Bandmates Chapman, bassist Josh Salter, drummer Seamus Dalton, and lead guitarist Brad Loughead debuted with a self-titled EP that came out in 2011. Though Dalton and Salter were both in the group Monomyth, and Loughead was a member of Each Other, Nap Eyes kept cranking out music, with two EPs (Tribal Thoughts and Four More Songs By) in 2012 and two 2013 releases (Joint Uppers & Other Favourites! and Dreaming Solo). They recorded fast, eschewing overdubs and getting a live and loose sound. Their first full-length was recorded in 2013 in Montreal by Mike Wright, who was also in Each Other with Loughead. Whine of the Mystic was first issued in 2014 in a limited run by Plastic Factory, then co-reissued in July 2015 by You've Changed Records and Paradise of Bachelors.
Once again employing their preferred studio method, Nap Eyes recorded their follow-up album, 2016's Thought Rock Fish Scale, entirely live in the studio over a period of four days. Completing what they considered to be an informal trilogy of LPs, the band returned in March 2018 with the deeply personal I'm Bad Now. For Nap Eyes' fourth album, they took a more measured and hi-fi approach, working with producers Jonathan Low (the National) and James Elkington at the National's Long Pond studio in Upstate New York. The resulting album, Snapshot of a Beginner, was released by Jagjaguwar in April 2020.
Lion in Chains
Nap Eyes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I sometimes feel like I'll never get back
On the brink, a shadow covers over
Whatever future I thought that I could have
At the sink I wait for the cold water
I burned myself here one too many times
At the they've turned off the hot water heater
A lion in chains above them
A lion in chains above them
A lion in chains above them
A lion in chains
Passing slowly the hours of my discontent
I felt a new craze welling up behind my eyes
In a flood of tears I gave myself to the heavens
Where once a fire of anxious feelings forced me not to cry
A lion in chains above me
A lion in chains above me
A lion in chains above me
A lion in chains
Through my window and down across my sight lines
to the river where the evening thrush resides
along the water winding through woods and open fields
my imagination A lion in chains above him
A lion in chains above him
A lion in chains above him
With a lion in chains
Sleeping at the crest of a titanic crashing wave
I felt a strange dream of jealousy and the know it all crown
I wandered blindly through the field
I wandered blindly and alone
But could not find another one for my protector and my guide
They've all got lions and chains above them
got lions and chains above them
They've all got lions and chains above them
got lions and chains
Steep is the cost when the dreams of love are broken
Gruelling the workshop where they're
put back together in time
I saw gold mines and a different kind of token
Here at the arcade I spent about 45, 000 dimes
When I think thoughts about my home town
I sometimes feel like I'll never get out of here
I feel a warm breath and a deadly uncaring power
at the back of my neck
and I wonder what it is that keeps my here
The song "Lion in Chains" by Nap Eyes encapsulates the feeling of being trapped in a place you want to leave, but can't. The lyrics evoke a sense of frustration as the singer talks about his hometown and how he feels like he can never leave. He sees himself as being on the brink of something better, but a shadow looms over him, tearing down whatever aspirations he had. The imagery of a lion in chains reinforces this feeling of being trapped and unable to escape.
The first verse speaks about the singer waiting for cold water at the sink, a mundane chore that becomes symbolic of the frustration of being stuck. The next verse shows a glimmer of hope as the singer envisions a lion in chains above him, representing his desire to break free. The tone shifts again as the singer looks out the window and sees the river and the thrush, unable to shake off the feeling of being stuck in his hometown.
The chorus repeats the image of the lion in chains, emphasizing the feeling of being trapped. The singer describes feeling like he's sleeping at the crest of a titanic crashing wave, which creates a feeling of instability and unease. The last verse shows a different perspective, as the singer now talks about the cost and the grueling process of rebuilding after broken dreams. The song ends on a note of uncertainty, as the singer wonders what it is that keeps him bound to his hometown.
Line by Line Meaning
When I think thoughts about my home town
When I reminisce about my hometown
I sometimes feel like I'll never get back
I wonder if I'll ever have a future there again
On the brink, a shadow covers over
I'm on the verge of losing hope
Whatever future I thought that I could have
The vision of what could have been is fading away
At the sink I wait for the cold water
Waiting for the water to warm up, after being burned too many times
I burned myself here one too many times
I've hurt myself emotionally in this place before
At the they've turned off the hot water heater
The hot water is unavailable
from the month of June right through until July
From June to July, there's no hot water
A lion in chains above them
A powerful force holding them back
Passing slowly the hours of my discontent
Feeling stuck and unhappy as I pass time
I felt a new craze welling up behind my eyes
Starting to feel a strong emotion building inside of me
In a flood of tears I gave myself to the heavens
Releasing my emotions in a cathartic way
Where once a fire of anxious feelings forced me not to cry
I used to suppress my feelings, but now I'm letting them out
A lion in chains above me
A powerful force holding me back
Through my window and down across my sight lines
Looking out the window, reflecting on the world
to the river where the evening thrush resides
The river is home to a bird called the evening thrush
along the water winding through woods and open fields
Following the river through the woods and fields
my imagination A lion in chains above him
My thoughts are consumed by a force holding me back
Sleeping at the crest of a titanic crashing wave
Being suspended in a precarious situation
I felt a strange dream of jealousy and the know it all crown
Having a dream of insecurity and arrogance
I wandered blindly through the field
Moving aimlessly through life
I wandered blindly and alone
Feeling lost and isolated
But could not find another one for my protector and my guide
Unable to find someone to help me
They've all got lions and chains above them
Other people are also held back by strong forces
got lions and chains above them
The force is weighing them down
Steep is the cost when the dreams of love are broken
Losing love comes at a high price
Gruelling the workshop where they're put back together in time
It's difficult to mend a broken heart
I saw gold mines and a different kind of token
Referring to a new opportunity or a fresh start
Here at the arcade I spent about 45, 000 dimes
Spending a lot of time and money on a distraction
When I think thoughts about my home town
Reflecting on my hometown again
I sometimes feel like I'll never get out of here
Wondering if I'll be stuck there forever
I feel a warm breath and a deadly uncaring power
Feeling an overwhelming and dangerous force
at the back of my neck
The force is particularly directed at me
and I wonder what it is that keeps my here
Curious why I can't leave
Writer(s): Brad Loughead, Seamus Dalton, Nigel Chapman, Josh Salter
Contributed by Sophia W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ravi Santlani
so much soothing and I feel alive again. Thank you.
Mike Harris
Good good song..........close m eyes and can almost hear a bit of Lou Reed in this...........
A A
I can't help but sing Lady Lady Lay to this song
Ravi Santlani
found via song of day podcast :)