Confront Your Fears Cast Out Doubt. Persevere.

Listen To The Lion. My ancestors were Vikings and Celts who emigrated to this country during the potato famine of the mid 19th century, so like much of Van Morrison's music this song resonates within me. A, certain, Matthew Johnson inexplicably 'appeared' in Virginia and North Carolina in 1849. His real name was probably O'Malley or Shaughnessy or something like that but Matthew (most likely Paddy) was smart enough to know that the Scotch and Irish were HATED in America during that period so he christened himself Matthew ... Johnson; a fine white-bread, American name (Re: Rock Ridge/Blazing Saddles) and he worked hard on covering up his accent to avoid recognition in this Land Of The Free. Can you imagine the guts and grit it took to sail across an ocean, your only belonging a dream, looking for a better place to live? Matthew went to work in the coal mines and many many moons later this Johnson was begat.If y'ever get to feeling sorry for yourself, you know you've a daunting task ahead or a long hard row to hoe is coming due to one of life's surprises, listen to this inspiring song. Play it when you are alone and see if it doesn't give you strength and solace, like it does me and my people. I Am NOT What Happened To Me. I Choose My Own Fate, Regardless. Listen To Your Lion.

And all my love come down
All my love come tumblin' down
All my love come tumblin' down
All my love come tumblin' down
Oh, listen listen
To the lion
Oh, listen listen listen
To the lion...
Inside of me
Oh, oh, oh

And I shall search my soul
I shall search my very soul
And I shall search my very soul
I shall search my very so-o-oul

For the lion
For the lion
For the lion
For the lion...
Inside of me
Oh, oh, yeah

And all my tears have flown
All my tears like water flown
And all my tears like water flown
All my tears like-a water flown

For the lion
For the lion
For the lion
For the lion...
Inside of me

[growling, scatting, etc.]

Listen to the lion [repeated 14 times]

[more scatting]

And we sailed, and we sailed...
And we sailed, and we sailed...
And we sailed, and we sailed...
... sailed to Caledonia

And we sailed, and we sailed,
And we sailed, and we sailed, and we sailed...
Away from Denmark
Way up to Caledonia
Away from Denmark
Way up to Caledonia

And we sailed, and we sailed, and we sailed...
All around the World
And we sailed..., and we sailed..., and we sailed...
Looking for a brand new start

And we sailed...
And we sailed, and we sailed...
All around the World
... a brand new start

Looking for a brand new start
Looking for a brand new start
Looking for a brand new start

And we sailed, and we sailed, and we sailed...
And we sailed...
Away from the Golden Gate
Way up to the New York City