Lyric discussion by rah4149 

Cover art for The Wolf lyrics by Mumford & Sons

Marcus uses point of view a lot, and also switches POV frequently in his lyrics. He’s talking to himself here. He is likening himself to a wild animal, afraid and wandering. The phrase “you have been weighed, you have been found wanting” is a quote from Daniel 5:27. “Tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting.” So he’s afraid he’s not good enough; a higher power has weighed him and he’s been found wanting. You’ve been wandering for days. How you felt me slip your mind. Leave behind your wanton ways. I want to learn to love in-kind. Cause you were all I ever longed for. It seems as though he’s switched POV here. As if the higher power is now telling him he’s been wandering for days and “you felt Me slip your mind.” He’s no longer thinking of God. But maybe either God or he, himself, is telling him to leave behind his sinful ways. To learn to ‘love in-kind’ means paying or returning something in the same kind that was given to you. He wants to learn to give unconditional love. “You were all I ever longed for.” He’s saying this to God. When there is an imminent threat, the public is told to ‘shelter in place.’ The wolf is the imminent threat, but the wolf could stand for many things. Sin, temptation, or even a lesser version of himself. It’s most likely another switch in POV again to God. He’s telling him to keep The Wolf back from the door, because it wanders ever closer. He grows closer to temptation, to being his lesser self. The Wolf is that part of himself that is a threat to his faith. And “I promised you everything would be fine” sounds like God is reminding him of His promise that everything would be fine. When he sings hold my gaze love (his love is God), don’t turn your back on me, you know I want to let go of my sin. Psalms 16:8: “I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” He’s saying his gaze is still on God. And when he is whole, he will stand with his love and together, will stare down at the wonder of it all, “And I will hold you in.” He will hold God in. He’s changed “I want to learn to love in-kind” to “I want to look you in the eye.” He’s accepted his accountability. His gaze is now back on God.

Song Meaning

@rah4149 Three ideas.

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  • Be wary of yourself and of other evils in the world.
  • You can find love in God as well as in yourself.
  • Never question your worth.
  • Be wary of yourself and of other evils in the world.
  • You can find love in God as well as in yourself.
  • Never question your worth.
  • @rah4149 I like your interpretation and I have to say there is A LOT of biblical expression in song writing, especially that which may be very vague or unclear. But I think you are on to something, and I find that inspiring to see that you drew these parallels.