Originally started as a solo project from founding member Jeremy Joseph, Da… Read Full Bio ↴Originally started as a solo project from founding member Jeremy Joseph, Daddy Lion adopts the DIY ethos that he learned growing up in the Washington, DC area with its Dischord-records driven punk scene. As a solo project, and as a band, they've recorded nearly all their music themselves with whatever they had access to at the time: from a 4-track tape recorder in Mom's basement, to a digital 8-track, to Garageband, to their latest full-length recorded by synth player Chris Johnson in the attic of a decaying lake house that belonged to his grandparents.

Jeremy met his bandmates several years ago after moving from DC to Columbia, South Carolina in order to pursue a doctoral degree in philosophy. He met bass player Randal Franklin and drummer Bart Ballington on Craigslist, and met synth player Chris Johnson at a local avant-garde music club that they both frequented and where Chris ran sound. Their musical backgrounds are diverse - from playing in hardcore bands to studying classical composition. Their sound has been particularly compared to 80's and 90's college and indie rock such as Husker Du, REM, and Modest Mouse.

Morning
Daddy Lion Lyrics

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What is this old box I'm living in?
What is this old life I'm holding on?

I could live in a shell and never know no hell
But I can't live in a world like that
I've got to be free in my morning.

You could leave me if you were here

But now I'm singing to no one
There's no one here.

What is this old life I'm holding on?

Watch me come down now like King Kong
Being shot from a tower.

Overall Meaning

These lyrics from Daddy Lion's "Morning" allude to the feelings of stagnation and disillusionment that can come with a routine, unfulfilling existence. The singer questions the box they're living in - likely a metaphor for the limitations of their current lifestyle - and wonders why they're holding on to such a life. They acknowledge that they could live in a shell and avoid the hassles and consequences of pursuing freedom and growth, but they assert that they can't thrive in a world like that. The last line of this verse, "I've got to be free in my morning," reinforces the idea that the singer is seeking a fresh start and a chance to embrace new possibilities.

The second verse shifts focus to the singer's isolation. They reference someone who could leave them if they were there, but they're currently singing to no one. This suggests that they feel they have no audience or support system for their aspirations. The repetition of the question "What is this old life I'm holding on?" emphasizes the singer's frustration and desperation to escape the status quo. The final metaphor of the verse, "Watch me come down now like King Kong / Being shot from a tower," conveys a sense of defeat and vulnerability. Here, the singer is comparing themselves to King Kong - a powerful and imposing figure brought down by external forces.

Overall, these lyrics paint a vivid picture of someone trapped in a life they no longer want, struggling to find a way out and uncertain of how to create a more fulfilling future for themselves.

Line by Line Meaning

What is this old box I'm living in?
I am questioning the monotonous life that I am living.

What is this old life I'm holding on?
I am questioning the value and purpose of my existence.

I could live in a shell and never know no hell
I could choose a life of security and comfort, but it would not truly be living.

But I can't live in a world like that
I want to live in a world that is full of excitement and possibility.

I've got to be free in my morning.
I need to be free to pursue my dreams and aspirations.

You could leave me if you were here
If you were here with me, you could leave me and I wouldn't even realize it.

But now I'm singing to no one
I am alone, without anyone to share my thoughts and feelings with.

There's no one here.
I am completely isolated and alone.

Watch me come down now like King Kong
Just like King Kong falling from a tower, my life is crashing down around me.

Being shot from a tower.
I feel like I am being shot down by the challenges and difficulties of life.

Contributed by Callie T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.