Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: hardcore
Song Meaning of “Between Lions and Men” by Aerolyn
This song paints a picture of the struggle between a desire for strength and the need to love. It speaks of a harsh and rugged interior battle, where the protagonist feels that in order to step into their full potential and seize their power, they must leave their beloved behind.
The first verse suggests a longing for freedom and wildness, a “call from the wild” that is hard to resist, yet’s there’s something else that keeps them from fully embracing that identity. They feel that to surrender to that animalistic nature they must keep the deeper emotions at bay, leaving them to feel like they are “stuck halfway” between a beastly state and an emotional connection with another.
The chorus communicates a darker sentiment, where they feel that to gain the strength they need to move forward, they must renounce their tenderness. “Sacrifice the warmth in my heart // To learn the ways of the lions around me”, describes an inner martyrdom, where sacrificing their ability to love and be vulnerable is the only way they can find their strength. It can be interpreted as a coming of age-style tale, where one must ultimately choose to give up their softer side to become the powerful being they are meant to be.
The bridge turns to more hopeful tones, yet still speaks of the difficulty between these opposing forces. “What if you could take part in the wild, but not lose something in return” speaks of the difficult balance between giving up your humanity and keeping it alive. The path towards strength isn’t always perfectly defined, and sometimes risks must be taken to make it out okay on the other side.
The song, overall, is about walking a perilous line between the need for power and the desire to stay true to oneself. It speaks of a struggle most of us are familiar with, and reminds us that strength cannot be found without first coming to terms with our vulnerable hearts.