Songwriters Ned and Vedantha originally met whilst studying at Cambridge. After countless nights spent honing their vocal harmonies and intricate guitar playing, they moved to London where they met Jordan, a classical violist, studying at the Royal Academy of Music. The three whiled away an afternoon on Londonâs Southbank, talking about their favourite musicians; the likes of Bon Iver and Kings of Convenience. They formed as August and After, and after many sold-out London shows, support slots for artists such as Ghostpoet and Scott Matthews, a Ronnie Scottâs residency and several European tours, they travelled to Paris to record their debut EP, Cascades, with French producer Jonathan LefĂšvre-Reich (We Were Evergreen).
With support from the likes of BBC 6 Music, Kerrang! Radio and a stream of online press, and Wolves featured on Spotify UKâs official Your Coffee Break playlist garnering over 200k plays in a matter of weeks, the trio will head to the studio fresh from a set at this yearâs Secret Garden Party, to start recording two follow-up singles.
Wolves
August and After Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was happy to hear from you
You said I'm like ice, I endure the advice
Unable to open, but crying inside
But there are wolves,
they won't let me fall in love,
prowling my heart
You were chasing shadows
I'm hidden inside the walls of a smile
I'd like to slice the walls of a smile
Trust me I tried
But there are wolves,
they won't let me fall in love,
prowling my heart
Clutching at shadows
Clutching at the moon
Clutching at starlight
The distance is beautiful
The lyrics to August and After's song Wolves are poignant and laden with emotion. They speak of a complex relationship dynamic between two people where one person is unable to open up and remains closed off, despite the other person's efforts to get closer. The first verse, "I was happy to hear from you, you said I'm like ice, I endure the advice, unable to open, but crying inside" sets the tone for the rest of the song - the singer is guarded and resistant to revealing their true feelings, even when prodded to do so.
The chorus speaks to the obstacles that keep the singer from falling in love - the wolves prowling their heart. This could be interpreted in a number of ways - perhaps the wolves represent past trauma or heartbreak, or maybe they are a symbol for the singer's own fears and insecurities. Regardless, it's clear that these wolves are a barrier to the kind of vulnerability and intimacy that the other person is hoping for.
The second verse introduces the idea of "chasing shadows" and being hidden "inside the walls of a smile." This imagery reinforces the idea of the singer being closed off and unwilling to let their guard down. They have tried to break down the walls that keep them isolated, but have been unsuccessful. The last line, "trust me I tried," underscores the singer's frustration with their own inability to connect.
Overall, the lyrics to Wolves are a beautiful and evocative portrayal of the struggle to open oneself up to love and intimacy, and the obstacles that can make that difficult.
Line by Line Meaning
I was happy to hear from you
Receiving a message from you brought me joy.
You said I'm like ice, I endure the advice
You compared me to ice because I have the ability to remain strong and resilient despite receiving advice that's difficult to take in.
Unable to open, but crying inside
I may appear to be closed off, but inside I am feeling emotions, including sadness.
But there are wolves,
they won't let me fall in love,
prowling my heart
There are negative forces, symbolized as wolves, that prevent me from experiencing love, and they are constantly surrounding and attacking my heart.
You were chasing shadows
You were pursuing something that wasn't real, something that lacked substance or meaning.
I'm hidden inside the walls of a smile
I may appear happy and content on the outside, but inside I am struggling and in pain.
I'd like to slice the walls of a smile
Trust me I tried
I wish that I could break free from the facade of happiness and reveal my true emotions, but it's difficult to do so and I've already attempted this in the past.
Clutching at shadows
Clutching at the moon
Clutching at starlight
The distance is beautiful
I am grasping at things that are out of reach, like shadows, the moon, and stars. Although they may be beautiful, they are not attainable, and the distance between myself and what I desire adds to that beauty.
Contributed by Tristan K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
R.A.M Ram
Epic songwriting and arrangements đ„°đ€©
Khushi Gaur
You guys are absolutely brilliant! Keep it coming!
Jasmine Lavender
I love your voice and music! It calms my heart when I study and this song is the best companion when studying alone :)
Neha Phirke
Jasmine Lavender Same here
Lailson Coelho
Muito linda mĂșsica! Perfeita!
Lady L. Luck
CĂłmo amo Ă©sta canciĂłn, you guys are the best thing ever. I love this song â„â„â„â„â„â„â„â„
T Tratt
Sitting at my desk here in Brisbane Australia, listening to random music on youtube and this was in their playlist. I have never stopped and checked out a particular track before, but i had to with this one. beautiful song, thanks
augustandafter
+T Tratt Thank you from London :)
Colby Jeannine
Every time I listen to this song I fall deeper and deeper into love with it.
Rick Chambers
Love it! Great song đ