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.
Magpie
Patrick Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or what other thieving bird would steal such hope away?
Magpie, I am lost among the hinterland,
Caught among the bracken and the fern,
And the boys who have no name.
there's No Name For Us
But Still We Sing
And still we sing,
Little boy, little boy,
Lost and blue,
Listen now, let me tell you what to do,
You can run on, run along or home
Between the knees of her,
All among her bracken and her ferns,
And the boy will have a name.
And We Will Sing
And We Will Sing,
One For Sorrow
Two For Joy
Three For A Girl
Four For A Boy
Five For Silver
Six For Gold
Seven For A Secret,, Never To Be Told
In Patrick Wolf's song "Magpie," the lyrics are poetic and cryptic, as is characteristic of much of his work. The song is essentially about loss, specifically the loss of a wedding ring, and the feeling of being lost oneself. The lyrics begin by addressing a magpie, a commonly superstitious bird associated with thievery in folklore, and asks if it was the magpie that stole the wedding ring, or some other sneaky bird. The use of the bird as a metaphor for loss is a common theme throughout the song.
The chorus of the song, "And still we sing, little boy, little boy, lost and blue, listen now, let me tell you what to do," is directed to a lost little boy, offering him guidance on what to do when he too is caught up in the "bracken and the fern." The symbolism of the bracken and fern could potentially indicate a thorny and difficult path in life, something the little boy may grow to experience as he matures. The final lyrics of the chorus offer a glimmer of hope, wherein the listener is told that he will eventually find his name.
The second half of the song is a chant, where the singer adopts the counting rhyme of magpie superstitious lore, as a way to possibly find solace in the bird's perceived mystical power. The counting rhyme is associated with various interpretations, from sorrow to joy, to love, to birth, and even to death. The song ends on the ominous number seven, where secrets are not and will not be revealed.
Line by Line Meaning
Magpie, was it you who stole the wedding ring?
Did you, o thieving bird who often steals shiny things, take the symbol of hope that is the wedding ring?
Or what other thieving bird would steal such hope away?
It's hard to think that any other bird besides you would have taken away such a precious token that symbolizes hope.
Magpie, I am lost among the hinterland,
Oh, magpie, I am lost, wandering and confused in the vast and wild hinterland.
Caught among the bracken and the fern,
I am stuck within the dense and tangled foliage of the bracken and the fern, unable to move forward or see clearly.
And the boys who have no name.
Amidst all of this uncertainty and confusion, I am surrounded by nameless boys who share my plight.
And still we sing,
Despite everything, we continue to sing and make music.
Little boy, little boy,
This is an address to someone who is young, vulnerable, and lost amidst the chaos.
Lost and blue,
Feeling disoriented, sad, and alone.
Listen now, let me tell you what to do,
Pay attention to my words, I have some advice to offer you.
You can run on, run along or home
You have the power to decide where you want to go, whether it's away from this place or back to where you came from.
Between the knees of her,
This could either mean hiding between someone's legs for safety or making a journey that is difficult and uncomfortable, but ultimately worthwhile.
All among her bracken and her ferns,
Venturing through nature's thicket may be challenging, but it may also offer safety and refuge in times of uncertainty.
And the boy will have a name.
By embarking on this journey, the boy will gain a sense of purpose and identity.
One For Sorrow
This is an old English saying where seeing one magpie is a sign of bad luck or sorrow to come.
Two For Joy
Seeing two magpies, on the other hand, is considered to be a sign of good luck and joy.
Three For A Girl
Another old saying where seeing three magpies is seen as a sign that a girl will soon be born.
Four For A Boy
Similarly, seeing four magpies is said to predict the birth of a boy.
Five For Silver
This one is less commonly known, but seeing five magpies means that one can expect a blessing of wealth and prosperity.
Six For Gold
Seeing six magpies is an even better omen, as it signifies that a great fortune or treasure awaits you.
Seven For A Secret, Never To Be Told
When seven magpies are seen, it is believed that a secret will be kept hidden and never revealed.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVEY DODDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind