Jack the Lion
Recorded
Release history
Credits
- Written by Harvey Danger, © But Mom I Love Music (ASCAP)
- Aaron: bass, backing vocal
- Jeff: guitars, organ, violins, backing vocal
- Sean: lead and backing vocals
- Evan: drums, backing vocal
- Abby Grush: backing vocal
Alternate versions
Lyrics
Rake up all the leaves in Pleasant Valley
It’s the last day of my visit (upstate New York)
to pay respects to the old man
He’s still got his sense of humor
but his body fails him
He’s surrounded by loved ones; that only goes so far
And does he know where he is?
I doubt itJack the lion, roaring his last
Like a vision sent from the past
Bedside crying, holding his hand
Strong handsFinally get a moment alone with the old man
He’s having trouble breathing (he’s not the only one)
He wonders where time goes
and why we haven’t spoken for so long
He regrets it, he forgets it
and none too soon
because he’s closing his eyes and fadingJack the lion, roaring his last
Like a vision sent from the past
Bedside crying, holding his hand
Strong handsWe thank you for uniting
We thank you for the cause
We thank you for the lion
We thank you for the clawsCome see him again, come see him again
Jack the lion, roaring his last
Like a vision sent from the past
Bedside crying, holding his hand
Strong hands
Quotes
SCN: Speaking of hard to sing, “Jack the Lion,” one of only a few completely true story songs we ever did; written organically in the living room of the second HD house, in South Wedgwood (as opposed to Ravenna), with dim lights, and a cardboard box for drums, as I recall, just after I got back from a long weekend in actual Pleasant Valley, in actual upstate NY, where I visited my actual dying grandfather, with his actual strong hands, and was urged by everyone there to actually come see him again and I never had the chance.10A
AMH: I don’t think the potential of this song was fully realized until much later; when we played a slower, piano-driven version at our “reunion” show in 2004. That was a very emotional moment. It was an unusually mature, personal song for us in 1996, and I think the alternative rock treatment did it a bit of a disservice. It’s fun to play, though. Also, the hand claps seemed like a good idea at the time.10A
SCN: The loud, anthem-y arrangement was less about semi-ironic detachment than about trying to find a way to sing extremely personal words without telling listeners how to feel while I did it.MMV