Lion by Hollywood Undead Lyrics Meaning – Deciphering the Roar of Personal Struggle and Liberation
Lyrics
Do you see a lion when you look inside of me
Outside the window just to watch you as you sleep
‘Cause I am a lion born from things you can not be
How can I sleep at night there’s a war inside my head
I found a lion hidden right beneath my bed
I will not hide myself from the tears that you have shed
‘Cause I am a lion, and you are dead
Heres a story of everything we’ll ever be
You can hide but some of us can never leave
And if you go I don’t need those little things
They remind me of all our little dreams
Can you hear the words, all I can say
We can watch the world even if they walk away
Forget about tomorrow, tomorrow is today
You where born a lion and a lion you will stay
I am a lion and I want to be free
Do you see the lion when you look inside of me
Outside the window just to watch you as you sleep
‘Cause I am a lion born from things you can not be
Remember an army of all those little kids
Livin’ life like they only get a little bit
It’s hard to fight when you’re born in the middle-end
I’d rather die then watch you givin’ in
I’m sorry daughter but you’re fathers not the same
I can look into your eyes and I swear that I will change
But tomorrow is tomorrow so forgive me if I say you can hide
Beneath the covers while I hide behind the pain
After all only so much we can say
Words can lose their meaning once you walk away
Promise me that you’ll love me, watch me as I fade
I’ll give you all the things that these lions never gave
The hands on the clock and the things we cannot change
Tearin’ out the pieces and take back what I made
If there’s one thing I’d keep, it’s you that I would save
‘Cause I am just a lion and a lion I will stay
I am a lion and I want to be free
Do you see the lion when you look inside of me
Outside the window just to watch you as you sleep
‘Cause I am a lion born from things you cannot be
Hey! I never meant to let go
All I want and you’re all I’ll ever wanna know
Can’t hide in the attic of a pretty home
Of a pretty home, of a pretty home
Hey! I never meant to let go
All I want and you’re all I ever wanna know
Can’t hide in the attic of a pretty home
Of a pretty home, of a pretty home
Hey!
I am a lion and I want to be free
Do you see the lion when you look inside of me
Outside the window just to watch you as you sleep
‘Cause I am a lion born from things you can not be
In the vast savannah of modern rock anthems, Hollywood Undead’s ‘Lion’ stands as a monument — not merely of music but also an emblematic narrative teeming with raw human emotion and complex internal battles. At its core, ‘Lion’ is an intimate narrative exploring the concepts of struggle, freedom, and identity.
Underneath the driving beats and melodic aggression that have become synonymous with Hollywood Undead, ‘Lion’ offers listeners more than a catchy hook; it presents an opportunity to delve deep into the psyche of those who stand at the crossroads of vulnerability and strength. Given its profound layers, one might wander through the lyricism as though it were a dense jungle — each verse a path leading to the heart of the human condition.
Unveiling the Pride Within: Exploring Identity
From the opening lines, ‘I am a lion and I want to be free,’ there’s a palpable longing for liberation. The lion, in this sense, symbolizes a certain strength and regal quality intrinsic to the narrator’s being, a characteristic that refuses to be caged or stifled.
This powerful imagery transcends into a confrontation against the external influences (‘born from things you cannot be’), highlighting an inescapable separation between the individual and the societal norms that attempt to shape them. Identity here is a battleground, and the lion within a clarion call to rise above what is expected.
The War Within: A Symphony of Internal Conflict
As the song propels forward, we are allowed a glimpse into the ‘war inside my head’ — a phrase that resonates with anyone who has grappled with inner turmoil. The notion of discovering a ‘lion hidden right beneath my bed’ serves to illustrate the idea of suppressed strength or potential that lies dormant, awaiting its moment.
This internal conflict is depicted as a relentless battle between who the narrator is (‘I am a lion’) and the crushing weight of vulnerabilities (‘you are dead’). It’s a juxtaposition of self-acknowledgment and self-doubt, a sentiment echoed in the powerful and relentless drive of the instrumentals that accompany these verses.
Echos from the Cubhood: The Power of Nostalgia
‘Heres a story of everything we’ll ever be,’ catapults the listener into the sphere of innocence and youth, suggesting that from our earliest moments, the essence of who we are as lions—courageous and free—was always present. The reference to ‘little dreams’ encapsulates the purity of our original ambitions, untouched by the cynicism of experience.
The passage points to the undeniable footprint that our past leaves on our present existence, with both the fleeting (‘little things’) and the profound (‘you were born a lion’) moments combined, shaping the trajectory of our lives. The song captures this blend of innocence and wisdom with poignant simplicity.
The Hidden Meaning: Embracing Vulnerability
Peering beneath the surface of ‘Lion,’ one uncovers a delicate mesh of vulnerability. The narrative voice implores a nameless ‘daughter’ to seek cover while confronting the father’s flaws — ‘your fathers not the same.’ Yet, in admitting these imperfections (‘I swear that I will change’), there is an element of bravery.
This admission, while shadowed by regret (‘forgive me if I say’), rings with a commitment to growth and an understanding that the past cannot be rewritten (‘the hands on the clock and the things we cannot change’), but the present can be faced with honesty and stoicism.
Memorable Lines that Claw Deep: Lyrical Resonance
Certain lines in ‘Lion’ are etched with a resonance that extends beyond the song itself. ‘Forget about tomorrow, tomorrow is today’ underlines the urgency to live in the present, casting aside procrastination and fear in favor of seizing the now.
As the chorus reiterates ‘I am a lion and I want to be free,’ it becomes an anthem, an ode to the resilience of the human spirit. The song’s close, echoed in the final refrains, operates as both a promise and a chant, embracing and empowering the lion within each of us, daring to be free.
