The Lion's Roar Lyrics
She plays a tune for those who wish to overlook
The fact that they've been blindly deceived
By those who preach, and pray, and teach
But she falls short and the night explodes in laughter
About the way your world can alter
And oh how you try to command it all still
Every single time it all shifts one way or the other
And the lion's roar, the lion's roar
Has me evading and hollering for you
And I never really knew what to do
That I could read you just like a book
For now I can only guess what's coming next
By examining your timid smile
And the ways of the old, old winds blowing you back around
And the lion's roar, the lion's roar
Has me evading and hollering for you
And I never really knew what to do
I'd sit there and look at the deserted lakes and I'd sing
And every once in a while I'd sing a song for you
That would rise above the mountains and the stars and the sea
And if I wanted it to it would lead you back to me
Is something that I have heard before
A children's tale, the lonesome wail of a lion's roar
Part of the strength of the lyric is that it makes hints and suggestions without ever tying things down or being really specific. It's very Dylanesque in this sense and also in the vocal phrasing - the way she sings the phrase ends reminds me of Dylan singing North Country Blues (written when Dylan was only 22, which just goes to show that young minds can also run very deep).
I feel the message of the song is a criticism of those who deceive, those who 'preach and pray and teach' , i.e. religious types, who are always anxious to offer facile answers to life's deep questions. Of course they always 'fall short' and the night 'explodes in laughter'. The second verse seems to mock those who try to anchor their philosophy and beliefs in an ever-shifting world, which you simply can't 'command all still'.
Although the song criticises religion, it also expresses understanding and empathy for the natural human weaknesses on which religion feeds. As for the chorus and the 'lion's roar', I think this is the roar of not knowing, the roar of doubt, of loneliness and of being vulnerable in an uncertain world. It's enough to make anyone feel a coward, perhaps even someone of a skeptical turn of mind who in moments of weakness may also be tempted to incline towards easy answers.
The song then seems to talk directly to a person that she wishes was 'more predictable', although I suppose this person may be metaphorical or even allegorical. Actually, I think the song may be about the same boy that she wrote 'Hard Believer ' for. She has said that he was very religious and I think 'the old, old winds blowing you back 'round' is him reverting to his old religious dogma, despite her best efforts to open his mind to other possibilities. Rosemary Hill was an author who wrote God's Architect, a biography about an actual architect. I don't see this reference as directly commenting on the author and book. Rather, I think Rosemary Hill is a beautiful metaphor to describe a place which gives sanctuary from the lion's roar of uncertainty and doubt. She shares her boyfriends fears but, unlike him, won't succumb to surrendering her mind to preachers. But she still loves him and dreams of singing him back to her and away from the deceiving preachers. Yes, the lion's roar is no better than a children's book, just old and dusty scriptures that we've all heard before. They draw their power by invoking the fear and loneliness that lies within us all, conjuring up our human frailty and making us cry 'the lonely wail of a lion's roar'.
Now, having thought a little about the song's meaning I like it even more. It really is a classic and very profound and beautiful.
It sounds to me like it's a song about perhaps an ex boyfriend, or just someone that she's had a bad relationship with. The lion's roar may be a reference to this persons temper, and the way that she doesn't know what is going to be brought out from the rage. At the end it sounds like she leaves him/her, considering their attitude to be childish, hence the last line referring to the lions roar as a children's tale.
This song confuses me as I also agree about the religion reference. But on the second verse it sounds like shes talking about someone she loves but can never have. That shes a fool and coward to not have him but still love him. Lions roar could be the pain roaring inside about the love thats lost.
i dont know?
This song is one of the best songs of 2011, so incredible.
it's about church, religion, etc. how it can alter/damage the world/person. she's bitter. jesus is often considered "the lion" searching for her rosemary hill...is a reference to an actual person...rosemary hill is the author of "god's architect" so yeah, basically...mad at the church for giving them the wrong answers.
Kristen has it. I also think she has frustration that she can no longer see the church as something that is real and true. It is almost like she pities it too much now.
In my haste I see I misinterpreted the fist verse: The "pale morning sings of forgotten things" about nature's reality. She "plays a tune for those who wish to overlook" her reality, to those who've been "blindly deceived by those who preach and pray and teach". But "she falls short", unable to enlighten and "the night explodes in laughter" - the night being the darkness of ignorance.
For those interested, try searching 'Lion's Roar' Buddhism.
Reminds me of Hemingway's "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber"
The "Lion's Roar" and the religious interpretations in this song, my first song in the context of the song where she sings "I'm a -God damn- coward" ...... there's the verse in the Bible about Satan roaming around like a roaring lion (barks but can't bite) looking for (the coward who takes the bate) the one to devour.
"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1.Peter 5:8
This passage in the Bible tells on how Satan is bluffing as a "lion" that roars, but isn't able to devour.
The lyric:
"And I'm a goddamn coward, but then again so are you And the lion's roar, the lion's roar Has me evading and hollering for you And I never really knew what to do"
Might as well sing: "And the dogs that bark, the dogs that bark" ...
Religious connotations, sure. But the song thrives on mystery as well.
Lion's that just roar.
Beautiful though.