I wanted to write a song that felt like it was running at pace, maybe running away from something. Started with the rhythm of the guitars, influenced by the song Barracuda (by Heart). I’ve always really enjoyed the driving aspect of the instrumental, especially when playing Rock Band back in whenever it was released.
I started off singing howling wolves at my door, but didn’t listen to that phone demo before singing this version and it morphed into hounded by wolves. Then I imagined getting caught by the wolves, surrounded. And finally, the wolves have assimilated the character into their pack, so back to running with the wolves.
But, as in Red Riding Hood, you can’t trust a wolf and eventually they’ll turn on anyone not in their pack. And then you’re a goner.
I liked how it’s just one phrase for each verse, repeated, to show that it’s the only thing on your mind. I guess the wolves represent fears and anxieties in your life. There’s always something bubbling under, a wolf hounding your thoughts as you go through your everyday. Sometimes you can outrun them and sometimes they overwhelm you.
But I was also thinking of it as being pestered by brands advertising to people. The amount of emails sent encouraging you to buy, buy, buy. Sometimes they manage to entice, but the amount of noise and attention they demand can be intense. So maybe it’s a song about capitalism… but that sounds a bit cheesy, so just go with whatever you want. I’m just writing things down.
Musically I wanted to have a difference on the chorus so incorporated a bit of brass and jammed some distortion on them. The sax represents the wolves musically, again back to red riding hood, with the wolf luring you in with a smooth lament, before pouncing.
I then added some howling from my children and my sister in law’s dog (beautifully recorded and directed by my wife) to create a bit of atmosphere… but maybe my children are the howling wolves, chasing me down and demanding things from me.
It needs a bit of work to get everything mixed right and some of the guitars are a bit rough, but you get the gist and I’m pretty happy with the fatness of the sound, especially the end with all the guitars and brass.
Onto the next one!
Hounded by wolves
Hounded by wolves
Hounded by wolves
Hounded by wolves
Once they get a hold they’ll never let you go
There’s no way you can get away
Hounded by wolves, on the way
Surrounded by wolves
Surrounded by wolves
Surrounded by wolves
Surrounded by wolves
Once they get a hold they’ll never let you go
There’s no way you can get away
If they get a taste
There is no hiding place
They’ll never let you get away
Hounded by wolves, on the way
***WIG OUT***
Running with wolves
Running with wolves
Running with wolves
Running with wolves
Eaten by wolves
@tjeff Mar 2022
Love that driving duh-dug-a-dug rhythm guitar, helps set your overall mood. Changing up the rhythmic pace on "Hounded by wolves" at around 1:45 is a great touch - offers an interesting contrast. Love those wolf calls.
@sailingmagpie Mar 2022
Love the guitar work. You've really nailed that galloping feeling from Barracuda. Also, kudos on the use of the term "Wig out." The howling is a great addition!
@thedutchwidows Mar 2022
We used to have Planet Rock on at work as it was the only station we could all tolerate, and I was always astonished about how utterly sh*t the lyrics were to most rock songs in the 70s-90s (which covers 97% of their programming). Just lazy, sexist, banal nonsense. Barracuda (heavy rotation) was always a blessed relief.
This definitely conveys the fleeing feeling; there is a sense of pursuit to it and the repetition in the verses enforces that paranoia. It's quite an interesting feat - choruses are normally much more limited in terms of wordage than verses, but because the verses here are word-limited, they almost swap round to become the chorus. Certainly melodically both parts are strong and either could justifiably be chorus-worthy. The howling at the end is a great touch. Are there horns in the very last bit of music, post-howling? Just because I'm listening to several in a row, it's the second time I've noticed it, and both times it's been a brilliant touch. I really like it.
@fortelmfield Feb 2022
Great sound on this! Love the heavy but still spacey guitars. It's giving me Stone Roses meet Led Zeppelin by way of Journey, which can't be a bad thing!
@nadine Feb 2022
Plushbaby getting heavy? This has been unexpected and I love that. Nice galopping rhythm and howling. I did not expect the brasses and they are so cool. Fun song and nice to hear something different from you.