Mumford & Sons – Hopeless Wanderer

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You heard my voice
I came out of the woods by choice
The shelter also gave the shade
But in the dark I have no name

So leave that click in my head
And I will remember the words that you said
Left a clouded mind and heavy heart
But I was sure we could see a new start

So when your hope's on fire
But you know your desire
Don't hold a glass over the flame
Don't let your heart grow cold
I will call you by name
I will share your road

But hold me fast, hold me fast
Cos I'm a hopeless wanderer
Hold me fast, hold me fast
Cos I'm a hopeless wanderer

Wrestled long with my youth
We tried so hard to live in the truth
But do not tell me all is fine
When I lose my head I lose my spine

So leave that click in my head
And I will remember the words that you said
You brought me out from the cold
Now how I long how I long to grow old

So when your hope's on fire
But you know your desire
Don't hold a glass over the flame
Don't let your heart grow cold
I will call you by name
I will share your road

But hold me fast, hold me fast
Cos I'm a hopeless wanderer
Hold me fast, hold me fast
Cos I'm a hopeless wanderer

I will learn, I will learn
To love the skies I'm under
I will learn, I will learn
To love the skies I'm under
The skies I'm under

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Lyrics submitted by NomadGal, edited by JayLovex, blainesledge, Mellow_Harsher, mrswinnie

Track duration: 05:08


Hopeless Wanderer song meanings
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14 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:This song is about not letting anything cover your heart. And always leading with your heart. Even though you may be hopeless and not know where life is "wandering" you. Use your heart as a guide
    Flag Musick77on March 22, 2013   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:Reminds me of various verisons of Tam Lin
    Flag kcowanon March 18, 2013   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:See page 20 in East of Eden, John Steinbeck. This is directly where Mumford takes the "click in the head" line. It has nothing to do with memorizing bible verses, etc. You evangelical christians should really take your heads out of your asses and start to think.
    Flagged Updebumon January 22, 2013   Link
    • 2 Replies
  • 0
    General Comment:I good be wrong but these lyrics "ooze" any of the Romantics (Thoreau, Emerson etc...); especially the first line "I came out of the woods by choice." To me, this could EASILY be from HDT's standpoint having achieved what he thought to be the meaning to life. If Walden were ever to hit the big screen, this could easily be the theme- exciting, revolutionary with a bada$$ crecendo! Just my interpretation.
    Flag strongbad7286on December 25, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:For starters I gotta say I loved this album and although I will wait is a great song, this one for me is by far the best one, maybe because, by my own interpretation is so much relatable. Well, this all comes from my own experience and of course life, I think the song is about a guy that goes around having lots of girls, never serious, living a life of promiscuity, until he finds someone that he actually likes, even loves but many times its a life hard to open hand off and so the "hold me fast/Cos I'm a hopeless wanderer", he begs her to hold him, to love him so he doesn't go back to wandering. He asks her not to love him less for that darker side of his, thus not to hold the glass over the flame, not let it die" , he admits he has this sort of "problem", "when I lose my head I lose my spine" , maybe desire is quite difficult to control. As for the click in his head, I think its an idea, a dream perhaps she wants for both of growing old together. As long as she loves him, she brought him out of the cold, maybe into the warmth of love, he will "call her name", love her back. Again a very personal take on the lyrics, but my 2 cents.
    Flagged BluGTon November 08, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:Tons of Biblical imagery in this song. I think the first verse refers to the Garden of Eden and how Adam and Eve felt shame and wanted to hide, but ultimately it is better to be known fully than to hide. "I will call you by name/ I will share your road" is reminiscent of Saul's conversion into Paul when he is called by name on the road to Damascus. There are other moments in the Bible when people were joined on the road by Jesus. The "click in my head" can refer to how some Christians choose to remember scripture as a way to return to the right course (Prov. 3:5-6).
    I think the song shifts in perspective, being a hopeless wanderer in the portions that are "leave that click in my head" and God/Jesus/Holy Spirit in response "When your hope's on fire...I will share your road." I see it as a moment of re-conversion, so to speak.
    P.S. Please don't ream me out for seeing Biblical imagery if you don't see it. This is my interpretation of a song, not a diatribe of any sort; I do not deserve a diatribe in response.
    Flag niki7877on November 02, 2012   Link
    • 2 Replies
  • +2
    My Opinion:For some reason this is my favourite song of the whole album, even though I can't decide on the meaning. I think I just like some of the imagery and actual music, it is a really powerful song.
    Flag rocker@hearton October 12, 2012   Link
  • -1
    Lyric Correction:I don't have my CD booklet in front of me, but how about instead of saying what you HEAR, refer to the booklet for the printed lyrics...

    Unless of course everyone here just downloaded the iTunes album and don't have the lyrics provided.
    Flag mumford613on October 04, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I'm getting a couple of differences again:

    You heard my voice
    I came out of the woods by choice
    The shelter also gave the shade
    But in the dark I have no name

    So leave that click in my head
    And I will remember the words that you said
    Left a cloud in mind and a heavy heart
    But I was sure we could see a new start

    So when your hope's on fire
    But you know you your desire
    Don't hold a glass over the flame
    Don't let your heart grow cold
    I will call you by name
    I will share your road

    But hold me fast, hold me fast
    'Cause I'm a hopeless wanderer
    Hold me fast, hold me fast
    'Cause i'm a hopeless wanderer

    I wrestled long with my youth
    We tried so hard to live in the truth
    But do not tell me all is fine
    When I lose my head I lose my spine

    So leave that click in my head
    And I will remember the words that you said
    You bought me out from the cold
    Now how I long , how I long to grow old

    So when your hope's on fire
    But you know you your desire
    Don't hold a glass over the flame
    Don't let your heart grow cold
    I will call you by name
    I will share your road

    But hold me fast, hold me fast
    'Cause i'm a hopeless wanderer
    Hold me fast, hold me fast
    'Cause i'm a hopeless wanderer

    And I will learn, I will learn
    To love the skies I'm under
    The skies I'm under
    Flag malctuckeron September 23, 2012   Link
  • +2
    Lyric Correction:Everyone says it is to love the skies I wander, but I've been hearing, "love the skies I'm under." A hopeless wanderer would still be on the ground, yes? I saw it as a different way of saying "Love your ground," except this person has no ground to call his own because he's a hopeless wanderer who hopes to one day at least love the skies he's under.
    Flagged niki7877on March 30, 2012   Link
    • 1 Reply

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