After moving from Denmark to New York in 1982, vocalist Mike Tramp (ex-Mabel and ex-Studs) met Brooklyn guitarist Vito Bratta (ex-Dreamer) and they decided to form a band. The two recruited drummer Nicki Capozzi and bassist Felix Robinson (formerly of Angel) and named the group 'Lion' before settling on 'White Lion'. Local success caused talk of releasing an album.
White Lion was signed by Elektra records in 1983, and they recorded their debut album, Fight To Survive, shortly afterwards. However, Elektra was unhappy with the final recording, and, after refusing to release the album, the label terminated the group's contract. This contributed to major turmoil in the group.
Both Capozzi and Robinson soon left the band. Nicki Capozzi was replaced by former Anthrax drummer Greg D'Angelo, and Felix Robinson was replaced by bassist Dave Spitz (brother of Anthrax guitarist Dan Spitz). Within a month of joining, however, Dave Spitz left to play bass with Black Sabbath and was replaced by James Lomenzo.
The album Fight To Survive was eventually picked up by RCA and released in Japan, a hotbed of international hard rock music at the time, in 1984. The small US independent label Grand Slamm records finally released Fight To Survive in the US on November 9, 1985. A few months later, Grand Slam records went bankrupt.
In early 1986 White Lion, with a fictitious "female" member, had a brief part in the Tom Hanks/Shelley Long movie The Money Pit.
The following year, Atlantic Records released White Lion's second album, Pride, which brought significant success for the band, especially the single "Wait", which climbed to 8th place on the U.S. charts and was popular among fans of heavier metal as well. "When the Children Cry" was an even bigger hit, reaching 3rd place on the charts. That year Atlantic Records also released Fight to Survive worldwide and White Lion toured with Frehley`s Comet, Kiss, AC/DC & Stryper.
In 1989 the album Big Game came out and was a still more successful, helping to solidify White Lion's place among the top tier of hard rock bands of that time. The band's cover of "Radar Love", a classic originally recorded by Golden Earring, was the hit single off of Big Game.
1991 brought Mane Attraction, which was their best album yet, according to Greg D'Angelo, containing the top tracks "Lights And Thunder" and a new version of "Broken Heart", which had been one of their first songs off of their debut album.
In 1992, Greg D'Angelo and James Lomenzo had enough of Tramp and Bratta's continuous fighting, so they left the band. Bassist Tommy T. Bone Caradonna and drummer Jimmy De Grasso replaced them briefly, but in autumn of the same year, White Lion disbanded.
Greg and James have played in different groups after White Lion. Vito Bratta concentrated on classic guitar playing and has not been involved with any bands since. Mike Tramp went on to form and front Freak Of Nature, a short-lived project spanning 1993-1994, with Danish friend Oliver Steffenson. In 1998 Mike released Capricorn, his first of four solo albums.
In 2005, Tramp's White Lion - an all-new, much younger line-up fronted by Mike Tramp - toured and recorded the live album Rockin' The USA. In 2008 they released Return Of The Pride under the original name, White Lion.
Due to legal issues between Tramp and Bratta, White Lion is currently on hiatus.
Leave Me Alone
White Lion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can¹t you see this ain¹t no Sunday School
I don¹t really care about your in ?n¹ outs
Can¹t you see I ain¹t nobody¹s fool
What is this, what is that
I don¹t care how you wear your hat
Leave me alone
Leave me alone
And leave me alone
I don¹t care if you don¹t want me in your house
I just come ?n¹ go as I please
You can sing your song about when you were young
I can start a war when you want peace
Close the door, just ignore
But you won¹t tie me down no more
Leave me alone
Leave me alone
Why don¹t you free me
And leave me alone
Leave me alone
Leave me alone
Why don¹t you free me
And leave me alone
I don¹t care if you don¹t like the way I walk
You don¹t stop and listen when I talk
I can see that you don¹t want to understand
Playing in a rock ?n¹ roll band
You object, you expect
But you don¹t give me no respect
Leave me alone
Leave me alone
Why don¹t you free me
And leave me alone
Leave me alone
Leave me alone
Why don¹t you free me
And leave me alone
The song "Leave Me Alone" by White Lion is an anthem for individuality and personal freedom. In the song, the singer expresses his frustration with the societal pressure to conform and the constant judgment that he faces for being different. He declares that he doesn't care what other people think of him, and he wishes to be left alone to live life on his own terms. The lyrics are empowering and encourage the listener to embrace their uniqueness and disregard judgment from others.
The opening lines of the song set the tone for the rest of the lyrics. The singer declares that he doesn't care if people don't like his appearance, as this is not a Sunday school. He is unapologetic and proud of who he is, and he does not let the opinions of others affect him. He continues to assert himself throughout the song, declaring that he does not care about the expectations of society and will not be tied down or controlled by others. The chorus of the song repeats the message to leave him alone and free him from societal expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
I don’t care if you don’t like the way I look
It doesn't bother me if you dislike my appearance
Can’t you see this ain’t no Sunday School
This is not a place for conformism or strict rules
I don’t really care about your in ‘n’ outs
I am not interested in your personal dilemmas
Can’t you see I ain’t nobody’s fool
I am not easily deceived or manipulated
What is this, what is that
I am unimpressed by trivial matters
I don’t care how you wear your hat
Your fashion choices do not affect me
Leave me alone
Please stop bothering me
Why don’t you free me
Why can't you give me the space I need?
And leave me alone
And stop interfering in my affairs
I don’t care if you don’t want me in your house
Your exclusion from your home has no impact on me
I just come ‘n’ go as I please
I am free to come and go as I choose
You can sing your song about when you were young
You have your own nostalgia, but it's not my concern
I can start a war when you want peace
My urges and priorities may differ from yours
Close the door, just ignore
You can try to shut me out, but I won't disappear
But you won’t tie me down no more
I refuse to be restrained or limited by your expectations
You don’t stop and listen when I talk
You are not willing to hear my thoughts or opinions
I can see that you don’t want to understand
You are closed-minded and resistant to new ideas
Playing in a rock ‘n’ roll band
I have chosen a rebellious lifestyle and values
You object, you expect
You have objections and expectations of me
But you don’t give me no respect
You do not treat me with the consideration and dignity I deserve
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: VITO BRATTA, MIKE TRAMP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind