Other...