Up The Wolves
The Mountain Goats · The Sunset Tree [2005]
no matter where you live.
there'll always be a few things, maybe several things
that you're going to find really difficult to forgive.
there's going to come a day when you feel better.
you'll rise up free and easy on that day.
and float from branch to branch,
lighter than the air.
just when that day is coming, who can say? who can say?
our mother has been absent ever since we founded rome.
but there's going to be a party when the wolf comes home.
were going to commandeer the local airwaves
to tell the neighbours whats been going on.
and they will shake their heads and wag their bony fingers
in all the wrong directions,
and by daybreak we'll be gone.
I'm going to get myself in fighting trim,
scope out every angle of unfair advantage.
I'm going to bribe the officials.
I'm going to kill all the judges.
it's going to take you people years to recover from all of the damage.
our mother has been absent ever since we founded rome.
but there's going to be a party when the wolf comes home.
go!
Up The Wolves
The Mountain Goats' "Up The Wolves" stands as a quintessential example of their signature indie-folk sound, characterized by John Darnielle's distinctive vocal delivery and introspective lyricism. Recorded for the 2005 album *The Sunset Tree*, the track exemplifies the band's ability to weave together melancholic melodies with narrative storytelling that often explores themes of isolation and personal history. As part of Darnielle's extensive discography, the song reflects the band's evolution during the mid-2000s, maintaining their reputation for raw, unpolished emotional depth while adhering to a consistent musical style that has defined their career. The recording captures the essence of their live performance energy, translating the band's reputation for intense, atmospheric soundscapes into a studio context that resonates deeply with fans of the genre.