Lion Man

Lyrics

Key: E minor (bluesy/jammy but playful) Time: 6/8 (fast swing, count it 1-a-2-a-3-a, 4-a-5-a-6-a) Tempo: ~160 bpm (driving swing shuffle) ⸻ Intro (instrumental groove, ~1 min) • Band kicks in with swinging Em – A – D – B7 progression. • Guitar: fast swing riff with slides and bends. • Keys: honky organ, goofy accents. • Bass: walking triplet swing, big tone. • Drums: snare shuffle + ride pattern. ⸻ Verse 1 (vocals swing along with the rhythm) Well there’s a kind man walkin’ in Wisconsin night, Shines like a lantern but he’s outta sight. Neighbors whisper, “he’s gentle, he’s grand,” But the full moon says he’s a lion of the land! Chorus (goofy & loud): 🎶 The Lion Man! He’s got no care, no heart — just ripppoooo you apart! The Lion Man! Run if you can, don’t lose your head in the dark! 🎶 ⸻ Verse 2 Reporters on the TV can’t handle the sound, Every time they look — just limbs on the ground. The news guy’s sweatin’, been on the job an hour, His tie’s all crooked, sippin’ coffee that’s sour. Chorus (repeat, crowd sings back “rippoooo you apart!”) ⸻ Jam Break (~2 mins) • Guitar solo in E minor swing (think jazzy triplet licks, goofy bends). • Keys answer back with spacey organ or synth. • Band keeps swinging hard, playful call-and-response. ⸻ Verse 3 Grandma says he’s just a bedtime tale, But hunters keep finding torn-up mail. Was it a wolf, or a lion gone mad? All I know is the sheriff looks real bad. Chorus (bigger each time, goofy growl on “Lion Man!”) ⸻ Verse 4 Some say he’s kind, just misunderstood, Brings fresh deer meat to the neighborhood. But if you hear a roar when the clock strikes ten, Better lock your door, don’t trust no friend! Final Chorus (extended, everyone chants “ripppoooo you apart!” over and over) ⸻ Outro Jam (~2 mins) • Vamp on Em – A – D – B7, fast swing beat. • Guitar + keys duel, trading silly licks. • Bass walks up and down chromatic lines. • Drums push to a rolling triplet frenzy. • End on a giant growling Em chord with cymbal crash. ⸻ This gives you a 6-minute fast swing jam — half structured verses, half wild improv, with room for the band to stretch and go goofy.