WOLF
Big Thief Lyrics
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Woke up as you left the room
Pillows still warm, scent like meadow grass
Has the feeling come to pass?
Has the feeling come to stay?
What can we say?
Wishing you would hang around
Witnessing the gameless hunt
Mermaids don't kill
That's the way they sing so fine
Now your lips are on the line
Now there is a broken tongue
Neck is so young
Felt so frozen
How you seem to follow through
On everything you yearned for
Steps so fair
So much certainty
Now as far as we can see
The water's getting deeper
My safekeeper
The wolf is howling for me
When she holds me in her jaw
All my blood dripping
Will I be free to cease gripping?
Finally laying on the ground
Open hands empty
I'll return back again
If she'll let me
The opening line of "Hello to the morning moon" by Big Thief sets the tone for a wistful and melancholic narrative. It's as if the singer is addressing the moon as a friend, hoping to connect with something that is still present and constant in their life as they wake up to an empty bed. The pillows being warm and the scent of meadow grass indicates that their lover has only recently left, and the singer is feeling the weight of their absence. They wonder if this feeling of longing is going to pass or if it's going to be a constant state of being. They wish their lover had stayed a bit longer.
The second verse of the song, "Living on the waterfront," shifts to a different image. The singer describes witnessing a "gameless hunt" and tries to parallel it to the way people treat each other. Mermaids are introduced, and the singer highlights their ability to sing beautifully without killing. However, things get more complicated as the song continues, and the singer begins describing their "lips on the line" and a "broken tongue." The third and final verse describes the inevitability of mortality, how no one can escape the "wolf" that comes for us all, and how surrendering to it may be the only way to find peace.
Overall, "Hello to the morning moon" by Big Thief is a poignant meditation on the fleeting nature of love and life. It conveys a vivid sense of loss and the longing for something that has passed or is about to pass. The song uses various images to support this idea, such as the moon, pillows, meadow grass, mermaids, and wolves, all of which add different layers of meaning to the lyrics. The singer's voice is gentle and quiet, creating a sense of intimacy and vulnerability that amplifies the emotional impact of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello to the morning moon
Greeting the new day with hope and anticipation
Woke up as you left the room
Feeling abandoned and alone
Pillows still warm, scent like meadow grass
Remnants of a lover's presence lingering on
Has the feeling come to pass?
Questioning the authenticity of past experiences
Has the feeling come to stay?
Wondering if those past experiences will continue into the future
What can we say?
Acknowledging the complexity of emotions and relationships
Wishing you would hang around
Longing for companionship and connection
Living on the waterfront
Existing on the boundary between land and water, caught between two worlds
Witnessing the gameless hunt
Observing the futility and cruelty of life's struggles
Mermaids don't kill
Drawing a contrast between the peacefulness of nature and the violence of humanity
That's the way they sing so fine
Celebrating the beauty and purity of nature's creatures
Now your lips are on the line
Putting oneself in danger for the sake of passion and desire
Now there is a broken tongue
Feeling silenced or unable to express oneself
Neck is so young
Vulnerability and fragility in the face of danger
Felt so frozen
Paralyzed by fear or uncertainty
How you seem to follow through
Admiring someone's determination and commitment
On everything you yearned for
Pursuing one's ambitions and dreams
Steps so fair
Grace and beauty in movement
So much certainty
Confidence and conviction in one's beliefs and actions
Now as far as we can see
Acknowledging the limitations of human perception
The water's getting deeper
Metaphor for the growing complexity of life's challenges
My safekeeper
Finding comfort and security in another person
The wolf is howling for me
Danger and threat lurking in the shadows
When she holds me in her jaw
Being caught in the jaws of danger
All my blood dripping
Feeling the pain and intensity of a dangerous situation
Will I be free to cease gripping?
Wondering if one will be able to break free from danger and uncertainty
Finally laying on the ground
Reaching the end of one's journey or struggle
Open hands empty
Letting go of what one has held onto in the past
I'll return back again
Acknowledging the cyclical nature of life's challenges and opportunities
If she'll let me
Accepting the unpredictable and uncontrollable nature of life
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: Adrianne Lenker
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind