Howl
Florence %2B the Machine Lyrics
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I held it in but now it seems you've set it running free
Screaming in the dark, I howl when we're apart
Drag my teeth across your chest to taste your beating heart
My fingers claw your skin, try to tear my way in
You are the moon that breaks the night for which I have to howl
My fingers claw your skin, try to tear my way in
Howl, howl
Howl, howl
Now there's no holding back, I'm aching to attack
My blood is singing with your voice, I want to pour it out
The saints can't help me now, the ropes have been unbound
I hunt for you with bloodied feet across the hallowed ground
Like some child possessed, the beast howls in my veins
I want to find you, tear out all of your tenderness
And howl, howl
Howl, howl
Be careful of the curse that falls on young lovers
Starts so soft and sweet and turns them to hunters
Hunters, hunters, hunters
Hunters, hunters, hunters
hunters, hunters
The fabric of your flesh, pure as a wedding dress
Until I wrap myself inside your arms I cannot rest
The saints can't help me now, the ropes have been unbound
I hunt for you with bloodied feet across the hallowed
Ground
And howl
Be careful of the curse that falls on young lovers
Starts so soft and sweet and turns them to hunters
A man who's pure of heart and says his prayers by night
May still become a wolf when the autumn moon is bright
If you could only see the beast you've made of me
I held it in but now it seems you've set it running free
The saints can't help me now, the ropes have been unbound
I hunt for you with bloodied feet across the hallowed ground
The lyrics of "Howl" by Florence + The Machine depict a love that borders on obsession, with the singer comparing herself to a wild animal who is unable to control her impulses. She speaks about the beast inside of her, which the object of her affection has inadvertently unleashed, and how it now roams free. She screams in the darkness, listening for her beloved's voice and howling when they are apart. The image of dragging her teeth across his chest to taste his beating heart is violent and dramatic, emphasizing the intensity of her desire for him. She acknowledges the danger in this love, acknowledging that it is a curse that can turn lovers into hunters.
The song continues with a lusting for the object of her affection that she cannot contain. She speaks of wanting to attack him, hunting for him across the hallowed ground with bloodied feet. The beast howls in her veins, and she is desperate to tear out his tenderness. The chorus repeats, with the singer howling like a wild animal - a stark contrast to her previous efforts to contain her desires.
In the final verses, the singer acknowledges the purity of her lover's heart and the potential for that purity to be corrupted by the autumn moon. She speaks of being consumed by her love for him and the inability to rest until she is with him. The final line, "I hunt for you with bloodied feet across the hallowed ground," emphasizes her desperation and the lengths to which she is willing to go to reach her beloved.
Line by Line Meaning
If you could only see the beast you've made of me
You don't realize how much damage you've done to me, causing me to become a wild, uncontrollable animal.
I held it in but now it seems you've set it running free
I tried to hide my inner beast, but you've unleashed it and now I can't control it.
Screaming in the dark, I howl when we're apart
When we're separated, I feel an overwhelming, animalistic urge to cry out in frustration and loneliness.
Drag my teeth across your chest to taste your beating heart
I crave your love and affection so much that I want to physically consume it, even if it means hurting you.
My fingers claw your skin, try to tear my way in
I'm so desperate to be close to you that I'm willing to harm you in order to do so.
You are the moon that breaks the night for which I have to howl
You are the one who brings light into my life and makes me feel alive, but at the same time, you bring out my wild, primal side.
Now there's no holding back, I'm aching to attack
I can't resist my urge to pursue you and satisfy my desires, even if it means being violent or aggressive.
My blood is singing with your voice, I want to pour it out
I'm so consumed by my love for you that it feels like my very blood is crying out for you, and I can't contain it.
The saints can't help me now, the ropes have been unbound
I've crossed a line that even religion or morality can't fix, and I'm now free to pursue you in any way I see fit.
I hunt for you with bloodied feet across the hallowed ground
I'm determined to find you no matter what it takes, even if it means injuring myself or breaking sacred rules in my pursuit of you.
And howl
I can't keep my animalistic urges contained any longer, and I need to let them out in a primal cry.
Be careful of the curse that falls on young lovers
Love can be both a beautiful and dangerous thing, and it can turn innocent relationships into destructive obsessions.
Starts so soft and sweet and turns them to hunters
Even the most loving relationships can turn violent and predatory, and the lovers can become consumed by their primal urges.
Hunters, hunters, hunters
The lovers become consumed by their animalistic urges and become like predators, relentlessly pursuing each other.
The fabric of your flesh, pure as a wedding dress
Your physical body is beautiful and untainted, like a pristine wedding dress.
Until I wrap myself inside your arms I cannot rest
I'm consumed by my need for you, and I can't find peace or calmness until I'm in your embrace.
A man who's pure of heart and says his prayers by night
Even someone who is morally righteous and devout can still be consumed by their darker, animalistic desires.
May still become a wolf when the autumn moon is bright
The changing of the seasons or other external factors can bring out a person's primal instincts, even if they try to repress them.
Contributed by Vivian D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.