Behind the song
The cells opened. Some stories never left.
This song is inspired by Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, a prison built around isolation, silence and penitence that later became infamous for its harsh conditions and haunting reputation.
It draws on stories of Al Capone being tormented by “Jimmy,” the Cellblock 4 locksmith encounter, unexplained laughter and shadow figures in Cellblock 12, and the chilling idea that some prisoners may have left their cells, but never truly left the prison.