Peter Hammill
Lyric guide

Crying Wolf

Read Crying Wolf lyrics by Peter Hammill on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.

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Page type: lyric reference Artist: Peter Hammill Canonical path: /peter-hammill/crying-wolf Related lyric paths: 6
Lyrics

Crying Wolf

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You turn out the lights and sit alone,

trying to pretend that it's anguish,

start at the ring of a telephone,

throw down all your food at the banquet,

keep a close eye on all you own,

while leaving it all to languish....

Is this what makes you happy?

Is this what brings you joy?

Your excuses are so crappy...

silly boy.

You take all the love and throw it aside

to wallow in your sorrow,

expect everyone to know how you feel inside,

to forgive and forget come tomorrow;

repaying all your debts with uncommon pride

but denying that you ever borrowed....

Is this what makes you perfect?

Is this what makes you free?

Just how long did you rehearse it,

or does it just come naturally?

Crying wolf from the depth of your sheep's heart,

crying fire from the depth of the well

in an endless parade of repeat starts,

just how long will it last - can you tell?

Until all your friends and lovers

are simply bored with the pretence?

It'll be too late then to discover

just exactly what you meant

and what was true

and what was false...

the wolf turned into human,

the killer with remorse.

Crying pain as though that should be pleasure,

crying anger as though that should be revenge,

crying sorrow as though that were a treasure -

your treasure will find you in the end.

When all of your friends have gone away,

unwilling to put up with the danger

that lies in each spiteful word you say,

you'll be left, a greying wolf in a manger

and when you've raised your last howl

and destroyed all that you can

with rotting teeth an slack jowls

you'll be left a lonely man.

And when it's nearly finished

and you know the end is near

with true sorrow undiminished

there'll be no-one left to hear....

Your desperate cries,

they all come out as bleats:

you thought you were a wolf-man,

but you're really

just a sheep.

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Who performs "Crying Wolf"?

Peter Hammill performs "Crying Wolf", and this lyric page sits inside the Peter Hammill catalog on LyroVerse.

Are there related songs to explore after "Crying Wolf"?

Yes. The related section below points to The Institute Of Mental Health, Burning and A Headlong Stretch: iii. The Twelve with a short reason for opening each page next.

Where can I find more songs by Peter Hammill?

Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through Peter Hammill's lyric pages.

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