Believe in the Ghost
The Ghost of Paul Revere on Bandcamp
Wolves
The Ghost of Paul Revere Lyrics
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Oh how they gather, outside the palisade
Theres a wild pack of dogs, roaming in the street
Oh look at how they salivate, and hunger for our meat
Oh boy they're going to get you
Shapes in the streetlights, howling like a mob
Oh I can see so clearly now
The beast that I've become
And a boy he stood up in the crowd
He said the time for the rapture is now
Come hell and high water we're your lamb for the slaughter
Let your wolves inside our door
And I yelled burn him in the churchyard
Tar him in the street
All you mothers daughters and sinner's saints
You better get up to get back down
Y'all better get down on your knees
Now a boy he stood up in the crowd
He said the time for the rapture is now
Come hell and high water we're your lamb for the slaughter
Let your wolves inside our door
The lyrics of The Ghost of Paul Revere's song "Wolves" are rich in symbolism and metaphor. The song begins with a description of actual wolves, howling at the moon outside a palisade. However, as the song progresses, it becomes clear that the "wolves" are actually a metaphor for human predators, and the "palisade" represents our defenses against them. The wild pack of dogs roaming in the street is another metaphor for the dangers that lurk outside our walls. The line "oh look at how they salivate and hunger for our meat" is particularly chilling, evoking images of violent, ravenous beasts.
In the chorus, we hear the singer acknowledging his own inner beast. He sees the "shapes in the streetlights, howling like a mob" and realizes that he too is capable of becoming a predator. His fear is palpable in the line "oh boy they're going to get you right." This could refer to the physical danger posed by actual wolves or human predators, but it could also represent the fear of losing oneself to anger, violence, or other destructive impulses.
The second verse takes a darker turn, as a boy in the crowd calls for the "rapture" to come and let the wolves inside the door. This could be interpreted as religious fanaticism, a call for violence against outsiders, or a willingness to embrace chaos and destruction. The singer responds with anger, calling for the boy to be burned and tarred. This is a powerful reminder of how easily fear and hatred can be manipulated, and how quickly they can spiral out of control.
Overall, "Wolves" is a powerful song that uses vivid imagery and metaphor to explore the ways in which we confront and navigate danger both within and outside of ourselves. It's a song that speaks to the primal fears that lurk within us all, and the need for vigilance and self-awareness in the face of those fears.
Line by Line Meaning
Wolves in the darkness, howling at the moon
A metaphor for the dangers lurking outside when the world is shrouded in darkness
Oh how they gather, outside the palisade
Foes gather outside to harm the people inside who are unprepared
Theres a wild pack of dogs, roaming in the street
A pack of wild dogs roam the land like savages, threatening anyone they come across
Oh look at how they salivate, and hunger for our meat
The wolves represent the threat of harm and danger, and they are eager to prey on their victims
Oh boy they're going to get you
The danger is imminent and the outcome looks bleak
Shapes in the streetlights, howling like a mob
The danger is now visible and audible, howling like a mob of wolves
Oh I can see so clearly now
The singer has become aware of the danger and its severity
The beast that I've become
The artist has embraced his inner beast, confronting the danger at hand
Oh boy they're going to get you right
The danger is approaching rapidly and it's too late to avoid it
And a boy he stood up in the crowd
A voice of dissent speaks up, challenging the prevailing attitudes and beliefs
He said the time for the rapture is now
The boy believes that the time has come for reckoning, where the righteous are taken and the unrighteous are punished
Come hell and high water we're your lamb for the slaughter
The boy is willing to sacrifice himself and his friends for the sake of the greater good
Let your wolves inside our door
The boy welcomes the danger and challenges it to confront him and his people
And I yelled burn him in the churchyard
The singer represents the opposing voice, advocating for violence and aggression against the dissenting boy
Tar him in the street
The singer goes even further, advocating for extreme measures against the boy and his allies
All you mothers daughters and sinner's saints
The artist addresses everyone, regardless of their background, to join him in his cause
You better get up to get back down
The artist urges others to rise up and fight against the dissenters, or risk being overwhelmed by them
Y'all better get down on your knees
The singer urges others to submit to his authority and follow his lead
Now a boy he stood up in the crowd
Repeating the earlier stanza, emphasizing the importance of dissent and opposing voices
He said the time for the rapture is now
Repeating the earlier stanza, emphasizing the urgency and importance of taking action
Come hell and high water we're your lamb for the slaughter
Repeating the earlier stanza, emphasizing the willingness to sacrifice for the greater good
Let your wolves inside our door
Repeating the earlier stanza, emphasizing the willingness to confront and challenge the danger at hand
Contributed by Riley T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Laura Brissette
Two people don't know good music if it slapped them upside the head with a banjo. These guys are phenomenal!!! <3
Donna L. Palmer
I'd say a for sure Laura ;) I wonder who those 2 are ;)
Charleigh Robillard
Love these guys madly! Looking forward to Ghostland again this year. Howling like a mob......
taffeta125
Got to see/hear this live last week - AWESOME rapport with the audience. The Ghost rocked the place.
peregrine skye
I found you guys purely by accident when I was looking for someone O'Riley on Spotify! I'm glad I did, as I'm immediately impressed and drawn in by your music ...very cool!
Dawn Jones
Aren't too many bands that give me goose bumps. But these guys do. Yes, they are phenomenal!!!!