This misheard lyric goes back about 14 years ago, when Smashing Pumpkins released Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. Bullet with Butterfly Wings was the first single released from that album, and it was getting heavy airplay at the time. Back when we would make the songspeak mixtapes on cassette, we decided we were going to put this song on one of them. Volume 8 or 9, I believe. One of the ones we made at Matt’s cousin Eric’s apartment, I remember that much. Anyway, I was belting the tune out, and I sang with such conviction, “Despite all my rage, I’m still just ready to cave!” Matt admonished me and informed me that the actual lyrics were “Despite all my rage, I’m still just a rat in a cage”. I maintain that my lyrics make more sense (being so full of anger, yet ready to crumble under the pressure). And when I hear this song on Pure Rock Lazer 99.3 these days, I still maintain that it sounds like he’s saying my alternate lyrics. So Billy Corgan and his bald head can go suck it.

Tags: 90s music, billy corgan, bullet with butterfly wings, cassette, despite all my rage I'm still just a rat in a cage, eric's apartment, lazer 99.3, mellon collie and the infinite sadness, mixtapes, pure rock, smashing pumpkins