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.
Nemoralia
Patrick Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
where our children went to war
with conviction without cause
furnaces in the borough I was born
dreaming echelons
above my station
I waited and watched
on the corners
I dreamt on in my youth
in my youth
heartless
heartless
now I dream of orion
sword by side
sword by side
protect the night
hearthless
hearthless
sans coeur
tout sans coeur
The lyrics to Patrick Wolf’s song “Nemoralia” seem to describe the angst-filled musings of someone who has strongly been affected by war. The first verse sets the tone of the song – a summer goes by where people’s children went to fight a war without really understanding why they were fighting. It is said with somber emotion, as if the singer is lamenting the loss of many young lives. The next lines reveal the singer’s attachment to their birthplace – “furnaces in the borough I was born” suggests that they are from an industrial town, and this is where the song’s themes of longing and loss come into play. The industrialization of the town is further underscored by the use of the word “echelons,” a term that’s often used in the military context.
The second verse is more introspective, as the singer reflects on their younger days spent dreaming on the corners of their town. The use of the word “heartless” is intriguing – it suggests that the singer feels somewhat betrayed by their past or by life in general. The tone of sadness and nostalgia continues with the repetition of the word “hearthless” – a reference to the fact that there’s no warmth or welcome when one returns home. The final line, “tout sans coeur,” is a somewhat cryptic French phrase that translates to “all without heart.” This is fitting, given the overarching themes of war, loss and regret that reverberate throughout the song.
Line by Line Meaning
There passed a summer
A period of time went by
where our children went to war
During which young people went to war
with conviction without cause
Fighting with unwavering belief, but without a valid reason
furnaces in the borough I was born
Industrial furnaces located in my birthplace
dreaming echelons
Aspiring to higher levels of society
above my station
Beyond my social class
the corners I walked in
The streets and areas I frequented
I waited and watched
Patiently observing and monitoring my surroundings
on the corners
On those same streets and junctions
I dreamt on in my youth
I had aspirations and hopes when I was young
in my youth
During my early years
heartless
Lacking compassion or kindness
heartless
Compassionless
now I dream of orion
Currently, I have aspirations related to the constellation Orion
sword by side
Accompanied by a sword
sword by side
Carrying a weapon
protect the night
Safeguarding the darkness of the night
hearthless
Having no hearth or home
hearthless
Lacking warmth or comfort
sans coeur
Without heart, soul or feelings
tout sans coeur
Everything lacking emotions and empathy
Contributed by Isaac F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.