The Lion and the Cobra

The Lion and the Cobra is the 1987 debut album by Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor. O'Connor, age 20 at the time, recorded the album while heavily pregnant with her first child.

The photograph of O'Connor on the album cover was taken by Haysi Fantayzee member Kate Garner. The U.S. cover differed from the European release, as it was felt a more subdued pose would present a "softer" image of O'Connor.

The video for "Mandinka" was shown heavily after debuting 24 January 1988 on 120 Minutes on MTV. The single was a mainstream pop hit in the UK, peaking at #17 in the singles chart, as well as her native Ireland. "I Want Your (Hands On Me)" debuted in May 1988 on the same show, featuring a rap interlude by MC Lyte. The song was featured in the 1988 horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master.

The album featured prominent session musicians John Reynolds on drums, former Adam and the Ants and Siouxsie and the Banshees guitarist Marco Pirroni and Mike Clowes Friction Groove .

The title of the album is from Psalm 91:13 "you will tread upon the lion and cobra", and the track "Never Get Old" opens with an Irish language recital of Psalm 91 in Irish by singer Enya.

Additional single b-sides include "Still Listening" and "The Value of Ignorance".

The album sold 2,500,000 copies worldwide.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Sinéad O'Connor, except where noted.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Jackie"		2:28
2.	"Mandinka"		3:46
3.	"Jerusalem"	O'Connor, Ali McMordie, Mike Clowes, John Reynolds	4:20
4.	"Just Like U Said It Would B"	O'Connor, Steve Wickham	4:32
5.	"Never Get Old" (spoken-word intro by Enya)		4:39
6.	"Troy"		6:34
7.	"I Want Your (Hands on Me)"	O'Connor, Clowes, Reynolds, Rob Dean, Spike Holifield	4:42
8.	"Drink Before the War"	O'Connor, Clowes, Reynolds	5:25
9.	"Just Call Me Joe"	O'Connor, Kevin Mooney, Leslie Winer	5:51

Personnel

Sinéad O'Connor – vocals, electric guitar, producer, Audio mixing, arranger
Kevin Moloney – Producer, Engineer, Audio mixing
Fachtna O'Ceallaigh - Audio mixing
Marco Pirroni – electric and acoustic guitars
'Spike' Holifield – bass
Rob Dean – electric and acoustic guitars
John Reynolds – drums, programming
Mike Clowes – synthesizer, keyboards, string arrangements on "Troy"
Kevin Mooney - All Guitars & Bass Guitar on "Just Call Me Joe"
Gavyn Wright – orchestra director
Enya – speaking part on "Never Get Old"
Leslie Winer - spoken words on "Just Call Me Joe"
Terence Morris, Lloyd Phillips & Chris Birkett – Mixing on "Mandinka" & "I Want Your Hands On Me"
Jack Adams – mastering
Kate Garner, Kim Bowen – photography
John Maybury, Steve Horse – art direction, cover art

References

Sinéad O'Connor

Studio albums	The Lion and the Cobra (1987) • I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (1990) • Am I Not Your Girl? (1992) • Universal Mother (1994) • Gospel Oak EP (1997) • Faith and Courage (2000) • Sean-Nós Nua (2002) • Throw Down Your Arms (2005) • Theology (2007) • How About I Be Me (And You Be You)? (2012)

Compilations	So Far... The Best of Sinéad O'Connor (1997) • She Who Dwells in the Secret Place of the Most High Shall Abide Under the Shadow of the Almighty (2003) • Collaborations (2005) • Essential (2005)

Video albums	The Value of Ignorance (1989) • The Year of the Horse (1991) • Goodnight, Thank You, You've Been a Lovely Audience (2003) • Live at the Sugar Club (2008)

Singles	"Troy" (1987) • "Mandinka" (1987) • "I Want Your (Hands on Me)" (1988) • "Jerusalem" (1988) • "Jump in the River" (1988) • "Nothing Compares 2 U" (1990) • "The Emperor's New Clothes" (1990) • "Three Babies" (1990) • "I Am Stretched on Your Grave" (1990)• "My Special Child" (1991) • "Silent Night" (1991) • "Success Has Made a Failure of Our Home" (1992) • "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" (1992) • "You Made Me the Thief of Your Heart" (1994) • "Thank You for Hearing Me" (1994) • "Fire on Babylon" (1994) • "Famine"/"All Apologies" (1995) • "This Is to Mother You" (1997) • "This Is a Rebel Song" (1997) • "Chiquitita" (1998) • "No Man's Woman" (2000) • "Jealous" (2000) • "Troy (The Phoenix From the Flame)" (2002) • "My Lagan Love" (2002) • "A Hundred Thousand Angels" (2003) • "Marcus Garvey" (2005) • "Throw Down Your Arms" (2005) • "I Don't Know How to Love Him" (2007) • "Something Beautiful" (2007) • "We People (Who Are Darker Than Blue)" (2008) • "How About I Be Me" (2011)

Guest singles	"Heroine" (1986) • "Blood of Eden" (1992) • "Don't Give Up" (1993) • "Haunted" (1995) • "Empire" (1996) • "Guide Me God" (2002) • "Tears from the Moon" (2002) • "1000 Mirrors" (2003) • "Special Cases" (2003) • "Illegal Attacks" (2007) • "It's Only Life" (2010)

Related articles	Discography