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.
William
Patrick Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yet you did not surrender
Love me back to life
Through my self destruction, December
All paranoia to trust
I turned my bodies functions
I remembered
Oh William, will you be my conqueror?
The lyrics to Patrick Wolf's song William are heartfelt and poignant. They speak to themes of vulnerability, self-destructive tendencies, and the longing for connection and love. In the first verse, the singer opens with a confession of sorts, revealing his "ugly heart" to someone he cares about deeply. Despite this vulnerability, the other person does not give up on him, and instead works to "love him back to life" through what seems to be a particularly difficult December.
The second verse speaks to the singer's inability to trust, perhaps due to past traumas or betrayals. He has even taken to "turning his bodies functions," which could suggest anything from drug abuse to self-harm. Through it all, he remains fixed on his desire for the other person to be his "conqueror," to help him overcome his anxieties and fears and find healing through their love.
Overall, the lyrics to this song are beautifully written and capture a complex range of emotions. They are a testament to the power of human connection and its ability to help us weather even the toughest storms.
Line by Line Meaning
And I showed you my ugly heart
I revealed my true nature, my flaws and imperfections
Yet you did not surrender
Despite seeing who I truly am, you did not give up on me
Love me back to life
Bring me back to life by showering me with love
Through my self destruction, December
I am going through a phase of self-destruction, which started in December
All paranoia to trust
I find it hard to trust anyone due to my paranoia
I turned my bodies functions
I indulged in self-destructive behavior that has affected my physical and mental health
I remembered
I recall the past, the good and the bad
So till the going down of suns
Until the end of time
Oh William, will you be my conqueror?
Oh William, will you help me conquer my demons and overcome my struggles?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: PATRICK WOLF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lou
Lyrics:
And I showed you
My ugly heart
Yet you did not surrender
Loving me back to life
Through my self-destruction December
All paranoias to trust
I turn
Turned my body's functions
I remembered
So till the going down of suns
Will you
Will you be my conqueror?