Lyric discussion by goodnewsbay 

Cover art for Like a Lion lyrics by Decemberists, The

Having just watched There Will Be Blood last night, I can't help but think that this song is about the oil boom and subsequent ravaging of the earth and loss of traditional values. I've always thought this song sounded a bit like a song losing its mind. As it descends into the electronic clamor toward the end it sounds like innocence giving way to mechanization and madness.