Howl
Florence + 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 making 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 bloody 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
(Hunter, hunter, hunter, hunter)
(Hunter, hunter, hunter, hunter)
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 bloody 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 bloody feet across the hallowed ground
The Florence + the Machine song "Howl" is a haunting and intense ballad that explores the ferocity of love and passion. The lyrics speak to the singer's internal battle against a beast that has been unleashed within themselves, a beast that is driven by an overpowering need for their lover. They sing about how this beast has taken over their mind and body, causing them to howl in anguish when separated from their love.
The imagery in the lyrics is strikingly violent and animalistic, with the singer describing their desire to tear their way into their lover's body and taste their beating heart. This raw, primal energy is contrasted with the delicate, pure imagery of the lover's flesh being compared to a wedding dress. The song warns of the dangers that can befall young lovers who fall prey to this curse of passion, which can turn them into hunters.
Overall, "Howl" is a very evocative and intense song that delves deep into the darker aspects of love and desire. The lyrics are raw and visceral, and they paint a vivid picture of the singer's inner turmoil.
Line by Line Meaning
If you could only see the beast you've made of me
You may not know it, but your actions have caused a monstrous change in me
I held it in but now it seems you've set it running free
I tried to suppress this beastly side of me, but now it's out of control
Screaming in the dark, I howl when we're apart
When we're not together, I feel a primal need to let out a cry that echoes in the darkness
Drag my teeth across your chest to taste your beating heart
I crave your life force to the point where I want to sink my teeth into your chest and feel your heart beat against my tongue
My fingers claw your skin, try to tear my way in
I'm desperate to get closer to you and my desire is so strong that my fingers are like claws breaking into your skin
You are the moon that breaks the night for which I have to howl
You are the only one who can satisfy my needs and desires, so much so that I am compelled to howl for you like a wolf howls at the moon
Now there's no holding back, I'm making to attack
I'm done trying to hold back my predatory instincts and am now ready to pounce
My blood is singing with your voice, I want to pour it out
I am so completely consumed by you that even my own blood sings with your voice, and I want to give all of myself to you
The saints can't help me now, the ropes have been unbound
Even divine intervention cannot save me from the consequences of unleashing this beast within me
I hunt for you with bloody feet across the hallowed ground
I will stop at nothing to find you, even if it means running across sacred ground with blood on my feet
Like some child possessed, the beast howls in my veins
This animalistic part of me feels like a demon child howling within my very being
I want to find you, tear out all of your tenderness
I have an insatiable desire to possess and destroy everything that makes you soft and vulnerable
Be careful of the curse that falls on young lovers
Love may start off pure and innocent, but it can also consume and transform people in dangerous ways
Starts so soft and sweet and turns them to hunters
Love can quickly become an obsession and turn lovers into predatory hunters
The fabric of your flesh, pure as a wedding dress
Your physical body is so pure and innocent, like a white wedding gown
Until I wrap myself inside your arms I cannot rest
Only by being physically close to you can my restless, predatory tendencies be calmed
A man who's pure of heart and says his prayers by night
Even someone who is outwardly virtuous can have a hidden, dangerous side
May still become a wolf when the autumn moon is bright
Under certain conditions, even the most innocent-seeming person can transform into a ferocious beast
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Paul Epworth, Florence Welch
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind