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The Wolf
Fever Ray Lyrics
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It's poison and
It's blood
And big fire, big burn
Into the ashes
And no return
We took you out
Our temple, your tomb
Can be your pick
Not pawned
The poisonous blood
We've been calling
Black paw who’s soaring
We go out in the morning
Down the trail
To somewhere
You are the sound that I hear
You are the sound that I hear
We are not standing
We are falling
These lyrics from Fever Ray's song The Wolf contain a lot of imagery and symbolism, making it a perfect example of the artist's unique and experimental style of music. Starting with the line "Eyes black, big paws and," it sets the tone for a dark and mysterious song. This imagery of a wolf is often associated with danger, strength, and a sense of wildness. The mention of poison and blood adds to this dangerous feeling, suggesting that something sinister might be happening.
Continuing on to "big fire, big burn," it seems that something comes to an end, in this case, it's unclear what. Perhaps a relationship, a journey, or something else has turned into ashes and is gone forever. The line "We took you out from your mother’s womb, our temple, your tomb" could suggest different interpretations. One could be that it is about how humans destroy nature and wildlife, in this case, by taking a wolf out of its natural environment. Another interpretation could be that it refers to how humans are born into a problematic world, with society and its values as the "temple" and the "tomb."
The reference to a "black paw" that's soaring, combined with the lines "We go out in the morning, down the trail, to somewhere," imply a journey or a quest. The wolf could represent a powerful, mysterious, and dangerous companion that they're following. The final lines of the song "You are the sound that I hear, You are the sound that I hear, We are not standing, We are falling" suggest a sense of uncertainty and fear. The sound of the wolf has become a constant reminder of danger and possible death, and the singer seems to be losing control over the situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Eyes black, big paws and
The wolf is described as having black eyes and large paws, implying its strength and danger.
It's poison and
The wolf is associated with poison, perhaps referring to its predatory nature or the danger it poses.
It's blood
The song references the wolf's blood, which could represent its ferocity or the power it holds.
And big fire, big burn
The wolf is compared to fire, suggesting its power and unpredictability.
Into the ashes
The reference to ashes could symbolize destruction or the aftermath of the wolf's actions.
And no return
The phrase 'no return' reinforces the idea of finality and the consequences of the wolf's power.
We took you out
The wolves are referred to as being taken out, suggesting control or manipulation over them by humans.
From your mother’s womb
The wolves are taken from their natural environment, removed from their familial bond and the natural order of things.
Our temple, your tomb
The temple could symbolize the humans' control over the wolves and their environment, while the wolves are trapped in their own grave.
Can be your pick
The wolves are presented as an option or a choice, either for humans to control or for the wolves to seize their own power.
Not pawned
The wolves cannot be controlled or manipulated like pawns, they hold their own power.
The poisonous blood
The blood of the wolves is described as poisonous, reinforcing their danger and ferocity.
We've been calling
The humans are calling out to the black pawed wolf, perhaps indicating both admiration and fear.
Black paw who’s soaring
The black pawed wolf is flying, perhaps evoking a sense of magical or prophetic power associated with it.
We go out in the morning
The humans venture out at a time of day when the wolves may still be active.
Down the trail
The humans are traveling on a path, perhaps indicating their search or hunting for the wolves.
To somewhere
The humans are purposefully moving toward a destination, which may hold significance in relation to their interactions with the wolves.
You are the sound that I hear
The wolf's howl is a significant and powerful sound, which captures the attention of the humans.
We are not standing
The humans are not idle or passive, they are actively engaged in some action related to the wolves.
We are falling
The phrase 'we are falling' could indicate a sense of loss of control or failure in their attempt to interact with the wolves.
Contributed by Colton E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.