Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: folk
Song Meaning of “Little Lion Man – Live” by Mumford & Sons
“Little Lion Man – Live” by Mumford & Sons is a song about struggling with guilt, regret and the desire to make amends for past mistakes. Through the imagery of a lion and the use of metaphor, the song paints a picture of an individual who is trying to face up to his shortcomings and make reparations for his past wrong-doings.
The lion referenced in the song is a metaphor for the narrator’s conscience, as he is dealing with his guilt and shame. The song is a plea for forgiveness, as well as an acknowledgement of the narrator’s own weakness. This can be seen through lines such as “it was not your mistake” and “so have mercy on my soul”. These words illustrate the narrator’s self-aware realization of his mistakes in the past, and the need for grace in order to move forward.
The emotion in the song is evident from the very start, with the soulful and mournful tone of the first verse. The song speaks of a man who has been weighed down by his mistakes, “buried in the mountain of my regret”. We see this in the chorus as well, with the narrator pleading for mercy, again emphasizing his own responsibility and inability to change what has been done.
This song speaks directly to anyone who has ever felt the guilt and despair associated with regretting a past mistake. The narrator’s regret runs deep and through the use of metaphor and musical tone, Mumford & Sons conveys the anguish of being unable to escape one’s inner demons. Despite the darkness of the subject, by the end of the song there is a sense of hope and a promise of redemption, if only the “little lion man” can find the courage to repent and ask for absolution.