War Stories has experienced the suggested promises of “stardom” having been courted by major labels, power agents, and gratuitous managers of a dieing breed. As described in the lyrics of “Rage” reality was revealed and truth discovered after the band signed to Columbia Records. They believed in the opportunity as it was told, recorded their songs, toured with Augustana and Kasabian, then received the abrupt ending two months before the scheduled release of its debut album.
“We were half way through our tour with Kasabian,” Evan recalls, “and we got a call from our management telling us we were dropped before our album even hit the shelf.”
Empowered by the experience and possessed with an even greater passion for music, the band finished the tour, went back to their hometown of San Diego and regrouped with a new found focus. They cleaned house, wrote new songs, and sold their trailer to raise the money to record their official self-titled debut.
When most bands would have given up to the frustration, disappointment, and discouragement of abandonment, War Stories found enlightenment and power. When you’re truly meant to do something there are no other options, and that is exactly how these musicians feel. In fact, you can almost say becoming a musician was set in motion from Day 1 for Evan who grew up listening to his father’s songs and stories of living within the late 1960s musician’s community, playing guitar with The Things To Come, and even driving Mama Cass from Los Angeles to New York in her Aston Martin. The two have always shared the excitement of songs and performances and continue to play acoustic gigs together. And when War Stories entered the studio they even had dad sing backups on “Without Love.” It’s in the blood.
In a time when music sometimes seems more about fashion than songs, scenes than sincerity, and words than meaning, it’s encouraging to know someone still does it for the right reasons; to create music for the love of sharing their artistic perspective. No matter the obstacle, War Stories will continue to write the songs that mean something for our lives and our shared experiences.
Lion
War Stories Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And these words won't rest until they're songs
And I feel I'm crying out like a lion
See, I've thrown away the things you say
And the darkness of nights never felt this right
And I'm here
I'm crying out like a lion, like a lion
Like a lion, like a lion
And I've tasted the greatest waste of my freedom, of my freedom
Say freedom
And just to walk this way hear people say that you're crazy
I'm moving slow cuz I'm crying
But now I see it's so clear I wipe these tears
And I'm trying so hard to be sincere
I believe I can
We're holding on but we're crying, but we're crying
And we're here and these hearts scream fear
Like a lion, like a lion
And we're tasting, yeah the greatest waste of our freedom, of our freedom
And maybe we feel the same dark clouds and the rain, they came and we're tired of pain Let us breath again, we're holding on but we're crying, yeah, yeah
We are here to move, to chase colors
We are young with direction in our eyes
And we're here to move, we're chasing colors
Let us breathe again, let us breathe out again
Let us breathe again, let me breathe out again
Heart screams
And we're here and these hearts scream fear
Like a lion, like a lion
And we're tasting, yeah the warm embrace of our freedom, of our freedom
And maybe we feel the same dark clouds and the rain, they came and we're tired of pain Let us breath again, we're holding on but we're crying
We're crying out like a lion, out like a lion, out like a lion, like a lion yeah
The song Lion by War Stories is a powerful anthem of self-discovery and finding the strength to overcome fear and pain. The lyrics speak of shedding the weight of other people's expectations and opinions, and finding one's own voice and direction. The singer declares that they feel like a lion, roaring out their cries and reclaiming their freedom.
The first verse sets the tone for the song, with the singer stating their determination to turn their struggles and emotions into art, to give meaning to their pain. The chorus repeats the metaphor of the lion, with the singer crying out like an animal, unafraid to show their vulnerability and strength. The second verse is more personal, with the singer admitting to feeling fear and the weight of their past mistakes, but still striving to be sincere and find a way forward. The bridge is a call to action, with the singer asking for space to breathe and pursue their dreams, and the final chorus brings everything full circle, with the lion metaphor now representing the warmth and embrace of freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
To fear, to fall, to carry on
Facing fear and setbacks, but persevering despite them.
And these words won't rest until they're songs
Turning personal experiences and emotions into music to share with others.
And I feel I'm crying out like a lion
Expressing strong emotions boldly and loudly, like a lion's roar.
See, I've thrown away the things you say
Rejecting negative influence and being true to oneself.
And the darkness of nights never felt this right
Finding comfort in darkness and introspection, embracing the unknown.
And I'm here, I'm crying out like a lion, like a lion
Continuing to express oneself confidently and boldly.
And I'm here and this heart screams fear
Feeling intense fear and anxiety, but still facing it head-on.
And I've tasted the greatest waste of my freedom, of my freedom
Experiencing the consequences of making poor choices and losing personal freedom.
Say freedom
Reminding oneself of the value and importance of personal freedom.
And just to walk this way hear people say that you're crazy
Encountering judgement and criticism from others for being different or following one's own path.
I'm moving slow cuz I'm crying
Feeling weighed down by intense emotions and struggling to move forward.
But now I see it's so clear I wipe these tears
Gaining clarity and perspective, wiping away tears of sadness or pain.
And I'm trying so hard to be sincere
Putting in effort to be genuine and authentic in one's actions and words.
I believe I can
Maintaining a positive attitude and having faith in oneself.
We're holding on but we're crying, but we're crying
Fighting to persist and move forward, even when plagued by intense emotion and sadness.
We are here to move, to chase colors
Existence involves movement and the pursuit of beauty or vibrance in life.
We are young with direction in our eyes
Having a clear sense of where one is headed in life, despite youth or inexperience.
Let us breathe again, let us breathe out again
Seeking to release tension and emotion in order to find peace and move forward.
And we're tasting, yeah the warm embrace of our freedom, of our freedom
Feeling the positive, comforting aspects of personal freedom and the ability to make choices.
And maybe we feel the same dark clouds and the rain, they came and we're tired of pain Let us breath again, we're holding on but we're crying, yeah, yeah
Experiencing similar struggles and hardships, seeking relief and release from the burden of emotional pain.
We're crying out like a lion, out like a lion, out like a lion, like a lion yeah
Continuing to express raw emotion and strength, like a lion's roar.
Contributed by Tyler T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.