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.
Oblivion
Patrick Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm not afraid of you
Father, where is my gun?
Now that the war has begun
Oh, let me go it alone, I need no one
I said I need no one
And it's too dark to aim this gun
Clicking now faster, faster, faster
Once again I'm on the run
And I hear you say, oh my stubborn son
Don't you said you need no one
But don't you see danger, danger, danger's
Headed to oblivion?
Followed the hunt far as I could
Through dozen weathers, petrified wood
And I took one shot in the dark
And fired the bullet silver to heart
And oh God, now here it comes
And it's too dark to aim this gun
Now faster, faster, faster
Once again I'm on the run
And I hear you say, oh my stubborn son
I know that you said you need no one
But don't you see danger, danger, danger
Headed to oblivion?
Oblivion, oblivion, oblivion, oblivion, oblivion, oblivion
Wait a second, have you come so far for it to end like this?
This is the challenge
I dare you to take a hold of that darkness from deep down in you
Get back up, what are you so afraid of?
Show your face, face to me
Show your face, face to me
Be you my friend or enemy
Show your face, face to me
I do not fear oblivion, I do not fear oblivion
Said I do not fear oblivion, oblivion, oblivion, oblivion
Father, where is my gun?
I need no one, I need no one
Said I need no one
The lyrics of Patrick Wolf's "Oblivion" appear to describe a sense of danger and conflict within the singer. The opening lines "I hear you, but I'm not afraid of you/ I'm not afraid of you" might suggest an internal struggle or conflict with an external force. The following lines "Father, where is my gun?/ Now that the war has begun" imply a sense of impending danger or conflict. The singer then asserts their need to be alone and their self-sufficiency: "Oh, let me go it alone, I need no one/ I said I need no one." However, as the song progresses, we see the singer grappling with their own fears and doubts. The repeated lines "And it's too dark to aim this gun/ Clicking now faster, faster, faster/ Once again I'm on the run" suggest that despite the singer's self-assurance, they may not be as in control as they would like to be. The lyrics "Don't you see danger, danger, danger's/ Headed to oblivion?" suggest that the singer is engaging in a kind of existential struggle - trying to confront and overcome their own fears and doubts in the face of potentially catastrophic consequences.
The final lines of the song, "I do not fear oblivion, I do not fear oblivion/ Said I do not fear oblivion, oblivion, oblivion, oblivion" seem to suggest that the singer has faced their inner demons and come out the other side, unafraid of what may come. Despite earlier lyrics that suggest a sense of uncertainty and danger, the song ultimately ends on a triumphant note - a call to face one's fears and overcome the challenges life throws our way.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear you, but I'm not afraid of you
I acknowledge your presence, but I'm not intimidated by you.
Father, where is my gun? Now that the war has begun
Amid war, the singer inquires about the location of their weapon.
Oh, let me go it alone, I need no one. I said I need no one
I desire independence and don't require any company or assistance.
But oh God, now here it comes. And it's too dark to aim this gun. Clicking now faster, faster, faster. Once again I'm on the run
Feeling overwhelmed, the artist struggles to aim their gun and retreats in fear.
And I hear you say, oh my stubborn son. Don't you said you need no one. But don't you see danger, danger, danger's Headed to oblivion?
Despite their insistence on solitude, someone advises the artist to acknowledge the risks they're facing.
Followed the hunt far as I could. Through dozen weathers, petrified wood
The singer pursued their goal relentlessly, braving harsh conditions and obstacles.
And I took one shot in the dark. And fired the bullet silver to heart
The singer took a shot at something unknown, which had a profound effect.
Wait a second, have you come so far for it to end like this? This is the challenge. I dare you to take a hold of that darkness from deep down in you. Get back up, what are you so afraid of?
Encountering a setback, the artist is challenged to confront their fears and redeem themselves.
Show your face, face to me. Show your face, face to me. Be you my friend or enemy. Show your face, face to me
The artist urges someone to reveal themselves and establish their true intentions.
I do not fear oblivion, I do not fear oblivion. Said I do not fear oblivion, oblivion, oblivion, oblivion
The artist emphatically declares that they're not afraid of oblivion or any other threat.
Father, where is my gun? I need no one, I need no one. Said I need no one
In spite of their earlier claims of self-reliance, the singer still wants their weapon and rejects assistance.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HARDY FIETING, HEIKO FLORI WOLF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind