Origins: Caged Lions (Swan Arcade?)

Subject: Origins: Caged Lions Swan Arcade?
From: GUEST,Meg Mogwai
Date: 15 Jun 15 - 02:56 AM

Does anyone remember a song about Caged lions?

'We are not bound, we are not free'

'And all the wealth we help to find, just help to keep us more confined'

I think it's by Swan Arcade... I really want a copy and have tried googling it but not come up with anything!

Subject: Lyr Add: CAGED LIONS (Jim Boyes)
From: Vic Smith
Date: 15 Jun 15 - 05:35 AM

It was written by Jim Boyes and was recorded by him on his outstanding debut album as a singwriter, Out' The Blue (No Masters NMV CD1)(1992)

Caged Lions

We walk the line, we bend the knee
We are not bound, we are not free
We jump through hoops, we bend and turn
We paw the ground, we live and learn

Caged Lions
Open the door and set us free

We work inside a golden cage
We're pushed around, we snarl with rage
and all the wealth we help to find
Just helps to keep us more confined

We used to roam the country wide
A noble race, a regal pride
We had stars above our head
But now our lot is a concrete bed

Within the ring, with you outside
You sit and watch, you cannot hide
You ask us who has forged the chains
We say who is it stands to gain

By doing nothing, you keep us here
Another day, another year
But we are strong and we will learn
To break these bars and turn and burn

Caged Lions
The circus stops with you and me

Barry Coope - Backing Vocals, Nigel Jardine - Drums, Rick Kemp - Bass, Sam Smith -Lead Guitar, Jim Boyes - Guitar / Vocal

Subject: RE: Origins: Caged Lions Swan Arcade?
From: GUEST,Georgina Boyes
Date: 15 Jun 15 - 05:55 AM

Thanks very much Vic.

If anyone needs the tune, very reasonably priced copies of "Out the Blue" are still available via No Masters - though you might have to send them an e-mail to get one - [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Origins: Caged Lions Swan Arcade?
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Jun 15 - 05:11 AM

Thank you!!! That's brilliant!! x x

Subject: RE: Origins: Caged Lions Swan Arcade?
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Jun 15 - 04:10 PM

In case you think this song is about lions.... have another think.

Subject: RE: Origins: Caged Lions Swan Arcade?
From: GUEST,Meg Mogwai
Date: 24 Jun 15 - 02:51 AM

Ok, I bought the CD but it's not the version I had....great version. I think my uncle may have recorded it off the radio? I'm pretty sure it was Swan Arcade...do you know of any recorded versions by Swan Arcade? Thanks!

Subject: RE: Origins: Caged Lions Swan Arcade?
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jun 15 - 02:57 AM

No didn't think it was about lions/just about lions. Brought up with a very socialist uncle. Thanks, just in case though. Out of interest would you have asked that if it was a man's/boys name?! (Feminist aunt as well! :) .

Subject: RE: Origins: Caged Lions Swan Arcade?
From: Vic Smith
Date: 24 Jun 15 - 07:26 AM

I'm pretty sure it was Swan Arcade...do you know of any recorded versions by Swan Arcade?
I think that it was much more likely to have been sung in harmony by Coope, Boyes & Simpson. I'm pretty sure that they sang it live even if they never recorded it,
Georgina is the one to give a definite answer and she drops by here from time to time.

Subject: RE: Origins: Caged Lions Swan Arcade?
From: GUEST,Georgina Boyes
Date: 24 Jun 15 - 11:18 AM

Swan Arcade never recorded "Caged Lions" for an album, but I'm pretty sure that a live version was recorded at Beverley Festival by Radio Humberside and broadcast on their folk programme. It may also have been recorded by BBC Radio 2 for a live session or during a drop-in at Sidmouth. So personal recordings from radio or performance might exist, but there's nothing we know of from formal recordings.

Subject: RE: Origins: Caged Lions Swan Arcade?
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jul 15 - 07:29 AM

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer! My friend on Eigg has a copy I made her on a mix tape years ago, I will have to work out how to get a copy! I love both versions, just nostalgia for the other version!