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.

Samsara
Daddy Lion Lyrics

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There's a look in my eyes
I wear a disguise
I'm putting on a smile
For your enterprise

You pull on my hair
You step on my toes
And I should throw elbows

I throw you a rose

Oh it goes on the same
Circular lane
Now it's rain again
Now a sunny day

So I complain
What more could I do
I'm not on the offense
I'm impaled on a fence

Did I mention
I had a couple drinks

I opened up your book
It parted like the Red Sea

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Samsara" by Daddy Lion revolve around the cyclical nature of life and the struggle to maintain a positive facade amidst the challenges that come our way. The first two lines, "There's a look in my eyes, I wear a disguise," signify the hidden emotions that one might have, which they choose to conceal from others. The third line, "I'm putting on a smile for your enterprise" refers to how, despite feeling down, one might still force themselves to maintain a happy demeanor for the sake of pleasing someone else. The next two lines, "You pull on my hair, you step on my toes," portray how someone else might be causing one pain, yet instead of fighting back, they throw them a rose, a symbol of love and kindness.

The following lines, "Oh, it goes on the same, circular lane. Now it's rain again, now a sunny day," further drive home the idea of life's cyclical nature. Ups and downs come and go, but they all eventually lead to another similar situation. The next lines, "So I complain, what more could I do. I'm not on the offense, I'm impaled on a fence," showcase the feeling of helplessness that one might experience when faced with a difficult situation. They might try to voice their grievances, but in the end, their hands are tied.

The last two lines, "Did I mention I had a couple drinks, I opened up your book, it parted like the Red Sea," suggest that despite the challenges that the singer is facing, they might still be able to find some solace in a moment of clarity. The alcohol might have allowed them to see things in a different light, and the book may have provided them with some answers or solutions to their problems.

Line by Line Meaning

There's a look in my eyes
I am expressing a certain feeling through my eyes

I wear a disguise
I am hiding my true feelings with a mask

I'm putting on a smile
I am faking my emotions, specifically appearing happy

For your enterprise
I am doing this for your benefit

You pull on my hair
You are causing me physical harm

You step on my toes
You are causing me emotional pain

And I should throw elbows
I should fight back

I throw you a rose
Instead of fighting, I show love and compassion

Oh it goes on the same
This cycle of harm and love continues

Circular lane
This cycle of harm and love is a never-ending loop

Now it's rain again
Things are not going well, a metaphor for a difficult time