Wolf is written about Hermann Hesse's Steppenwolf. The protagonist's struggle between what he defines as the 'human' feelings of conforming and fitting into a post-WWI German bourgeoisie that he's repulsed by, and a longing to be part of; this dichotomy between the animalistic 'Wolf', which bares its teeth and snarls at fake politeness and his being tamed, just wanting to be savage and live away from the dispicable shallowness of modern society, which he sees as pompous and conservative, concerned only with the latest jazz dance tunes, and moving unthinkingly towards another war, contenting themselves with hollow, empty relationships.

This 'man', capable of rational thought, and reasoned debate is scared of connection, brutality, relationships, sexuality, cowers behind his intellect and hides from anything which might upset his balance, versus the 'Wolf', sexual and passionate and blood-thirsty and animalistic.

I wanted to use instruments as embodiments of these characters, particularly the wolf in the cello. I wanted it to stalk through the piece, adding a richness but also fucking things up as much as possible.

Here are the words anyway, read them, or it won't make any sense:

Oh, be a child,
Come back to darkness,
Back to your language,
The way that it was,
before we were lost
Before the fall,
Safe from it all

Oh, be a wolf,
Forget what you've hated,
come and be hunted,
Return to your bloodlust
To healthily mistrust
Before they all
Swallow us whole.

And everyone looked so inviting,
To each his lot, and none his light

Come be a man,
To stand and be noble,
To cry and be humbled,
To kiss and to console,
Be kissed and be controlled,
And hide in your clothes,
Hide from the cold

Oh be a beast,
To tear at convention,
To scoff at politeness,
Break and be boundless,
Noone will find us,
Tear at their hides then,
Be clothed from inside them.

Then choose your skin, and choose your mind,
To break and blind,
And choose your skin, to wage war in.

Come to the house,
This is your home, make it your own,
Make love to your wife,
And love her for life,
This is your blood, this is your blood

These are your crimes,
Your smile makes you ugly,
Disgusted to take it,
You cry when you fake it,
You cry when you fake it,

This is your blood, This is your blood...

And everyone was so excited,
To see the blood of the united...
Of the united...