The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Off through the new day's mist I run
Off from the new day's mist I have come
I hunt therefore I am
Harvest the land
Taking of the fallen lamb
Off through the new day's mist I run
Off from the new day's mist I have come
We shift pulsing with the earth
Company we keep
Roaming the land while you sleep
Shape shift, nose to the wind
Shape shift, feeling I've been
Move swift, all senses clean
Earth's gift, back to the meaning (back to the meaning) of life
Bright is the moon, high in starlight
Chill is the air, cold as steel tonight
We shift, call of the wild
Fear in your eyes, it's later than you realized
Shape shift, nose to the wind
Shape shift, feeling I've been
Move swift, all senses clean
Earth's gift back to the meaning (back to the meaning) of life
I feel I change
Back to a better day
(Shape shift) hair stands on the back of my neck
(Shape shift) in wildness is the preservation of the world
So seek the wolf and not the man
Shape shift, nose to the wind
Shape shift, feeling I've been
Move swift, all senses clean
Earth's gift
Back to the meaning (back to the meaning) of wolf and man, yeah
Off from the new day's mist I have come
I hunt therefore I am
Harvest the land
Taking of the fallen lamb
Off through the new day's mist I run
Off from the new day's mist I have come
We shift pulsing with the earth
Company we keep
Roaming the land while you sleep
Shape shift, nose to the wind
Shape shift, feeling I've been
Move swift, all senses clean
Earth's gift, back to the meaning (back to the meaning) of life
Bright is the moon, high in starlight
Chill is the air, cold as steel tonight
We shift, call of the wild
Fear in your eyes, it's later than you realized
Shape shift, nose to the wind
Shape shift, feeling I've been
Move swift, all senses clean
Earth's gift back to the meaning (back to the meaning) of life
I feel I change
Back to a better day
(Shape shift) hair stands on the back of my neck
(Shape shift) in wildness is the preservation of the world
So seek the wolf and not the man
Shape shift, nose to the wind
Shape shift, feeling I've been
Move swift, all senses clean
Earth's gift
Back to the meaning (back to the meaning) of wolf and man, yeah
Lyrics submitted by fennsk, edited by TKProdoctions, Ashram
Of Wolf And Man Lyrics as written by Kirk L. Hammett James Alan Hetfield
Lyrics © Word Collections Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I very much agree with the opinion that this song is a representation of embracing your primal instincts that we all seem to have forsaken. But this song means so much more than just that. I cant put my meaning into words very easily, but I'll try.Its like making us remember where we came from;a time when we had to be brutal, savage and mercilless in order to survive "...a better day" reminding us of ourselves, our past and what natures still lurk within us all... It reminds me very much of the character Perrin aybara in the wheel of time series by the late robert jordan ( amazing series, strongly recommend it, although it gets a bit monotenous after book 8). Perrin has something awakened within himself, an inner wolf. His senses heighten, his eyes turn golden and his instincts become more wolf like.
I can see how some people here see more immediately obvious meaning to this song, as you can with most songs, such as drugs, alcohol etc etc yada yada But almost all songs are more than that, if only to the listeners, and the same holds true with this AMAZING song.