The Cowardly Lion
20th century (fictional)
Character from The Wizard of Oz who presents himself as ferocious and brave but is actually deeply cowardly. His roar disguises his fear.
Connection to Taylor Swift
A single sharp allusion in loml. Uncle Jerry hears 'the coward claimed he was a lion' as a nod to The Wizard of Oz's Cowardly Lion, the false brave who roars to hide his fear, turning the line into a portrait of a partner whose confidence was performance.
Notable Works
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (L. Frank Baum) / MGM film (1939)
Appears in the Archive
Context within the Archive
The Wizard of Oz — The Cowardly Lion
“The coward claimed he was a lion”
Uncle Jerry identifies 'The coward claimed he was a lion' as an allusion to the Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz, the fake lion who is a coward. He connects 'What a valiant roar' and 'What a bland goodbye' to the same allusion, noting Taylor is being ironic, calling it a 'cowardly outburst.' Angela further ties this to another song (possibly The Black Dog) where Taylor writes about a man who 'said I needed a brave man and proceeded to play him,' reinforcing the Cowardly Lion theme across multiple TTPD songs.