Musical Mondays- Little Lion Man… An Exercise in Self Realization

Row wavy Shape Decorative svg added to top

Hi all, yep, still behind, but slowly wading my way out of the detritus.  Still, it has been a happy sort of detritus.  When perhaps I might have been writing on my blog I have been spending time with family and dear friends or working on my next novel The Dragon in the Garden.  I simply need more hours in the day as my running has been suffering as well.  There are worse problems to have, I suppose.
That being said, as wonderful as things currently are at present, one still has regrets and this week’s song represents one of mine.  I’ve found myself  in one of those situations where, completely through my own actions, I think I screwed up a relationship.  Now, I’m not sure, thanks to a situation of radio silence between we two, although I have the sneaking suspicion that trying to apologize and have a conversation designed to fix things would likely drive the person further away.  Perhaps time will help mend the rift? Perhaps there is no rift, just something all in my head?  I don’t know, but I do think, in the words of this song, “I really f***ed it up this time.”
Right now the  people reading my blog are saying, what song, Erika?  Oops, sorry, sort of skipped that part.  The song is Little Lion Man by Mumford and Sons:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd8tOAJMA8Q]
Such a catchy, fun, folky song.  One simply has to sing along (radio edits usually substitute the word “messed” for the f-word).  This is a song that can mean different things to different people.  Front man Marcus Mumford said of Little Lion Man, “It’s a very personal story, so I won’t elaborate upon too much. Suffice to say, it was a situation in my life I wasn’t very happy with or proud of… and sometimes when you can’t describe a feeling with your own words, it’s almost easier to express in a song. .. the song should stand on its own and people draw their own interpretation from the words.”
For me, I see the Little Lion Man of the song as the brash, impulsive, slightly naive child still living inside each of us.  I see the singer talking to that inner child and explaining, I (the adult me) blew it.  I should have kept a tighter leash on that child (actual complete honesty is rarely allowed between grown-ups) and now we both feel very badly about things.  I think the song is also about one of those really, profoundly uncomfortable moments when there is simply no escaping the fact that this time, the blame lies squarely on our shoulders.  We chose this course of action and now it’s time to pay the piper.
Just wish I knew what currency the piper accepted.
Wow, there’s a whole, huge lesson for our politicians on accountability for one’s actions there, but I shall refrain.
Here are the lyrics… so that you may draw your own meaning from them as Mr. Mumford would have you do.
Lyrics to Little Lion Man :
Weep for yourself, my man,
You’ll never be what is in your heart
Weep Little Lion Man,
You’re not as brave as you were at the start
Rate yourself and rake yourself,
Take all the courage you have left
Wasted on fixing all the problems
That you made in your own head
But it was not your fault but mine
And it was your heart on the line
I really fucked it up this time
Didn’t I, my dear?
Didn’t I, my…
Tremble for yourself, my man,
You know that you have seen this all before
Tremble Little Lion Man,
You’ll never settle any of your scores
Your grace is wasted in your face,
Your boldness stands alone among the wreck
Now learn from your mother or else spend your days Biting your own neck
But it was not your fault but mine
And it was your heart on the line
I really fucked it up this time
Didn’t I, my dear? (x2)
Didn’t I, my dear?
Ahhhhh……
But it was not your fault but mine
And it was your heart on the line
I really fucked it up this time
Didn’t I, my dear? (x2)

Released August 11th, 2009
Released August 11th, 2009

Didn’t I, my dear?

erika-gardner-new-2

About the Author

Erika Gardner is a sixth generation San Franciscan of Irish and Basque descent. She attended the University of California at Davis and completed degrees in Medieval History and Biological Sciences.

A lifelong lover of books and a scribbler of many tales from a young age (her first story was completed at age five), she turned to writing full-time in 2025.

LEARN MORE >

6 thoughts on “Musical Mondays- Little Lion Man… An Exercise in Self Realization”

  1. Yep, I know that feeling. Screwing up and feeling like whatever you do to try to fix it is may well just make it worse…argh. Life is such a complicated business sometimes.

  2. karenwilsonbonnar

    How could anyone who knows you not forgive an indiscretion? I would, in a New York minute. Haven’t we all “messed” up before? To err is human.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Explore more from Erika...

Friendly Thursday- Spotlighting Sanjay Subramanian

September 3, 2026

So, I had a thought. (Hey you in the back- stop giggling.) Seriously, I’m thinking as I’m on a run and I said to me, “Self, we have amazing friends. […]

Musical Monday- Annabel Lee by Valentine Wolfe

August 31, 2026

This blog is delayed, delayed and then delayed again. It started as one thing (Danny Elfman) then went to something else (ZZ Top- RIP Frank Beard) and finally, I got […]

Musical Monday- Sacred Land (NEW!) by Deep Purple

August 3, 2026

This week’s blog features new music by Deep Purple, yes, you read that correctly, Deep-motherloving-Purple has a new album out. It’s titled SPLAT! which gave me a giggle. If you’ve […]

Join the mailing list

Step into the magic.

If you’ve ever felt the stillness of a warm summer night and thought, maybe anything is possible, you’re in the right place. Join Erika’s mailing list to read the first chapter of The Dragon in the Garden for free, get occasional updates, and maybe even a secret or two along the way.

free-download-from-erika-gardner

Dreaming is the
Mother of Adventure

Wander through stories where the unknown feels like coming home.
Explore Erika’s books and find the one that’s calling to you.

Scroll to Top