Chelsea Joy Wolfe was born in Roseville, California, and grew up in Sacramento. She is of Norwegian and German descent. Her father was in a country band and owned a home studio. By the age of 7, she had written her first poem and by the age of 9, she had written and recorded songs which she later described as "basically Casio-based gothy R&B songs."
Inspired by the dark state of the world and the strange connection between all things, she creates a unique musical blend of goth-folk, experimental rock and spiritual realm funeral songs. With influences ranging from the great minds of Ingmar Bergman and David Lynch to Soviet and end-times literature, her songs conjure visions of other dimensions, claustrophobic echo-rooms and parking garage cathedrals.
Wolfe has recorded seven full length studio albums: The Grime and the Glow, which was released on December 28th, 2010 on limited vinyl through Brooklyn’s Pendu Sound Recordings; Ἀποκάλυψις (pronounced “Apokalypsis”), which was released as a 12” LP on August 23rd, 2011; Unknown Rooms: a Collection of Acoustic Songs, which was released on October, 2012 through Sargent House; Pain Is Beauty, out September 3rd, 2013; Abyss, which was released August 7th, 2015; and Hiss Spun, out September 22nd, 2017; Birth of Violence[7i] which was released on September 13th, 2019.
Ancestors
Chelsea Wolfe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Release your dead
Holy ancestors
Holy ancestors
I saw in you a pattern
I saw the reason why
They never saw it in you
But I swear I saw it then
In the end it’s a horror
Can’t help the chemical’s form
In my head there’s a warrior
I saw in you a pattern
I saw the reason why
He never saw it in you
But I swear I saw it then
Release your dead
Release your dead
Holy ancestors
Holy ancestors
In my head there’s a war
In the end it’s a horror
The urge to kill getting stronger
In my head there’s a warrior
And it’s a war to feel whole
And it’s a fear to feel at all
And it’s the wonder at love
And it’s the weight of her
Release your dead
(for me they’ve bled)
Release your dead
(those wild men)
Believe your dead
(to give me dreams)
Believe your dead
(to bring me dreams)
The lyrics of Chelsea Wolfe's song Ancestors speak to the internal struggle of the artist, who is trying to find a pattern or reason in the past that will help explain the chaos of the present. The refrain "Release your dead, holy ancestors" highlights the desperation with which she grasps for meaning, looking to her forebears for guidance and wisdom. Through her seeking, she recognizes patterns, reasons, and behaviors that have been passed down through generations, like a genetic memory that explains why she feels the way she does, why certain thoughts invade her head.
The haunting song speaks to the internal tug-of-war between emotional turmoil and rational thought. She battles desires that stem from chemical reactions in her brain, urges that pull her toward destruction, while another internal voice counters that impulse with reason, urging her to believe in love and hope. The lyrics reveal a struggle for self-discovery, acceptance, and, ultimately, transcendence.
Line by Line Meaning
Release your dead
Let go of the past and move on from those who have passed away
Holy ancestors
Honoring the memories and legacies of family members who have come before
I saw in you a pattern
Recognizing a recurring behavior or trait in someone else
I saw the reason why
Understanding the motive behind a person's actions or outlook
They never saw it in you
Others did not recognize the same pattern or motive that the artist did
But I swear I saw it then
Emphasizing the singer's belief and confidence in their own perception
In my head there’s a war
The singer is struggling with inner conflict or turmoil
In the end it’s a horror
This internal battle will ultimately lead to negative consequences
Can’t help the chemical’s form
Acknowledging that some aspects of the conflict are beyond the artist's control
In my head there’s a warrior
Despite the negative internal conflict, the artist is motivated to keep fighting
The urge to kill getting stronger
This conflict may be related to a darker impulse, perhaps related to anger or aggression
And it’s a war to feel whole
The artist believes they must fight in order to achieve a deeper sense of fulfillment or completeness
And it’s a fear to feel at all
The singer may be afraid to face their emotions or express vulnerability
And it’s the wonder at love
Despite the conflict, the singer is still moved by the power of love and connection
And it’s the weight of her
The singer is carrying the burden of a person, perhaps a loved one or someone who has influenced them deeply
Believe your dead
Emphasizing the importance of accepting and moving on from the loss of loved ones
For me they’ve bled
Highlighting the sacrifice that some have made to preserve the artist's way of life
Those wild men
Referring to ancestors or others who may have lived adventurous or unconventional lives
To give me dreams
Suggesting that the singer's inspiration may stem from those who came before them
To bring me dreams
Similar to the above line, indicating that the artist's aspirations are tied to the influence of their ancestors
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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