Running with the Wolves (song)

## *For the Humans Who Take Long Walks in the Forest* (EP) Chronology

"**Running with the Wolves**", previously titled "**Hunting**" is the fifth single released by AURORA and the second single on *Running with the Wolves* and *All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend*. It was written by Aurora, Michelle Leonard and Nicolas Rebscher and produced by Odd Martin Skålnes, Rebscher and Magnus Skylstad.

The release was first teased on April 17 on Facebook. On April 20, 2015 the song was officially released worldwide.

A different version was recorded in 2020 and featured on the animated film, *Wolfwalkers*.

A remix by Pablo Nouvelle was released on deluxe versions of AURORA's debut album.

## Background

Aurora started writing the song at age 13 and has mentioned writing the song during a blood moon in 2014, presumably on April 14-15.

She recorded various field recordings and used them in this song, such as sounds of a wooden stick on a fence, breathing and the sound of Aurora hugging a tree; "which had no sound, but it's on the album."

## Theme

"Running with the Wolves" is about freedom and joining nature again, getting away from phones, radio and all we keep around us. In an interview with *The 405*, Aurora said:

> "I just imagined the moon turning all the people around the world into wild animals, running away from all the rules, all the materialism, and technology. Just being a part of nature again, running free."
>
>

The promo text for the song states:

> "The song is about having the animal instinct inside you come to life. Running with them, joining them - the instinct taking over, giving you freedom and making you forget about your human self and all things we humans keep around us in the modern society.
>
>
> I think humans need to let go a bit more, shake their bodies more often, like the animals do.. It's a beautiful thing really.
>
>
>
> Sometimes when you look at the world, and you see what we've done to it, the way many of us hurt the world we live in, innocent animals, even our own kind! And that kind of makes you want to follow the wolves instead. At least for one night."
>
>

## Lyrics

* Transcribed
* Official

Go row the boat to safer grounds

But don't you know, we're stronger now

My heart still beats and my skin still feels

My lungs still breathe, my mind still fears\*

But we're running out of time

All the echoes in my mind cry

There's blood on your lies

The skies open wide\*

There is nowhere for you to hide

The hunter's moon is shining

I'm running with the wolves tonight

I'm running with the wolves\*

I'm running with the wolves tonight

I'm running with the wolves

I'm running with the

Trick or treat, what would it be?

I walk alone, I'm everything

My ears can hear and my mouth can speak

My spirit talks, I know my soul believes

But we're running out of time

All the echoes in my mind cry

There's blood on your lies

The skies open wide\*

There is nowhere for you to hide

The hunter's moon is shining

I'm running with the wolves tonight

I'm running with the wolves

I'm running with the wolves tonight

I'm running with the wolves

I'm running with the wolves tonight

I'm running with the wolves

I'm running with the wolves tonight

I'm running with the wolves

A gift and curse\*

They track, and hurt

Say can you dream

In nightmare seems

A million voices, silent dreams\*

Where hope is left so incomplete

I'm running with the

I'm running with the wolves

I'm running with the

I'm running with the

I'm running with the

I'm running with the wolves

I'm running with the wolves tonight

I'm running with the wolves

I'm running with the wolves tonight

I'm running with the wolves

I'm running with the wolves tonight

I'm running with the wolves

I'm running with the wolves tonight

I'm running with the wolves

I'm running with the

Go row the boat to safer grounds

But don't you know, we're stronger now

My heart still beats and my skin still feels

My lungs still breathe, my mind still feels

But we're running out of time

All the echoes in my mind, cry

There's blood on your lies

The scars open wide

There is nowhere for you to hide

The hunters moon is shining

I'm running with the wolves tonight

I'm running with wolves

I'm running with the wolves tonight

I'm running with the wolves

I'm running with the

Trick or treat, what would it be?

