You might be surprised at how many songs there are out there about wolves. But when you think about it, there are many emotions that can be embodied by wolves – from animalistic passion to well-calculated stalking. We guess that’s why these artists decided to use the metaphor of the wolf to express the emotions they’re feeling!
Florence + The Machine – Howl
Only the glorious Florence Welch could have described the passion of young love using wolves as a metaphor. Howl is a song about how love can make you feral and animalistic. You can behave the way you never thought you could, and you just find yourself feeling like a werewolf. This song was inspired by a time in Florence’s life when she was going through the extremes of being in love alongside the idea of werewolves. It’s an odd combo, and yet we have a great song that captures the feeling accurately!
Lyrics about wolves: If you could only see the beast you’ve made of me
I held it in but now it seems you’ve set it running free
Screaming in the dark, I howl when we’re apart
Drag my teeth across your chest to taste your beating heart
Radiohead – A Wolf at the Door
Radiohead’s Thom Yorke was a new father when the Hail to the Thief album was released. This explains the many fairy tale metaphors in the songs. One of the age-old metaphors we can find is the wolf as a sign for evil. In this song, he talks about wanting to keep the wolf from the door as it harasses him and his family. This is his way of showing his anxiety about protecting his young child from the dangers of the world.
Lyrics about wolves: I keep the wolf from the door
But he calls me up
Calls me on the phone
Tells me all the ways that he’s gonna mess me up
Steal all my children if I don’t pay the ransom
And I’ll never see them again if I squeal to the cops
Michael Hurley – Werewolf
We all see the werewolf as this evil monster who should be feared and loathed. However, this song urges us to look at the point of view of this mystifying creature. In this song, Michael Hurley describes the sad and lonely life of the werewolf. He was wired to be the predator that he is, howling at the full moon and preying on young maidens. However, this is all in his nature, and a part of him is still as human as you and me.
Lyrics about wolves: He goes out in the evening when
The bats are on the wing
And he’s killed some young maiden before the birds sing
For the werewolf, for the werewolf
Have sympathy
Because the werewolf he is someone
Just like you and me
Phosphorescent – Wolves
Phosphorescen’ts Mathew Houck sings this chilling hymn about wolves to the soothing sounds of the ukulele. His voice sounds as if he’s exhausted from trying to get away from the wolves that haunt and terrorize him. And yet, despite his fear of the wolves, he admits to their beauty and this reveals the main theme of this song – an unhealthy infatuation with something that you know won’t be good for you.
Lyrics about wolves: 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
Fever Ray – The Wolf
The Wolf is a song from the Red Riding Hood soundtrack, and we can’t think of a song that’s more appropriate for the movie! This chilling song is reminiscent of the feeling you get when you’re alone and surrounded by danger. And the lyrics about wolves definitely drives the imagery home!
Lyrics about wolves: Eyes black, big paws and
It’s poison and
It’s blood
And big fire, big burn
Into the ashes
And no return
TV and the Radio – Wolf Like Me
You may not think that a wolf is seductive, but this song might change your mind. The wolf-as-a-sexual-predator trope has been around for a long time, and it’s exemplified in the Little Red Riding Hood story. It’s said that the story is about the wolf seducing the young maiden to join him as she opens up to her sexuality. This song is no different, with the titular wolf inviting a young woman to be his playmate so he can show her otherworldly pleasures.
Lyrics about wolves: I know it’s strange another way to get to know you
You’ll never know unless we go so let me show you
I know it’s strange another way to get to know you
We’ve got till noon; here comes the moon
So let it show you
Show you now
Manchester Orchestra – Wolves at Night
Who hasn’t been plagued by temptation at least once in their life? Wolves at Night is a song that’s rife with references to being tempted by earthly pleasures. There’s a woman on the bedside, a reference to laying with her, and a virgin losing what matters the most to her. We admit that this song is cryptic at best.
Lyrics about wolves: I could have sworn that I saw you knee bent on the bedside
Arms stretching like a kite
That time will eventually grow, I’m so sure of it
I’ve got a reason to long for songs
That tells why your legs and arms
Are actually able
‘Cause I confide in wolves at night
Well, have you seen my baby girl?
She’s lonely, yeah, oh, oh, oh
Bon Iver – The Wolves
The Wolves is a song about being haunted by pain. Bon Iver sings this to an ex-lover whom he says will be haunted by the pain she has caused him. He compares the memory of him to wolves that pace around her. Perhaps this all just wishful thinking on his part because he just can’t let her go, and he find solace in hoping that she’ll forever be haunted by what she did to him.
Lyrics about wolves: Someday my pain, someday my pain
Will mark you
Harness your blame, harness your blame
And walk through
With the wild wolves around you
In the morning, I’ll call you
Send it farther on
The Black Keys – Howlin’ for You
Howlin’ for You is heavily inspired by modern blues, and subsequently the blues legend, Howlin’ Wolf. In this song, the singer is enamored by a girl, and he can’t help but be “howlin’ for her.” It’s like saying he’s so enchanted by her that he has regressed to his animalistic tendencies. There’s that, and also the fact that it used to be pretty common for guys to make howling wolf sounds whenever they see a sexy girl/
Lyrics about wolves: I must admit
I can’t explain
Any of these thoughts racing
Through my brain
It’s true
Baby I’m howlin’ for you
Duran Duran – Hungry Like the Wolf
According to lead singer Simon Le Bon, the lyrics were inspired by the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood. At first, you might think it’s a cute song about a guy who’s madly in love with a girl. But once you know the inspiration behind the lyrics, you can see that it’s about a predator stalking his prey.
Lyrics about wolves: In touch with the ground
I’m on the hunt, I’m after you
Scent and a sound, I’m lost and I’m found
And I’m hungry like the wolf
Strut on a line it’s discord and rhyme
I howl and I whine I’m after you
Mouth is alive all runnin’ inside
And I’m hungry like the wolf
Did these songs about wolves unleash your primal tendencies? Share your thoughts with us below!
