By Jake Parker
This guy, Matthew Houck, is a one man indie-folk-alternative-country band. This song Wolves was recorded live in the KEXP studio here in Brooklyn where I heard it one morning.
This song is open to many interpretations, but I personally think he's not describing wolves so much as he's talking about his own demons. It's as if the act of singing this song is flushing out something heavy that's been collecting in his heart. His voice isn't perfect. It warbles, and cracks, but I can't imagine this song being sung any other way.
Wolves by Phosphorescent
Lyrics:
Mama there's wolves in the house
Mama they won't let me out
Mama they're mating at night
Mama they wont make nice
They're pacing and glowing bright
Their faces all snowy and white
Bury their paws in the stone
Make for my heart as their home
They tumble and fight
And they're beautiful
On the hilltops at night
They are beautiful
Blazing with light
Is the whitest and the tallest and the biggest one
She's muscled and fine
When she runs
They're tearing up holes in the house
They're tearing their claws in the ground
They're staring with blood in their mouths
Mama they won't let me out
They tumble and fight
And they're beautiful
On the hilltops at night
They are beautiful
Blazing with light
Is the whitest and the tallest and the biggest one
All muscled and fine
When she runs
Mama there's wolves in the house
Mama i tried to put them out
And mama i know you're too wise
To wait till those wolves make nice
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I think he's singing about women from past relationships.
ReplyDeleteWhen I hear this song, to me, it sounds like insecurities. They're beautiful in the sense that the person can't help but contemplate them. Eventually they make a home of his heart... That's just what it is to me. They are the destroyers. Either way, a great song. And I think that part of what makes it great is the vast possabilities of meanings without being so broad and general that it makes us lose interest. (another thought I just had is what if his past relationships *are* his insecurities and self doubts, or at least the cause of them?)
ReplyDeleteI look at the line "they're mating at night" and I think that, at least with me, that's when you're kind of alone with yourself in the dark, and all these demons like you call them really come to life and magnify and multiply.
ReplyDeleteThis song has really grown on me! I think it is a lot because there is, as Alex said, a "vast possibilities of meanings".
ReplyDeletePlus the imagery is so tragically beautiful . . . which is one of my favorite kinds of beautiful.