I walk alone, I'm everything

My ears can hear and my mouth can speak

My spirit talks, I know my soul believes

But we're running out of time

All the echoes in my mind, cry

There's blood on your lies

The scars open wide

There is nowhere for you to hide

The hunters moon is shining

I'm running with the wolves tonight

I'm running with the wolves

I'm running with the wolves tonight

I'm running with the wolves

I'm running with the wolves tonight

I'm running with the wolves

I'm running with the wolves tonight

I'm running with the wolves

A gift, a curse

They track. And hurt

Say can you dream

In nightmare seems

A million voices, silent screams

Where hope is left so incomplete

I'm running with the

I'm running with the wolves

I'm running with the

I'm running with the

I'm running with the

I'm running with the wolves

I'm running with the wolves tonight

I'm running with the wolves

I'm running with the wolves tonight

I'm running with the wolves

I'm running with the wolves tonight

I'm running with the wolves

I'm running with the wolves tonight

I'm running with the wolves

I'm running with the

Transcribed lyrics made by listening. Official lyrics copied from the debut album's booklet, additional repeating segments were added here. Differences are marked with \*

## Music video

The music video was recorded late April-early May 2015 at Threshfield Quarry, near Skipton, UK. and released on June 10. It was directed by Scratch (James Alexandrou).

The song has an extended intro in the music video, this version was registered as "Running with the Wolves (Video Edit)"

### Behind the scenes

Storyboards for the music video, sketched by Natali Pahapill, were posted on her homepage and social media.

### Early music video

When the song was still called "Hunting", another music video was recorded as part of a school project. It was never officially released, but a behind-the-scenes video remains.

## Reception

"Running with the Wolves" topped the iTunes chart in Norway upon its release and was listened more than 60,000 times on the first day on SoundCloud. It remained one of Aurora's most popular songs over the years.

## Trivia

* The song has two additional remixes registered, by *Prides* and by  *Host*. These were never officially released, but can be listened on AURORA's official SoundCloud page.
* The song featured on a 2015 commercial for telecom provider *Vodafone* in Germany.
* An edited version of this song was used as the intro theme in British TV series *Wolfblood* for seasons 4-5.
* The song was featured in episode 9, season 5 (2015) of American teen drama series *Teen Wolf*.
* It also featured on episodes 3 and 4, season 1 (2016) of American drama series *Good Behavior*.
* It also featured on episodes 3, season 7 (2019) of American crime/drama series *The Blacklist*.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://twitter.com/AURORAmusic/status/613628456451112960
2. ↑ https://nbhap.com/stories/in-conversation/aurora-interview
3. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/iamAURORA/photos/a.677124125648676/1039969106030841/
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://soundcloud.com/auroraaksnes/aurora-running-with-the-wolves-1
5. ↑ https://idol.lnk.to/WolfWalkers\_OST
6. ↑ https://g1.globo.com/musica/noticia/aurora-norueguesa-elogiada-por-katy-perry-diz-que-queria-ser-et-e-promete-show-para-dancar-rir-e-chorar-no-brasil.ghtml
7. ↑ https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/aurora-on-her-debut-album-john-lewis-christmas-advert-and-remote-upbringing-a6930691.html
8. ↑ https://twitter.com/AURORAmusic/status/1039978036303675393
9. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20150915051819/https://www.drunkenwerewolf.com/interviews/interview-aurora/ (archived from original)
10. ↑ https://www.theverge.com/2016/4/22/11487130/aurora-interview-all-my-demons-greeting-me-as-a-friend
11. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20180623004709/https://www.thefourohfive.com/music/article/aurora-track-by-track-145 (archived from original)
12. ↑ https://www.ba.no/kultur/aurora-aksnes-rart-a-bli-gjenkjent/s/5-8-64691
13. ↑ https://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/countryfile/14426728.pop-star-helps-to-shine-a-light-on-threshfield-quarry-and-its-exciting-future/
14. ↑ File:PPL.Running with the Wolves.jpg
15. ↑ https://www.natalipahapill.com/art/storyboards
16. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/8GU7RNuXbo/
17. ↑ https://www.midtsiden.no/aurora-toppar-itunes
18. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20151103235118/http://www.hamar-kulturhus.no/november/aurora-18-ar-article547-171.html (archived from original)
19. ↑ https://www.offiziellecharts.de/titel-details-1419443
20. ↑ https://soundcloud.com/auroraaksnes/aurora-running-with-the-wolves-prides-remix
21. ↑ https://soundcloud.com/auroraaksnes/aurora-running-with-the-wolves-host-remix
22. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MY75NfwwZ5M
23. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7Z7rLpndh8
24. ↑ https://leosigh.com/listen-to-auroras-running-with-the-wolves-from-the-blacklist-powerful-and-gorgeous/