He began experimenting with sound and four-track recording at the age of 11, eventually building an arsenal of instruments that included junk-shop organs and a home-built theremin. At the age of 14 he joined the pop-art collective Minty, a venture that caught the eyes and ears of Fat Cat Records, which went on to supply the youth with a computer and mixing tools for aid in his newfound audio experimentation. He left home at the age of 16 and formed Maison Crimineaux with his friend Fanny, which eventually found its way to France where the noisy duo played a show attended by electronic maestro Kristian Robinson (aka Capitol K), who went on to release Wolf's lauded 2003 debut. With Lycanthropy reaching number 39 in the NME's top LPs of the year, as well as receiving critical acclaim throughout Europe and America, Wolf decided to study composition at the Trinity College Music Conservatoire.
The results of that endeavor can be heard on his 2005 release Wind in the Wires, a dark collection of moody British folk and chamber pop with a chilly laptop sheen.
Wolf released his third album, and the first on a major label, The Magic Position, in February 2007. A concept album on the theme of love, the majority of it was written after the end of a long term intimate relationship. It featured collaborations with Marianne Faithfull and Edward Larrikin of Larrikin Love.
His fourth album, The Bachelor, was originally supposed to be part of a double album called Battle (the other disc was to be called The Conqueror). It was released on 1 June 2009. Guest musicians included Atari Teenage Riot's Alec Empire, actress Tilda Swinton, folk musician Eliza Carthy and avant-garde electronic pioneer Matthew Herbert.
Wolf's fifth album, Lupercalia, was released on 20 June 2011 by Hideout, a subsidiary of Mercury Records. Songfacts explains that the album title refers to the fertility and love festival which the ancient Romans celebrated between February 13-15 (the predecessor to Valentine's Day).
His latest release is a double album entitled Sundark and Riverlight, celebrating Wolf's 10 years as a recording artist. The album features acoustic re-recordings of songs from throughout his career, as well as previously unheard tracks.
Lycanthropy
Patrick Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Til I cut my penis off
And I grew a hairy skull
Of stubborn fire
Then I was a girl.
'Til I sewed my hole up
And I grew a hairy heart
But
There's no answer. just surrender
Send all your barriers into the fire
And
Let no foot. mark your ground
Let no hand hold you down.
You were once so sad
Till you cut your suffer off
Now you please yourself
And fight your own wars
And you were once so weak
'Til you sewed your wounds up
Now you've learnt to sing
About sun and shine!
Be you own hero
Be your own savior
Send all your suffering
Into the fire
The lyrics of Patrick Wolf's song Lycanthropy seem to symbolize his journey of self-discovery and acceptance. The verses describe different stages of his personal transformation, starting with his physical transition, when he cut off his penis to become a person with a "hairy skull of stubborn fire," suggesting a more assertive and confident attitude. Later on, he sewed his "hole" up and grew a "hairy heart of dark desire," which may indicate his emotional growth or sexual orientation.
The chorus highlights the importance of surrendering one's barriers and letting go of preconceived notions that may hold oneself back. The lines "let no foot mark your ground" and "let no hand hold you down" suggest breaking free from the constraints of society and taking charge of one's own life. The final verse embraces the idea of self-empowerment, with Wolf encouraging listeners to find strength in their personal struggles and to be their own hero and savior. The line "send all your suffering into the fire" reinforces the notion of letting go of pain and negativity to move forward in a positive way.
Overall, Lycanthropy may be interpreted as a song about self-discovery, acceptance, and liberation, encouraging listeners to embrace their true selves and to find strength in their personal journeys.
Line by Line Meaning
I was once a boy.
The singer used to identify as male.
'Til I cut my penis off
The singer underwent gender reassignment surgery to remove their penis.
And I grew a hairy skull
The singer affirms their masculine identity by embracing masculine physical attributes.
Of stubborn fire
The artist has a strong will and a fiery personality.
Then I was a girl.
The artist now identifies as female.
'Til I sewed my hole up
The singer underwent gender reassignment surgery to modify their genitals.
And I grew a hairy heart
The singer affirms their feminine identity by embracing feminine emotional attributes.
Of dark desire
The artist has strong, intense desires that may be perceived as unconventional.
But there's no answer. just surrender
The artist acknowledges a sense of uncertainty regarding their gender identity and the struggles that come with it.
Send all your barriers into the fire
The artist encourages others to embrace their true selves and shed any inhibitions that may be holding them back.
And let no foot. mark your ground
The singer encourages others to stand firm in their identities, free from the influence of others.
Let no hand hold you down.
The artist encourages others to be free from societal pressures or expectations that may cause them to question their identity.
You were once so sad
The singer reflects on a time when they were unhappy.
Till you cut your suffer off
The singer overcame their suffering by embracing their true self.
Now you please yourself
The singer takes pleasure in being their true self and not conforming to societal norms.
And fight your own wars
The artist is unapologetic about their identity and is willing to fight for their right to express themselves.
And you were once so weak
The artist reflects on a time when they were vulnerable and unsure of themselves.
'Til you sewed your wounds up
The singer found strength and healing by embracing their true identity.
Now you've learned to sing
The singer has found joy and fulfillment through embracing their true self.
About sun and shine!
The artist is optimistic and sees a bright future for themselves.
Be your own hero
The artist encourages others to be their own champions.
Be your own savior
The artist encourages others to rely on themselves for strength and support.
Send all your suffering
The singer encourages others to let go of their pain and embrace a happier life.
Into the fire
The artist encourages others to let go of their pain and leave it behind, never to look back.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: PATRICK WOLF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind