This song is phenomenal. So many themes wrapped up in such a simple song. It is a story of man seeking adventure in his younger days, but forsaking that adventure for a more stable, simple life. It is almost a lyrical bildungsroman, the character grows out of his wildness and finds peace with both the natural order and society, realizing that although his wild days were exciting, a spiritual connection with his newfound, stable life is more rewarding. He is tempted by nature, and falls into that temptation, but is brought back by love. Absolutely amazing.
I think in this song, God refers not to the divine being, but to the natural order, and instinct. When a wolf, the character turns to his natural instincts and "goes with the flow," if you will, instead of following his rational mind and making good decisions, he frolics in the woods for 6 years before he is reminded of his humanity by the girl. While following instinct was fun, he "lost the taste for judging right from wrong" causing him to truly lose what made him human, and become a wolf (in a metaphorical sense).
I think the song is also about religious conversion, as mentioned earlier, that in his days as a wolf he followed "God" instead of his rationale, and he loses track of his pragmatism and instead acts as he pleases. Then, reigned in by love, he turns his back to both nature and God, and goes back to his life as a human, responding rationally instead of instinctually. |
