Wolf at the Door

Keane

Wake me, shake me from my sleepiness
Wide-eyed, every tale is taller than the one before
Inside out and upside down
Don't make a sound
The wolf's at the door
And all your streetfighting years
Won't help you anymore

Lead me, guide me home old scatterbrain
Blog it, every smile is wider than the one before

Inside out and upside down
Don't make a sound
The wolf's at the door
And all your streetfighting years
Won't help you anymore

Inside out and upside down
And don't make a sound
So I live and feel
Oh no, don't make a sound
The wolf's at the door
And all your streetfighting years
Won't help you anymore


Lyrics submitted by sikoriusz

Wolf at the Door Lyrics as written by Tom Chaplin Timothy James Rice-oxley

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, O/B/O CAPASSO

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Wolf at the Door song meanings
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12 Comments

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  • 0
    General CommentI like this part:
    "
    And all your streetfighting years
    Won't help you anymore
    "
    How about comparing this track to Radiohead's "Wolf at the door"?
    sikoriuszon January 17, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentIt is a brilliant song from their four piece past!
    Athlete***on March 14, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI love this song. I bought the single on ebay and boy was it expensive. It's a really beautiful yet dark song which has to be listened to. I think it's about, well don't make a sound because something dangerous is outside. Life is dangerous and you have to be careful.
    i_love_keaneon October 29, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI think this song could serve as a tribute to Radiohead. Observe:

    "Wake me, shake me from my sleepiness"
    Sort of like...
    "Wake from your sleep...." from "Exit Music"

    "Inside out and upside down"
    Repetition of similar phrases reminds of "Sit Down. Stand Up."

    "The wolf's at the door"
    Obviously, "A Wolf at the Door"

    "And all your streetfighting years"
    "Street Spirit"?

    "Lead me, guide me home old scatterbrain"
    Obviously, "Scatterbrain."

    However, this would rely heavily on the band not contructing this song until after the release of Hail to the Theif, and as much as I adore Keane, I'm not well-versed enough in their history to know that this is the story.

    It's almost certain that my speculation is incorrect, but I think the idea's a bit funny, and I like it.

    In actuality, I think this song could be about entering adulthood, sort of realizing getting by on your own is difficult and being an adult isn't all fun and games--sort of a wake-up call.
    freethegoldfishon December 09, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentWoa...that really has Radiohead written all over it...anyways, I love Keane. Tom Chaplin is so cute XD I've never heard this song, I was merely drawn to it due to the fact that it shares the same title as a Radiohead song.
    RadioheadxxSlaveon March 04, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentAnyway, we'd have to check, when it was released. I DLed it from someone who had it as "10 track demo" - maybe it was written before Radiohead recorded "Hali to the thief"?
    sikoriuszon March 14, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentHere are the facts (according to wikipedia):

    This song not only shares its title with a Radiohead song, but also contains the name of the song that comes before it on Hail to the Thief ("Scatterbrain"). Keane's "Wolf at the Door" was recorded in 2001. Radiohead wrote their "a Wolf at the Door" during the Kid A sessions (2000?), but originally titled it "Keep the Wolf from the Door", and was first played live in 2002.

    So, who is copying who? the world may never know...

    Regardless, Radiohead could kick Keane's ass any day of the week (for more reasons than the numerical advantage).
    elcapitanlocoon July 28, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentGahhh xD

    I just started cracking up. Thank you elcapitanloco.
    RadioheadxxSlaveon August 04, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentWell, I know that Tom Chaplin and the band really idolize Radiohead. I think I saw or read an interview somewhere and Tom said "OK Computer" was one of his favorite albums of all time. So, it's possible that this song was tribute to Radiohead...

    But also, this is one of my favorite Keane songs because it's meaning can be so loose and applied to many things. For me, it's about someone who is falling in love with a dangerous person. "Wide-eyed, every tale is taller than the one before.
    Inside out and upside down." This person is someone who tealls lies and will do anything they can to get what they want out of you. They are cunning... like a wolf. "Don't make a sound, the wolf's at the door and all your streetfighting years... won't help you anymore." It's like a warning song that this person is not to be trusted and no matter what you do, you will be suseptable to their charm.... you simply can trust what they say or who they are...
    oddone460on February 23, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentRadiohead could NOT kick keane's ass anyday you don't know what you're talking about.
    Keane is amazing and I've never even heard of this "radiohead" and I have no urge to even go listen.

    But anyways..
    I love this song and I love the earlier keane songs!! I love the amazing vocals by Tom Chaplin (ohhh so sexy xP)
    keanelover16on July 02, 2007   Link

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