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.
The Libertine
Patrick Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The wanderer has found a course to follow
The traveller unpacked his bags for the last time
The troubadour cut off his hand and now he wants mine
Oh no, not me.
The circus girl fell off her horse and now she's paralysed
The libertine is locked in jail
The pirate sunk and broke his sail
But I still have to go
I've got to go, so here i go
I'm going to run the risk of being free
The magicians secrets all revealed
And the preachers lies are all concealed
And all our heroes lack any conviction
They shout through the bars of cliche and addiction
So i've got to go
I've got to go, so here i go
I'm going to run the risk of being free
And in this drought of truth and invention
Whoever shouts the loudest gets the most attention
So we pass the mic and they've got nothing to say except:
"Bow down, bow down, bow down to your god"
Then we hit the floor
And make ourselves and idol to bow before,
Well i can't
And i won't
Bow down
Anymore.
No more
The song "The Libertine" by Patrick Wolf is a reflection on the struggles and challenges faced by those who live a life of freedom and independence, often at great risk. The lyrics describe various characters, including a wanderer, a troubadour, a circus girl, a hitchhiker, a libertine, and a pirate, who have all fallen victim to the dangers of their chosen paths. Despite the risks, however, the singer declares that he must continue on his own journey towards freedom, even though he is aware of the possible consequences. The song is a poignant commentary on the tension between the desire for freedom and the fear of the unknown.
The first verse of the song describes the limitations of the modern world, with the motorway serving as a metaphor for the constraints of society. The second verse describes the struggles and traumas experienced by various individuals who have pursued unconventional lifestyles. The chorus emphasizes the singer's determination to continue on his own path, regardless of the potential dangers. The third verse critiques the current state of popular culture, in which the most attention is given to those who shout the loudest and promote shallow, cliched messages. The final line of the song is a declaration of defiance against the idolatry and conformity of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
The motorway won't take a horse
I can't take the old path anymore, I need change
The wanderer has found a course to follow
I've found a new direction to take in life
The traveller unpacked his bags for the last time
I've finally found a place to call home
The troubadour cut off his hand and now he wants mine
People around me are willing to hurt or take advantage of others to achieve their goals, but I'm not willing to do the same
Oh no, not me.
I won't be like them
The circus girl fell off her horse and now she's paralysed
Life is unpredictable and can be quite harsh
The hitchhiker was bound and gagged, raped on the roadside
Horrible things happen to innocent people all the time
The libertine is locked in jail
People who rebel against society's norms are often punished
The pirate sunk and broke his sail
Even the most daring among us can fail
But I still have to go
I can't stay in one place for too long
I've got to go, so here I go
I need to keep moving forward and taking risks
I'm going to run the risk of being free
Being truly free means taking risks and facing your fears
The magician's secrets all revealed
Things that used to be mysterious are now more easily understood
And the preacher's lies are all concealed
People in power often lie to maintain their control
And all our heroes lack any conviction
People we look up to often disappoint us when we realize they don't stand for anything
They shout through the bars of cliche and addiction
Many people are trapped by traditional ways of thinking or addictive behavior
So I've got to go
I won't be like them
I've got to go, so here I go
I need to find my own way and make my own meaning
I'm going to run the risk of being free
Being truly free means being unafraid of the unknown
And in this drought of truth and invention
We're in a time where people are apathetic and there is little innovation
Whoever shouts the loudest gets the most attention
People often follow whoever is the most charismatic, regardless of merit
So we pass the mic and they've got nothing to say except: 'Bow down, bow down, bow down to your god'
Those in power often have nothing meaningful to say, but still expect people to obey them
Then we hit the floor
We're pushed down and beaten down by those in power
And make ourselves an idol to bow before
We put our faith in false idols, hoping they will save us
Well I can't
I won't put my faith in false idols
And I won't
I won't be like them
Bow down
I won't give in to those in power
Anymore.
I won't let them control me anymore
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: PATRICK WOLF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jessica VanBibber
Man I still can't get over how good these early albums were and I still haven't met more than a handful of people who've even heard of him. I'm still listening and still utterly enchanted sweet Patrick ♡
Lea Sardo
This album was such a big part of my life when I was in high school. Pure nostalgia. Thank you Patrick for giving us such beautiful music.
Neil C
Those first two albums felt like they were almost written by a virtuoso. Phenomenally original, hasn’t dated a bit. Hope he finds a way back into our ears soon
j
I have great news for you
Lehlila Devandria
Words cannot describe just how unbelievably difficult it is to fuse classical instrumentation with electronic dance beats,alternative,indie or punk. Patrick is way underrated. And frankly has disappeared. I hope honestly he's alright. Either way his early shit is the best.
Lotus Ivy
he's still on IG new album in the works
j
I have great news for you lol
Fallyn
it's sad to see such talent brought to a standstill, but whatever he's doing in life, i hope he's doing well <3
TanzMitRobot
He’s back! ❤
j
The king has returned!