It began as a solo project of Spencer Krug, of Wolf Parade fame in 2005. He released the debut album Snake's Got a Leg in July 2005.
The group soon expanded to include Michael Doerksen, Jordan Robson-Cramer of Magic Weapon and formerly XY Lover, and finally Camilla Wynne Ingr formerly of Pony Up. This new line-up released Shut Up I Am Dreaming, in May 2006. In October 2007, the band's third LP Random Spirit Lover was released. A fifth member, Marc Nicol was added to the band in 2008. Sunset Rubdown's third full-band album, Dragonslayer, was released in June 2009.
The band's official website is http://wolfparade.nonstuff.com/sunset-rubdown-biography.
Up on Your Leopard Upon the End of Your Feral Days
Sunset Rubdown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're the one the wild called
And you're the one who followed the child
To save the sun from how it falls
You're the one who had knives
Set aside for the throats of hunters
But they tricked you with a trinket and a name
'm the one who whispered low
That's the one who followed the child to save the son
And look it's starting to snow!
Whoah-oh-oh-ho-oh
You're the one who's riding about on a leopard.
You're the one who's throwing the shiv in the air!
You're the one whose well I will weather
And the weathering takes you from leather
Made for princes to lay their princely heads of hair
Upon the end of your feral days
Upon the end of your feral days
Upon the end of your feral days
Oh-oh-oh
You're the one who ran in the wild a virgin to a name;
You're the one who lived off a forsaken land.
I'm the one who sat at your capture
And let the snow fall on this whispering rapture
You're the one who's kissing your captor's hands
Well shit, I know we're all growing old.
But where there's a will, there is a way
So way to go.
Say goodbye to your feral days.
Say goodbye to your feral days.
Say goodbye bye-bye-bye
Cause you're the one who's riding around on a leopard; (ba-da-dum)
You're the one who's throwing dead birds in the air.
And you're the one whose wild hide will weather
In the weathering days
To a lover made soft
So princes can lay down their princely white heads! OF HAIR!
Say goodbye
Say goodbye to your feral days.
Say goodbye bye-bye-bye.
Your highness is holding your chains.
The song is essentially about two characters, one who set out to save the sun and the other who followed that character along the journey. The two characters are portrayed as being different in their approach to life. The first character, who is depicted as wild, ran in the wild and lived off a forsaken land, and had knives set aside for the throats of hunters. They are also the one who followed the child to save the sun from how it falls. The second character sat at their capture and whispered low, indicating that they are more passive in their approach.
The first character is described as riding around on a leopard and throwing dead birds in the air while the second character is the one who sat at their capture and let the snow fall on this whispering rapture. The song concludes on a melancholic note where the second character recognizes that they are all growing old, but there is still a way forward. The final line is "Your highness is holding your chains," which is interpreted as a reference to the idea of internal obstacles and limitations that one imposes on themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
You're the one who ran in the wild cause
You are the person who chose to run free and wild
You're the one the wild called
The wild was calling out for you
And you're the one who followed the child
You followed a child who needed saving
To save the sun from how it falls
Your mission was to protect the sun from falling
You're the one who had knives Set aside for the throats of hunters
You were prepared to fight against hunters
But they tricked you with a trinket and a name
They used a cunning tactic to deceive you
'm the one who sat at your capture
I was the one who witnessed your capture
'm the one who whispered low
I discreetly whispered to you
That's the one who followed the child to save the son
I explained to you that the child needed saving to protect the sun
And look it's starting to snow!
The weather is starting to change
You're the one who's riding about on a leopard.
You're the one who is traveling on a leopard
You're the one who's throwing the shiv in the air!
You're the one who is recklessly throwing a weapon in the air
You're the one whose well I will weather
I will endure the ups and downs with you
And the weathering takes you from leather
The experiences change you from being like leather
Made for princes to lay their princely heads of hair
The leather was made for royalty to lay their heads on
Upon the end of your feral days
This is the end of your wild and untamed days
You're the one who ran in the wild a virgin to a name;
You ran wild without any preconceived notions or restrictions
You're the one who lived off a forsaken land.
You lived off of a land that was neglected or abandoned by others
You're the one who's kissing your captor's hands
You are accepting defeat and surrendering to your captor
Say goodbye to your feral days.
It's time to say goodbye to the wild and untamed lifestyle
Cause you're the one who's riding around on a leopard; (ba-da-dum)
You're still traveling on a leopard, but with a different purpose
You're the one who's throwing dead birds in the air.
You are still recklessly throwing things around
And you're the one whose wild hide will weather
Your inner wildness will weather over time
In the weathering days To a lover made soft
As you mature, you will become gentler and softer
So princes can lay down their princely white heads! OF HAIR!
Royalty can still lay their heads on you, but for a different reason
Say goodbye bye-bye-bye.
It's time to say a final goodbye to your past self
Your highness is holding your chains.
Your lofty status is now the thing that is holding you back
Contributed by Hailey S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.