Song Lyric Sunday: Who let the beasts out?

Jim Adams

This week Jim Adams our host for Song Lyric Sunday has joined forces with Paula of Light Motifs II . Paula has come up with the prompt – Lion, Tiger, Bear, Eagle, Shark.

Well there are so many to choose from but one that springs to mind is a twofa-one by Jazmine Sullivan, Lions, Tigers and Bears. Now it’s not my usual type of song but I do like it.

“Lions, Tigers & Bears” is the fourth single released from American R&B–soul singer Jazmine Sullivan‘s debut album Fearless. The song impacted radio on November 11, 2008, and was officially released on December 16, 2008 as the third single. The track received a Grammy Nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and a nomination for Best R&B Song.

Jazmine Marie Sullivan (born April 9, 1987) is an American singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, her debut album, Fearless, was released in 2008 to commercial and critical success. The record topped Billboard‘s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It spawned four singles, including “Need U Bad” and “Bust Your Windows“, both of which peaked in the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the former of which became Sullivan’s first and only number one on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

“Lions, Tigers and Bears” uses a sample from Salaam Remi’s “Shila’s Playground”. It was written by Sullivan and Remi. The song is a soulful melody, written in Dorian Mode, about love and heartbreak using instrumentation of a violin. The protagonist states that she’s not scared of things most people fear, such as facing carnivorous animals, but she’s scared to love because of potential heartbreak. Sullivan said that, “the lions, tigers and bears reference represents my career in the music business.”

The phrase “Lions, tigers and bears” comes from a passage spoken by the Tin Man, Dorothy, and the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz.

“Lions, Tigers & Bears”

I’m not scared of lions and tigers and bears
No, I’m not
But I’m scared of loving you
I’m not scared to perform at a sold-out affair
That’s right
But I’m scared of loving you

Am I the only one who thinks it’s an impossible task?
Why it don’t last?
Is that too much to ask?
Why do we love Love, when Love seems to hate us?

Sorry if I sound so filled with gloom
You say you care, and I know you do
But this is from my experience
And my conclusion only makes sense

Just ’cause I love you, and you love me
It doesn’t mean that we’re meant to be
I can climb mountains, swim ‘cross the seas
But the most frightening thing is you and me

I’m not scared of lions and tigers and bears
No, I’m not
But I’m scared of loving you
I’m not scared to perform at a sold-out affair
That’s right
But I’m scared of loving you

Am I the only one who thinks it’s an impossible task?
Why it don’t last?
Is that too much to ask?
Why do we love Love, when Love seems to hate us?

Most circumstances, I know my fate
But in this love thing, I don’t get the game
Why does it feel like those who give in
They only wind up losing a friend

Just ’cause I love you and you love me
It doesn’t mean that we’ll ever be
Fly ‘cross the ocean, sing for the queen
But the most frightening thing is you and me

I’m not scared of lions and tigers and bears
No, I’m not
But I’m scared of loving you
I’m not scared to perform at a sold-out affair
That’s right
But I’m scared of loving you

Am I the only one who thinks it’s an impossible task?
Why it don’t last?
Is that too much to ask?
Why do we love Love, when Love seems to hate us?

I’m not sure. No, I’m not sure
But if we never try, we’ll never know
It’s better to have loved than not to love at all
Not trying is worse than to stumble and fall

And if we do
I’d rather it be with you
‘Cause at least there will be sweet memories
Oh, I’m not scared

I’m not scared of lions and tigers and bears
No, I’m not
But I’m scared of loving you
I’m not scared to perform at a sold-out affair
That’s right
But I’m scared of loving you

Am I the only one who thinks it’s an impossible task?
Why it don’t last?
Is that too much to ask?
Why do we love Love, when Love seems to hate us?

Lyrics at AtoZ lyrics.

*******

Now this next song takes me back to when I was recovering from breaking my back the second time. I discovered Fine Frenzy and just fell in love with her words and music .

Alison Sudol (born December 23, 1984) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and music video director. She is known as the singer A Fine Frenzy, and also for her role as Queenie Goldstein in the Fantastic Beasts films Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016), Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022). Her music has been featured on numerous television shows and in several major motion pictures.

One Cell in the Sea was the first studio album by A Fine Frenzy, the stage name of American singer-songwriter Alison Sudol, released under Virgin Records on July 17, 2007. The album debuted at #158 on the Billboard 200 .

Since 2011, Sudol has been a part of International Union for Conservation of Nature, becoming a goodwill ambassador in an effort to encourage others to participate in nature and conservation. She designed three tee shirts for Alternative Apparel in support for IUCN. She is Greenpeace‘s first Arctic Ambassador.

.

*********

Now for Shark I went for my love of Sea Shanty.

Chares Szabo is a pro singer/songwriter & cover artist paid regularly by Spotify, Apple, YT etc.and a state licensed teacher available to help you by writing/correcting lyrics or music for your project or just giving advice and constructive criticism for your music career & how to make $. He also makes demos/pro recordings of your songs for YT, Spotify, etc. That’s really all I could find out about him.

HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE 💜