There’s something raw and unflinching about Holly Lovell‘s latest single Lion’s Den that catches you off guard.
Not because it’s aggressive or loud – quite the opposite.
The quiet intensity of her storytelling wraps around you like a weighted blanket, heavy with meaning but somehow comforting in its honesty.
The Denver songwriter has crafted a deeply personal narrative about addiction, inspired by the loss of her uncle.
Yet rather than observing from the outside, Lovell places us squarely within the struggle itself.
“I had a relapse, I had a comeback / I had a letdown feeling stuck on repeat,” she sings over tender acoustic guitar work, her voice carrying both fragility and resolve.
What makes Lion’s Den particularly special is how it avoids the usual pitfalls of songs about addiction.
There’s no preaching, no oversimplification of recovery. Instead, Lovell gives us intimate snapshots of the daily battle – leaving the TV on just to feel connected to something, the constant questioning of who has the upper hand.
Her brother Caleb’s subtle drumming acts like a heartbeat beneath it all, adding to the track’s organic, lived-in feel.
The metaphor of facing down a lion could easily feel heavy-handed, but Lovell’s clever songwriting subverts expectations.
By the final verse, we realise this lion isn’t just an enemy to be conquered – it’s a complex relationship that requires understanding: “And the lion don’t bite if you feed it.”
It’s precisely this kind of nuanced perspective that sets her apart from her contemporaries.
The track serves as our second glimpse into Lovell’s upcoming album Hello Chelsea (set for release on 7th February 2025), recorded with Brian Joseph (Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens) in Wisconsin’s woodland.
If this single is any indication, we’re in for a remarkable piece of storytelling that tackles difficult themes with rare grace and authenticity.
Lovell has managed that rare feat of turning personal pain into universal truth, without losing any of its intimacy in the process.
Holly Lovell – Lion’s Den
I had a relapse, I had a comeback
I had a letdown feeling stuck on repeat
I try to meditate, I wish it all away
I leave the TV on to feel a part of something
If I fall no one sees I have nothing left
If I break please believe me
I’m in the lion’s den
If I cave, I give in
Try to understand
It’s just me and that lion
I hear it speak to me, familiarity
Puts me on my knees and then back on my feet
I never understand who has the upper hand
I’m one in the same, both the slave and the chain
If I fall no one sees I have nothing left
If I break please believe me
I’m in the lion’s den
If I cave, I give in
(cont’d)
Try to understand
It’s just me and that lion
Me in the lion’s den
Me and my darkest friends
Me and my vices
Me trying to hide it
It’s me face to face with it
All through the night
Waiting for the sun
If I fall no one sees I have nothing left
If I break please forgive me
I’m in the lion’s den
If I cave, I give in
Try to understand
It’s just me and that lion
It’s just me and I’m trying
It’s just me
And the lion don’t bite if you feed it