Jack the Lion

Schon erstaunlich, dass es selbst für diese Situation den perfekten Song gibt. Mich hat JACK THE LION schon immer berührt, doch nun hat mich der Inhalt des Songs auch eingeholt: Zwar ist der Löwe in den letzten Jahren schon zahmer geworden, dennoch unvorstellbar, dass er nun nie wieder brüllen wird…

Rake up all the leaves in pleasant valley,
It’s the last day of my visit, (up-state New York)
To pay respects to the old man.
He’s still got his sense of humour,
But his body fails him,
He’s surrounded by loved ones,
And that only goes so far,
And does he know where he is?
I doubt it.

Jack the lion roaring his last,
Like a vision sent from the past,
Bedside, crying, holding his hands,
Strong hands.

Finally get a moment alone with the old man,
He’s having trouble breathing,
And he’s not the only one, 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 fading.

Jack the lion roaring his last,
Like a vision sent from the past,
Bedside, crying, holding his hands,
Strong hands.

We thank you for uniting,
We thank you for the cause,
We thank you for the lion,
We thank you for the claws.

Come see him again,
Come see him again,
Come see him again,
Come see him again.

Bop, bop, bop.

Jack the lion roaring his last,
Like a vision sent from the past,
Bedside, crying, holding his hands,
Strong hands.

Jack the lion roaring his last,
Jack the lion roaring his last.

HARVEY DANGER, WHERE HAVE ALL THE MERRYMAKERS GONE? (1997)