Don't Wake The Lion / Too Old To Die Young

Album: Wings of Heaven (1988)
Play Video
  • It was the day that war broke out
    Everyone seemed exited
    While young men boasted
    And talked of great times
    Dark clouds gathered
    on the Maginot line
    Sisters and fathers
    Brothers and sons
    All said goodbye
    It seemes so much fun
    We'll be finished by Christmas
    Back home by the fire
    Perish the distance
    The bombs and the wire
    Don't wake the lion
    There's a firework show tonight
    Eveyone's been invited
    There's mud on faces
    With frightened white eyes
    And some won't make it
    Throught the thunderous noise
    Powerfull and angry
    Answer the guns
    All through the night
    Relief never comes
    It's criminal deception
    Sets man against man
    Indicting reflection
    A devious plan
    Don't wake the lion
    Here what there saying
    Come the freeze
    You'd better hold on tight
    And while your praying
    On your knees
    Prepare to stand and fight
    Someone keeps saying
    It's written in a book
    So keep yourself in line
    But you're betraying
    With every nervous look
    That now it's killing time
    And from the morning to the night
    We tried
    They said it all would turn out right
    They lied
    Too old to die young
    Too big to cry
    Too old to die young
    To say goodbye
    Above the raging evening sky
    Will never be the same
    While necks are straining
    Those hidden eyes
    Shoot out another flame
    And from the morning to the night
    We tried
    They said it all would turn out right
    They lied
    Too old to die young
    Too big to cry
    Too old to die young
    To say goodbye
    While angels sleep tonight
    Some of us will be hoping
    That someone understands
    Who started this fight ?
    Thrown down on foreign shoores
    So far out of sight
    Don't wake the lion
    It was the day that war broke out
    Everyone seemed exited
    While young men boasted
    And talked of great times
    Dark clouds gathered
    It was a change for all times
    Sisters and fathers
    Brothers and sons
    All said goodbye
    It seemes so much fun
    We'll be finished by Christmas
    Back home by the fire
    Perish the distance
    The bombs and the wire
    Don't wake the lion
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 2

  • Lee from BerkshireGreat song. Magnums best ever I would say and one of my favourite songs by anyone. The song is based on the breakout of WW1 but includes the lyrics " Dark clouds gathered on the Maginot line ". Shame that !!! The Maginot line wasn't built until the 1930's - just saying :-)
  • Laurent from Manama, BahrainA superb song that is actually closer to the "old" Magnum. On this record, the band attempted to capture a more "commerical" sound and DWTL was not a commercial song at all. Bob Catley's singing is passionate and takes this song to amazing emotional peaks. Superb!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers

Bill Medley of The Righteous BrothersSongwriter Interviews

Medley looks back on "Unchained Melody" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" - his huge hits from the '60s that were later revived in movies.

Ed Roland of Collective Soul

Ed Roland of Collective SoulSongwriter Interviews

The stories behind "Shine," "December," "The World I Know" and other Collective Soul hits.

Van Dyke Parks

Van Dyke ParksSongwriter Interviews

U2, Carly Simon, Joanna Newsom, Brian Wilson and Fiona Apple have all gone to Van Dyke Parks to make their songs exceptional.

Ian Gillan of Deep Purple

Ian Gillan of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan explains the "few red lights" in "Smoke On The Water" and talks about songs from their 2020 album Whoosh!

Which Songs are About Drugs?

Which Songs are About Drugs?Fact or Fiction

"25 or 6 to 4" to "Semi-Charmed Life" - see if you can spot the songs that are really about drugs.

00s Music Quiz 1

00s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

Do you know the girl singer on Eminem's "Stan"? If so, this quiz is for you.