Sinead O'Connor Songs - Lyrics

Album

The Lion and the Cobra is the debut album by Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor, released in 1987. The album was a critical and commercial success, reaching number 10 on the UK Albums Chart and number 12 on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States. It has been certified platinum in the UK and the US.

The album's title is taken from Psalm 91:13, which reads "You will tread on the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot." The album's cover art features a photograph of O'Connor wearing a crown of thorns and holding a burning branch.

The album's sound is a mix of alternative rock, pop rock, and art rock. It features O'Connor's distinctive vocals, which are often raw and passionate. The lyrics are often personal and introspective, dealing with themes of love, loss, and spirituality.

The album's singles were "Troy," "Mandinka," and "I Want Your (Hands on Me)." "Troy" is a powerful song about the complexities of love and relationships, while "Mandinka" is an upbeat and catchy track that explores themes of identity and self-discovery. "I Want Your (Hands on Me)" is a sexually charged song that was featured in the 1988 horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master. (Played during Debbie's death and end credits.)

The Lion and the Cobra is a critically acclaimed album that has been praised for its originality and O'Connor's powerful vocals. It is considered to be one of the most important albums of the 1980s.

• "Jackie" - about a character who is wandering the beach waiting for the return of someone that has died.
• "Never Get Old" - Enya introduces the song with Psalm 91:11-13 from the Bible in Gaelic.
• "Just Like U Said It Would B" - The track explores themes of love, vulnerability, and the challenges of relationships.

EP

Gospel Oak is a six-track EP by Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor, released in 1997. The album was named after the London neighbourhood of Gospel Oak where O'Connor was living at the time. The cover photograph shows the two brick skew arch bridges adjacent to Gospel Oak railway station in north London. It was dedicated to "the people of Israel, Rwanda and Northern Ireland".

The EP is a more mellow and introspective affair than O'Connor's previous work, with a focus on acoustic guitar and piano. The lyrics are often personal and reflective, dealing with themes of love, spirituality, and personal struggles.

The EP was met with mixed reviews from critics, with some praising O'Connor's vulnerability and honesty, while others found the album to be too subdued. However, the EP was a commercial success, reaching number 31 on the UK Albums Chart.

• "This Is to Mother You" - a simple promise from a mother to vulnerable children throughout the world
• "This Is a Rebel Song" - A political song about the conflict in Northern Ireland.
• "Petit Poulet" - message of reassurance and comfort, and the unconditional love a mother has for her child..
• "I Am Enough for Myself" - A song about self-empowerment and acceptance.
• "4 My Love" - O'Connor's feelings of love and devotion for her unborn child and the promise to always be there for them.
• "He Moved Through the Fair" - A traditional Irish folk song that showcases O'Connor's ability to reinterpret classic tunes with her distinctive style.

Sinead O'Connor (1966 - 2023)

Sinéad O'Connor was an Irish singer-songwriter who rose to fame in the early 1990s with her hit single "Nothing Compares 2 U". She was known for her powerful voice, her outspoken views, and her often controversial actions.

O'Connor was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1966 and died in July 2023 (aged 56). She had a difficult childhood, marked by abuse and neglect. She began singing at a young age, and her talent was quickly recognized. She signed her first record deal at the age of 18, and her debut album, The Lion and the Cobra, was released in 1987.

O'Connor's second album, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got, was released in 1990 and was a major success. The album's lead single, "Nothing Compares 2 U", became a worldwide hit, and O'Connor became a global star.

However, O'Connor's career was not without its controversies. In 1992, she appeared on Saturday Night Live and tore up a photo of Pope John Paul II in protest of child abuse in the Catholic Church. This act caused a great deal of backlash, and O'Connor was subsequently dropped by her record label.

Despite the controversy, O'Connor continued to make music and to speak out on political and social issues. She released several more albums, including Universal Mother (1994), Faith and Courage (2000), and Throw Down Your Arms (2005). She also wrote a memoir, Rememberings, which was published in 2021.

In 2018, O'Connor converted to Islam and changed her name to Shuhada' Sadaqat. She continued to make music and to speak out on issues of injustice, until her death in 2023.

• She was a self-described "angry young woman" in her early career.
• She was ordained as a priest in the Independent Catholic Church in 1999.
• She changed her name to Magda Davitt in 2017, and then to Shuhada' Sadaqat in 2018 after converting to Islam.
• She was a vocal critic of the Catholic Church and of child abuse in the church.
• She was a survivor of childhood abuse.
• She struggled with mental health issues throughout her life.

O'Connor was a complex and controversial figure, but she was also a gifted artist and a powerful and influential voice for change. Despite her personal struggles, O'Connor left a lasting legacy and will always be remembered for her music, her activism, and her courage to speak her mind. ☘ ☘ ☘