Wolf Parade released their eponymous debut EP in 2003 with only Spencer, Dan and Arlen performing on it. After Hadji joined the group, they released another independent, self-titled EP in 2004. They were signed to Sub Pop by Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse and released their first widely-distributed record, Wolf Parade EP. In September 2005 their debut album Apologies to the Queen Mary was released.
Apologies to the Queen Mary was given this name because, as in rock and roll tradition, Wolf Parade trashed the Queen Mary hotel. It was said that they trashed the hotel worse than any band before them.
Their second album, At Mount Zoomer, was released June 17, 2008, and third, Expo 86 on July 5, 2010. On November 29th 2010 Wolf Parade called an indefinite hiatus.
The haitus ended when the band released Cry Cry Cry on Oct 6, 2017.
An Animal in Your Care
Wolf Parade Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You will forgive me
Like an animal in your care
But give it time
You will outlive me
And take the bow back you put in my hair
Made a parade of myself in the street outside your house
I fell for crime and I fell for beauty
I fell for you because you're the only one that cared
And when I die
You can put on costumes
In the style of the clothes I wore
And sing the songs your lover taught you
When you were too young to know that this was what they were for.
La la la la. La la la la. La la la [Repeat: x 2]
Like some dead relative
You will remember me most by my funeral
And all the beautiful toasts you made
Take back the spade
We've both been filling up our days like we were filling in a grave
You let me hang, hang, hang around
You put your ribbons in my hair
It's in this language that I found
I am an animal in your care
An animal in your care
An animal in your care
An animal in your care
It's in this language that I've found
I am an animal in your care
The lyrics of Wolf Parade's song "An Animal in Your Care" explore themes of forgiveness, mortality, and love. The opening lines suggest that the singer ("you will forgive me") has received mercy from the person they address. The metaphorical image of being "like an animal in your care" reinforces the idea of dependence and vulnerability, as if the singer needs the other person's forgiveness to survive. However, the song also recognizes that mortality will eventually take over and the balance of power will shift ("give it time/you will outlive me"). The image of the bow in the hair suggests a sense of control or possession, as if the other person had been putting the singer in their place (or perhaps dressing them up as part of a romantic game). The song ends with a somber sense of remembrance, acknowledging that the singer will be remembered mostly through their funeral and the eulogies given by the person they loved.
The theme of animals runs through the lyrics, with the singer referring to themselves as "an animal in your care" and later repeating the phrase as if to emphasize this idea. The idea of costumes also appears, both in the image of the New York photographer and in the suggestion that the person who loved the singer could wear costumes in their memory. This could be seen as a way to preserve a sense of playfulness and creativity even in the face of death. The final lines suggest that language itself ("It's in this language that I found") is the source of the singer's realization that they were "an animal in your care".
Line by Line Meaning
Time after time
Repeatedly, over and over
You will forgive me
You will pardon me for what I've done wrong
Like an animal in your care
Like a helpless creature that needs your protection and attention
But give it time
If you wait long enough
You will outlive me
You will live longer than me and continue on without me
And take the bow back you put in my hair
You will reclaim the gift you once gave me
Made a parade of myself in the street outside your house
I made a spectacle of myself in front of your home
For the New York photographer there
There was a photographer from New York present
I fell for crime and I fell for beauty
I was attracted to both dangerous and beautiful things
I fell for you because you're the only one that cared
I fell in love with you because you were the only one who showed me kindness and concern
And when I die
When I pass away
You can put on costumes
You can wear dresses and outfits
In the style of the clothes I wore
In a similar fashion to the clothing I dressed in
And sing the songs your lover taught you
And sing the music that your partner introduced to you
When you were too young to know that this was what they were for.
When you were too inexperienced to realize the true meaning of the songs
Like some dead relative
Like a deceased family member
You will remember me most by my funeral
You will recall me most vividly because of my memorial service
And all the beautiful toasts you made
And all of the kind speeches you delivered
Take back the spade
Retrieve the tool used to dig a grave
We've both been filling up our days like we were filling in a grave
We've both been living our lives as if we were putting dirt on a burial mound
You let me hang, hang, hang around
You allowed me to stay by your side
You put your ribbons in my hair
You adorned me with decorative bows and trinkets
It's in this language that I found
It is through this expression that I uncovered
I am an animal in your care
I am a creature that requires your protection and support
An animal in your care
A helpless being under your guardianship
An animal in your care
A vulnerable creature relying on your care and guidance
An animal in your care
A dependent organism under your watchful eye
It's in this language that I've found
I have discovered through this method
I am an animal in your care
I am a being that needs your nurturing presence
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind