Best known as founding members of the spirited and unpredictable rock trio The Slip, brothers Andrew and Brad Barr had spent most of the 90s criss-crossing North America. In the spring of 2004, the band was playing a small club in Montreal, QC when a fire broke out in the venue. They grabbed a few guitars/drums and rushed out onto the rainy street with the rest of the concert goers. As the club's mezzanine was swallowed by flames, Andrew offered his coat to one of the waitresses from the bar. One year later, Brad and Andrew Barr were living in Montreal. That waitress is now one of their managers.
In his first apartment in the new city, Brad shared an adjoining wall with Sarah Page, a classically-trained harpist from Montreal, whose melodies would seep through the cracks of the wall and into the music Brad was writing. From this nebulous relationship, a friendship developed and the brothers, with Sarah, began recording and performing around Montreal. Soon, their friend and multi-instrumentalist Andres Vial was brought in to lend his wide array of expertise to the outfit, playing keyboards, bass, vibes, percussion, and singing. In 2006 they began to call themselves The Barr Brothers.
Wolves
The Barr Brothers Lyrics
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Put your hand on the chest of a heart that is beating
You lie in debt, to a lover beholden
Trained on the paw of a singular union
Drive a hole through the mountain
Drive a car from the east to the western ocean
Back to a time when a promise was more easily broken
These were the seeds of the terrible winter
And she said to you
"It's not just how you see it, but how you're gonna see it through"
"I know you want to give it up, but who are you gonna give it to?"
I'm guilty like a son
Out of the womb, into the ether
Feel the rain on your head and the tundra beneath you
A sudden blow and nobody with a body can reach you
A dog with a bone and that ought to teach you
Your mother was a wolf
And she said to you
"I know you want to give it up, but who are you gonna give it to?"
"And the love, the love that's incomplete, it's twice as bitter and half as sweet"
I'm guilty like the sun
I'm guilty like the sun
The revel in your bones, the salt in your teeth
The bating of your breath, the ring in your ears
And it's clear
You're getting closer
To your fear
Hunt like a wolf, soon you are bleeding
Put your hand on the chest of a heart that is beating
You lie in debt, to a lover beholden
These were the seeds of the terrible winter
The Barr Brothers' "Wolves" speaks to the inner strength and stubbornness of the singer. The first verse tells the listener to "Hunt like a wolf, run like a river," encouraging them to be both fierce and fluid in their approach to life. The metaphorical imagery is reinforced in the next line, where we're told to "put your hand on the chest of a heart that is beating," suggesting that we should be in touch with our emotions and the primal essence that drives us. The second verse speaks to the singer's debt to a lover, but they are still trained for success, "on the paw of a singular union." The bridge recalls the time when a promise was more easily broken, reminding the listener that they must be resilient and strong in the face of adversity. The final verse speaks to the inevitability of pain and learnings from the experience.
The lyrics express a very emotionally driven content, using powerful and at times dark imagery to convey the message. The wolf symbolism is woven throughout the song, too, symbolizing tenacity and grace in the face of unparalleled adversity. Overall, the song is a haunting metaphor for the uncompromising strength required to thrive in a challenging world.
Line by Line Meaning
Hunt like a wolf, run like a river
Be fierce and swift like a wolf, yet adaptable and always moving forward like a river
Put your hand on the chest of a heart that is beating
Be in touch with your emotions and recognize the power of life and love within you
You lie in debt, to a lover beholden
You are obligated to your love and indebted to them emotionally and perhaps even financially
Trained on the paw of a singular union
You learned and were molded by the teachings and influence of a significant relationship in your life
Drive a hole through the mountain
Overcome seemingly impossible obstacles and barriers through determination and action
Drive a car from the east to the western ocean
Travel great distances and experience the vastness of the world
Back to a time when a promise was more easily broken
Remember a time when people made and broke promises with less thought or consequence
These were the seeds of the terrible winter
These were the events or circumstances that led to a period of great hardship or struggle
Your mother was a wolf
You come from a lineage of strong and resilient individuals, who are survivors in their own right
"It's not just how you see it, but how you're gonna see it through"
It's not enough to just observe or recognize a problem, it's about taking action to see it through to resolution
"I know you want to give it up, but who are you gonna give it to?"
It's easy to want to give up, but who will benefit from you doing so? What purpose will it serve?
I'm guilty like a son
I feel responsible and remorseful for my actions, like a son who has failed his parents
Out of the womb, into the ether
Born into the world and into the unknown, constantly searching for purpose and meaning
Feel the rain on your head and the tundra beneath you
Experience all of the elements and forces of nature and connect with the world around you
A sudden blow and nobody with a body can reach you
When life deals a sudden and harsh blow, no one can truly understand or comfort you
A dog with a bone and that ought to teach you
Sometimes, persistence and determination are necessary to succeed, like a dog with a bone who refuses to let go
"And the love, the love that's incomplete, it's twice as bitter and half as sweet"
Incomplete, unrequited, or failed love is more painful and less satisfying than a love that is returned and reciprocated
The revel in your bones, the salt in your teeth
Experience life to the fullest, feeling every sensation and emotion deeply, both the pleasures and the pains
The bating of your breath, the ring in your ears
Pay attention to and be aware of the signals and sensations of your body and mind, and how they respond to different stimuli
And it's clear, you're getting closer to your fear
As you grow and face your challenges, your fears become more apparent and tangible, but also more conquerable
Hunt like a wolf, soon you are bleeding
Being persistent and fierce in your pursuits may lead to injury or pain
Put your hand on the chest of a heart that is beating
Always remember the importance of love and connection, and stay in touch with your own heart and emotions
You lie in debt, to a lover beholden
You are indebted to your love, and hold an obligation to care for and tend to that relationship
These were the seeds of the terrible winter
These were the events or circumstances that led to a period of great hardship or struggle
Writer(s): Andrew Barr, Philip Barr
Contributed by Harper S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Francine Lamoureux
Vraiment bon ! J'adore !
nympholeptic monkey
Wonderful song 👍. The chorus has an almost elliot smith feel to it ☺
George 27
Amazing song
Ryan Blocker
Well... Josh Scott hit a homerun with this one! Time to buy the vinyl.
Vincent Ménard
Yep vraiment bon.
T Markham
Vraiment vraiment vraiment bon