Wolf Like Me
TV on the Radio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Won't you lay hands on me
Mirror my malady
Transfer my tragedy?
Got a curse I cannot lift
Shines when the sunset shifts
When the moon is round and full
Gotta bust that box, gotta gut that fish (my mind's aflame)
We could jet in a stolen car
But I bet we wouldn't get too far
Before the transformation takes
And blood lust tanks and
Crave gets slaked
My mind has changed
My body's frame, but, God, I like it
My heart's aflame
My body's strained, but, God, I like it
My mind has changed
My body's frame, but, God, I like it
My heart's aflame
My body's strained, but, God, I like it
Charge me your day rate
I'll turn you out in kind
When the moon is round and full
Gonna teach you tricks
That will blow your mongrel mind
Baby doll, I recognize
You're a hideous thing inside
If ever there were a lucky kind
It's you, you, you, you
I know it's strange, another way to get to know you
You'll never know unless we go, so let me show you
I know it's strange, another way to get to know you
We've got 'til noon, here comes the moon
So let it show you
Show you now
Dream me, oh, dreamer
Down to the floor
Open my hands and let them weave onto yours
Feel me, completer
Down to my core
Open my heart and let it bleed onto yours
Feeding on fever
Down on all-fours
Show you what all the howling is for
Hey, hey, my playmate
Let me lay waste to thee
Burned down their hanging trees
It's hot, hot, hot, hot here
Got a curse we cannot lift
Shines when the sunset shifts
There's a curse comes with a kiss
The bite that binds, the gift that gives
Now that we got gone for good
Writhing under your riding hood
Tell your grandma and your mama too
It's true, true, true, true
We're howling forever, oh, oh
We're howling forever, oh, oh
We're howling forever, oh, oh
We're howling forever, oh, oh
We're howling forever, oh, oh
The lyrics of TV on the Radio's song “Wolf Like Me” seem to be a metaphorical exploration of one's darker desires and passions. The song's protagonist calls out to her/his lover to "lay hands" on her/him, to "mirror" her/his "malady," and to "transfer" her/his "tragedy." This suggests a longing for someone who can understand and appreciate her/his innermost desires and struggles. The singer also refers to a "curse" that shines when the "sunset shifts," a reference to how her/his desires come to the forefront during moments of transition or vulnerability, such as when the moon is "round and full."
The chorus of the song underscores this concept of transformation, as the singer describes how her/his "mind has changed" and her/his "body's frame" has been altered. She/he expresses a sense of liberation and euphoria, despite the fact that her/his "body's strained." The latter half of the song is more frenzied and intense, depicting the singer and her/his lover "howling" forever in a state of wild abandon.
Overall, “Wolf Like Me” explores themes of passion, desire, transformation, and liberation. Its lyrics evoke a sense of liberation and empowerment, suggesting that embracing one's innermost desires can lead to a greater sense of fulfillment and joy.
Line by Line Meaning
Say, say, my playmate
Addressing an individual in a playful tone
Won't you lay hands on me
Asks for physical contact as an invitation
Mirror my malady
Challenges someone to understand and identify with their struggles
Transfer my tragedy?
Asking someone to share their pain and empathize with them
Got a curse I cannot lift
Being bound by an unshakable burden or difficulty
Shines when the sunset shifts
Struggle becomes more evident in unfavorable times
When the moon is round and full
Indicates a particular time when emotions are heightened
Gotta bust that box, gotta gut that fish (my mind's aflame)
Feeling overwhelmed with a need to break free
We could jet in a stolen car
Proposing an escape plan
But I bet we wouldn't get too far
Realistic about the obstacles they face in trying to escape
Before the transformation takes
Feeling disturbed by the sudden changes they're experiencing
And blood lust tanks and crave gets slaked
Succumbing to a primal, violent desire
My mind has changed
Acknowledging a significant shift in their thinking
My body's frame, but, God, I like it
They enjoy this change despite it being unsettling
My heart's aflame
Emotions are intense and passionate
Charge me your day rate
Offering to pay for someone else's time
I'll turn you out in kind
Proposing mutual give-and-take
Gonna teach you tricks
Wants to reveal something new and exciting
That will blow your mongrel mind
Implying the new experience will be overwhelming and unconventional
Baby doll, I recognize
Addressing someone with an endearing term, but also acknowledging flaws
You're a hideous thing inside
Pointing out the unattractive parts of someone's personality
If ever there were a lucky kind
Despite their flaws, they are seen as fortunate
It's you, you, you, you
Emphasizing this recognition
I know it's strange, another way to get to know you
Acknowledging that this method of getting to know someone isn't conventional
You'll never know unless we go, so let me show you
Inviting someone to try something new and see where it goes
We've got 'til noon, here comes the moon
Indicating a limited amount of time before something happens
So let it show you
Urging someone to be open to possibility
Dream me, oh, dreamer
Using poetic language to invite someone to imagine themselves with the artist
Down to the floor
Describing a position of submission or vulnerability
Open my hands and let them weave onto yours
Suggesting a sense of intimacy and trust
Feel me, completer
Describing someone who fills a sense of emptiness
Down to my core
Referring to the artist's deepest self
Open my heart and let it bleed onto yours
Revealing the artist's vulnerability and desire to connect
Feeding on fever
The intensity of their feelings is like a fever
Down on all-fours
Assuming a position of vulnerability and submission
Show you what all the howling is for
Implying that the artist has been howling for a reason, and is about to reveal it
Hey, hey, my playmate
Returning to the playful tone from earlier
Let me lay waste to thee
Suggesting they are going to cause destruction, but in an erotic way
Burned down their hanging trees
Describing an act of destruction
It's hot, hot, hot, hot here
Emphasizing a sense of heat, passion, or danger
There's a curse comes with a kiss
Implying that a relationship can come with hidden danger
The bite that binds, the gift that gives
Describing the way a relationship can create a tight bond
Now that we got gone for good
Describing a sense of relief or happiness at leaving something behind
Writhing under your riding hood
Invoking imagery of power and submission, suggesting a sexual aspect
Tell your grandma and your mama too
Suggesting that the artist's actions are noteworthy or will be fodder for gossip
It's true, true, true, true
Emphasizing the truth of this statement
We're howling forever, oh, oh
Final repetition of the song's chorus, invoking a sense of eternity or endlessness
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Babatunde Omoroga Adebimpe, Jaleel Bunton, David Kyp Joel Malone, David Andrew Sitek, Gerard Anthony Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind