The Wanderer

## Promotional single by Aurora

"**The Wanderer**" is a song by Australian singer, songwriter, rapper, and producer Aurora. It was released on December 12, 2014 as the first promotional single from Aurora's debut studio album, *Platinum Heart* (2015).

## Background and composition

After a trio of top two hits, Aurora wanted to showcase her artistry. While planning a promotional tour for her album, Aurora discovered the 1897 painting *The Sleeping Gypsy* by French artist Henri Rousseau amid research of the Museum of Modern Art, where she was to be interviewed. "I was so inspired by the piece, I had to share my interpretation through song," Aurora revealed in the aforementioned interview, "it spoke to me on a spiritual level."

"The Wanderer" is composed as a dream pop song, with elements of classical music. Lyrically, it is an interpretation of the narrative behind the artwork, and uses ambiguity to allow listeners to form their own interpretations. The song's production incorporates a mandolin, referencing the instrument's appearance in the source oil painting.

## Critical reception

"The Wanderer" was met with generally positive reviews, commending Aurora's experimentation with new themes and sonic stylings.

It received a rating of 7 by Platvian music critics.

## Commercial performance

"The Wanderer" debuted and peaked at #6 on the Platvia HitList chart dated December 23, 2014.

## Lyrics

Under the stars I will sleep tonight
But I won't give up without a fight
Because this land, which I call my home
Gives me the strength to keep going on
**First Pre-Chorus**
In this fateful land of desolation
Roaming alone with no destination
Abandoned my pride, tried to find myself along the way
**First Chorus**
I am alone, but I'm not afraid
Wandering free with the moonlight's aid
Never again will I be held back
Out here I know I'm on the right track
I am alive, and I feel it now
Even the darkness won't bring me down
Never again will I be held back
Out here I know I'm on the right track
Out here I know I'm on the right track
**Second Verse**
But then one night something caught my eye
Another creature under the same sky
A slumber broken by the sound of breath
Face painted with fear and the thought of death
**Second Pre-Chorus**
What should I do in this situation?
Do I fight or flee this confrontation?
Discovered my pride, and I found myself along the way
**Second Chorus**
I'm not alone, but I'm not afraid
Wandering free with the moonlight's aid
Never again will I be held back
Out here I know I'm on the right track
We are alive, and I feel it now
Even the darkness won't bring us down
Never again will we be held back
Out here I know we're on the right track
Out here I know we're on the right track
**Bridge**
Though this may seem an unlikely end
That lonely night I had found a friend
Every night we will roar and sing
Under the moon to the mandolin
Under the moon to the mandolin
**Third Chorus**
We're not alone, and we're not afraid
Wandering free with the moonlight's aid
Never again will we be held back
Out here we know we're on the right track
We are alive, and we feel it now
Even the darkness won't bring us down
Never again will we be held back
Out here we know we're on the right track
Out here we know we're on the right track
**Outro**
Every night we will roar and sing
Under the moon to the mandolin
Staring right up at the star-crossed sky
Just the wandering gypsy and I

## Re-recorded version

Following her split from Red Rose Records in 2020, "The Wanderer" was re-recorded for Aurora's album *Platinum Heart: Deluxe* (2021).