THE COMPANY OF WOLVES Baylox — Candy Colored Coffins [Intro — clean detuned electric guitar, distant pedal steel bending against dissonant chords, bass enters alone] [Verse 1 — restrained, conversational, almost spoken] They sold my father forty acres Then taxed him for the rain Put his name upon a mailbox Put a number on his grave He said a man’s as good as working I said, “Who decided that?” He looked at me like I’d just questioned Why the world was ever flat They taught me freedom was a birthright Then charged admission at the door Said the poor could all be wealthy If they’d just stop being poor [Pre-Chorus — bass grows louder, drums begin to drag] I read the fine print on the promise Found a signature that wasn’t mine Somebody bought tomorrow And sold me overtime [Chorus — explosive guitars, crashing cymbals, sustained high-lonesome vocal] Run with the wolves, boy, run with the wolves They’ll call you one of their own Till you’re too old to pull the plow Then they’ll leave you with the bones Oh, howl at the moon, howl at the moon While they measure what you’re worth They’ll sell you back the sky above And charge you for the dirt Run with the wolves Run with the wolves [Verse 2 — distorted bass riff, dry drums, vocal full of bitter humor] The preacher bought a billboard Said salvation’s coming soon The banker bought the building And the landlord bought the moon The mayor gave a speech about The dignity of need Then cut the ribbon on a prison Where the factory used to be I watched a man get called a hero For surviving on a dime By the same folks who had stolen Every dollar of his time [Pre-Chorus — tension, brief silence before final line] They said the system wasn’t broken I believe them, that’s the thing It’s doing what they built it for And we’re applauding when it sings [Chorus — loud, jagged, layered vocal harmonies] Run with the wolves, boy, run with the wolves They’ll call you one of their own Till you’re too old to pull the plow Then they’ll leave you with the bones Oh, howl at the moon, howl at the moon While they measure what you’re worth They’ll sell you back the sky above And charge you for the dirt Run with the wolves Run with the wolves [Bridge — stripped to acoustic guitar and distant feedback, shifting 5/4 pulse] If I was born without a name Would I still owe somebody rent? If every life is worth the living Why’s the living so expensive? And if the wolves are only hungry And the shepherd’s only paid Who decided which one’s holy? Who decided who’s afraid? [Instrumental break — chaotic grunge guitar solo, pedal steel answers in dissonant bends, drums stop abruptly] [Final Chorus — begins nearly a cappella, explodes halfway through] Run with the wolves, boy, run with the wolves They’ll call you one of their own Till you’re too old to pull the plow Then they’ll leave you with the bones Oh, howl at the moon, howl at the moon While they measure what you’re worth They’ll sell you back the sky above And charge you for the dirt [Outro — distorted guitar falls away, lonely pedal steel] I used to think the wolves were coming From the woods beyond the fence [Pause] Then I saw who built the fence. [Final guitar feedback dissolves into silence]
