After The Early Learnings Of - a mini album of 8 songs - was released to great critical acclaim last year on Domino’s Publishing Label Double Six, Eugene headed to the studio to make his first full album proper for Domino. The result is twelve utterly charming pop tracks, which skip between boundaries with gleeful abandon and an acidic sense of humour.
Eugene McGuinness’ album contains knowing winks and phrases drawn from personal experience, but mostly made up scenarios full of joyous verve and unpredictability. It is a collection of songs gloriously out of time yet thoroughly modern, with one foot in reality and the other somewhere else entirely,.
http://www.myspace.com/eugenemcguinness85
Lion
Eugene McGuinness Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Allowing his hands somewhere they shouldn't be
My disgraceful quest for immortality
An adventure in an airship inflated by my ego, go
Behind the book case,start to study
I'm stitching up freaks in my secret laboratory
The subtext is dire and the sex is not on fire
But if beauty is truth, that makes you a l-l-liar
The lions are out on the prowl
So lions i will believe you for now
Cross dressing cage fighters juggle the bones
Skeletons dancing upon xylophones
As blossom falls from the trees
We'll feast upon the plump juniper berries
The writing's on the wall and it says red rum
On this side of the mirror so go fetch me some
They need a volunteer, total submission
The Edwardian music-hall magician
Is listening in, he'll cut you with his car keys
I'm also sitting on the ventriloquist's knee
My disgraceful quest for immortality
My disgraceful quest for immortality
The lions are out on the prowl
So lions, I will believe you for now
And I was raised by wild wolves
In the brutal wilderness
And I'll take you for a fool
But if you help me out of this
Cross dressing cage fighters juggle the bones
Skeletons dancing upon xylophones
As blossom falls from the trees
We'll feast upon the plump juniper berries
The lyrics to Eugene McGuinness's song Lion are quite abstract and may leave listeners feeling puzzled by their meaning. The first verse paints a picture of the singer as a dysfunctional and perverse character with a hunger for recognition and attention. The line "allowing his hands somewhere they shouldn't be" suggests a willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve fame, even if it means compromising integrity or personal values. The use of the metaphor "an adventure in an airship inflated by my ego" highlights the singer's inflated sense of self-importance and the precarious nature of his pursuit.
The second verse continues to build on the theme of eccentricity and otherworldliness. The mention of "stitching up freaks in my secret laboratory" conjures images of Frankenstein-like experimentation and the desire to create something unique and groundbreaking. The reference to "red rum" written on the wall is a nod to Stephen King's novel The Shining, which explores themes of madness, isolation, and the supernatural.
The chorus, "The lions are out on the prowl, so lions, I will believe you for now" seemingly reinforces the notion that the singer is living in a surreal world, where nothing is quite what it seems. The final verse returns to the theme of oddity, with references to cross-dressing and skeleton juggling. The closing lines "As blossom falls from the trees, we'll feast upon the plump juniper berries" offer an ambiguous resolution to the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm sitting on the ventriloquists knee
I am under someone else's control and influence
Allowing his hands somewhere they shouldn't be
I am allowing something harmful to happen to me
My disgraceful quest for immortality
My desperate desire to live forever is causing me to do shameful things
An adventure in an airship inflated by my ego, go
I am chasing after something that is only fueled by my arrogance and self-importance
Behind the book case, start to study
I am beginning to explore things that should stay hidden
I'm stitching up freaks in my secret laboratory
I am trying to create something new and different through questionable means
The subtext is dire and the sex is not on fire
The situation is serious and unexciting
But if beauty is truth, that makes you a l-l-liar
If you only care about appearances, then you are a hypocrite
The lions are out on the prowl
Danger is lurking around me
So lions i will believe you for now
I will trust my instincts to survive
Cross dressing cage fighters juggle the bones
A strange and unusual spectacle is occurring before my eyes
Skeletons dancing upon xylophones
Death and music come together in a strange and haunting way
As blossom falls from the trees
Nature is changing and evolving
We'll feast upon the plump juniper berries
We will enjoy the fruits of our labor and success
The writing's on the wall and it says red rum
A warning message is being displayed
On this side of the mirror so go fetch me some
Someone is asking for help and acknowledgment
They need a volunteer, total submission
Someone is being asked to sacrifice themselves completely
The Edwardian music-hall magician
A master illusionist and trickster
Is listening in, he'll cut you with his car keys
Someone is being threatened and endangered
And I was raised by wild wolves
I come from a difficult and challenging background
In the brutal wilderness
My past experiences have been harsh and unforgiving
And I'll take you for a fool
I may not believe or trust you
But if you help me out of this
I will need and appreciate your assistance
Contributed by Lucy V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Aislinn Kerr
I'm sitting on the ventriloquists knee
Allowing his hands somewhere they shouldn't be
My disgraceful quest for immortality
An adventure in an airship inflated by my ego, go
Behind the book case,start to study
I'm stitching up freaks in my secret laboratory
The subtext is dire and the sex is not on fire
But if beauty is truth, that makes you a l-l-liar
The lions are out on the prowl
So lions i will believe you for now
Cross dressing cage fighters juggle the bones
Skeletons dancing upon xylophones
As blossom falls from the trees
We'll feast upon the plump juniper berries
The writing's on the wall and it says red rum
On this side of the mirror so go fetch me some
They need a volunteer, total submission
The Edwardian music-hall magician
Is listening in, he'll cut you with his car keys
I'm also sitting on the ventriloquist's knee
My disgraceful quest for immortality
My disgraceful quest for immortality
The lions are out on the prowl
So lions, I will believe you for now
And I was raised by wild wolves
In the brutal wilderness
And I'll take you for a fool
If you help me out of this m-m-m-mess
Cross dressing cage fighters juggle the bones
Skeletons dancing upon xylophones
As blossom falls from the trees
We'll feast upon the plump juniper berries
Cooper
This song is perfect. No one ever needs to write another one, I'll just listen to this and be perfectly happy.
Ovivore
His songs are good, his voice is good, he looks like a young Tim Roth, the lyrics are good....how the hell isn't this guy famous?
Igor Romko
+MsTheeloisa Totally.
Mp Pink
he need time. world is not ready for this.
Danielle Guzman
Agreed
Adam McHugh
Because he really isnt that good. Or it would be more kind to say his songs are quite derivative.
민 Stardust
The kind of artist that should be recognized... maybe the world's not ready for him
pompeymega
"I'm sitting on the ventriloquist's knee, allowing his hand somewhere it shouldn't be". Absolute tune! Keep 'em coming. Can't wait for the album either!
Aiga Gegere
There was a time when this song was on repeat. I still love it!
Gaara Kazekage
Essa música é perfeita! É uma ótima mistura de AM com um toque de The Vaccines e isso me lembra anos 50 não sei o por quê! Simplesmente inexplicável! (virei fã)