The Wolf (song)

{{Infobox song

| name = The Wolf

| cover = Mumford & Sons - The Wolf cover art.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Mumford & Sons

| album = Wilder Mind

| A-side = Believe

| released = {{Start date|2015|6|29|df=yes}}

| recorded = 2014–2015

| studio = AIR Studios (London)

| venue =

| genre = {{hlist|Alternative rock|garage rock|folk rock{{cite web|last= Rolling Stone Staff |title= 50 Best Songs of 2015 |website= Rolling Stone |date= December 3, 2015 |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/50-best-songs-of-2015-144910/|quote= The world's biggest string band discovers electricity and uncorks one of their most muscular anthems without compromising a shred of folk-rock heart.|accessdate= November 4, 2022}}}}

| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=41}}

| label = {{hlist|Island|Glassnote|Gentlemen of the Road}}

| writer = {{hlist|Ted Dwane|Ben Lovett|Winston Marshall|Marcus Mumford}}

| producer = James Ford

| prev_title = Believe

| prev_year = 2015

| next_title = Ditmas

| next_year = 2015

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|vD3iXpv4h-o|"The Wolf"}}}}

}}

"The Wolf" is a song by English rock band Mumford & Sons. It was released as the second single from their third studio album Wilder Mind on 9 April 2015 and charted in multiple countries. The official music video for the song was uploaded on 30 June 2015 to the band's Vevo channel on YouTube.

Composition

"The Wolf" is an alternative rock{{cite web | url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/66963/Mumford-and-Sons-Wilder-Mind/ | title=Review: Mumford and Sons – Wilder Mind | website=Sputnikmusic | date=5 May 2015 | accessdate=17 March 2016}} and garage rock song.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/mumford-sons-wilder-mind-20150505 |title=Wilder Mind |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=5 May 2015 |accessdate=10 March 2016 |last=Dolan |first=Jon}} The song displays the band's change in sound from heavily folk-inspired to more electric instruments. Most noticeably, the use of the banjo is absent from this song as well as Wilder Mind, the album which the song is featured on.{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/watch-mumford-sons-take-over-bonnaroo-in-the-wolf-video-37338/|title=Watch Mumford & Sons Take Over Bonnaroo in 'The Wolf' Video|first1=Jon|last1=Blistein|date=30 June 2015|website=Rollingstone.com|accessdate=3 April 2019}}

Music video

The official music video for the song, lasting three minutes and fifty-five seconds, was uploaded on 30 June 2015 to the band's Vevo channel on YouTube.{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD3iXpv4h-o | title=Mumford & Sons - The Wolf | publisher=YouTube | date=30 June 2015 | accessdate=29 August 2015}} Directed by Marcus Haney, the video takes place at the 2015 Bonnaroo Music Festival as the band explores its sights and sounds. It also showcases the headlining performance by the band.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/6613177/mumford-sons-run-wild-at-bonnaroo-the-wolf|title=Mumford & Sons Run Wild at Bonnaroo in 'The Wolf' Music Video: Watch|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=3 April 2019}} In the video the band members are dressed in various costumes; Marcus Mumford can be seen wearing a Robin Hood costume, Ted Dwane in giant chicken costume, Winston Marshall in a wedding dress and Ben Lovett in a fox costume. Actor Ed Helms can also be seen in the video; the actor performed at the festival that year alongside Dierks Bentley.{{cite web|url=https://www.musictimes.com/articles/6841/20140617/bonnaroo-dierks-bentley-jams-with-hangover-star-ed-helms.htm|title=Bonnaroo: Dierks Bentley Jams With 'Hangover' Star Ed Helms|first=Music|last=Times|date=17 June 2014|website=Music Times|accessdate=3 April 2019}}

Critical reception

The single has received positive critical reception. Sputnikmusic labeled the song as a "massive highlight" from Wilder Mind as well as a "beautiful form of alternative rock." Rolling Stone ranked "The Wolf" at number 43 on its annual year-end list to find the best songs of 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-songs-of-2015-20151203/titus-andronicus-dimed-out-20151203|title=50 Best Songs of 2015|website=Rollingstone.com|date=3 December 2015 }}

Track listing

=7" vinyl=

Island/Glassnote/Gentlemen of the Road — 4730218{{cite web | url=http://www.discogs.com/Mumford-Sons-RSD/release/6938218 | title=Mumford & Sons - RSD (Vinyl) | date=18 April 2015 | publisher=Discogs | accessdate=29 August 2015}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side A

| title1 = Believe

| length1 = 3:41

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side B

| title1 = The Wolf

| length1 = 3:41

}}

=Digital download=

{{Track listing

| headline =

| title1 = The Wolf

| length1 = 3:41

}}

Charts and certifications

=Weekly charts=

scope="row"\|Australia (ARIA){{cite web\|url=http://www.noise11.com/news/aria-singles-wiz-khalifa-and-charlie-puth-remain-on-top-music-news-20150418\|title=ARIA Singles: Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth Remain On Top\|publisher=Noise11\|last=Ryan\|first=Gavin\|date=18 April 2015\|access-date=18 April 2015}} \|53
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" !Chart (2015) !Peak position
{{single chart\|Austria\|61\|artist=Mumford & Sons\|song=The Wolf\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Flanders Tip\|4\|artist=Mumford & Sons\|song=The Wolf\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Canada\|57\|artist=Mumford & Sons\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Billboardcanadarock\|2\|artist=Mumford & Sons\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 7, 2021}}
{{single chart\|Finnishairplay\|75\|artist=Mumford & Sons\|song=The Wolf\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=1 February 2023}}
{{single chart\|Germany\|77\|songid=1410136\|artist=Mumford & Sons\|song=The Wolf\|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"\|Ireland (IRMA){{cite web \| url=http://irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Mumford+%26+Sons \| title=Discography Mumford & Sons \| publisher=Hung Medien \| work=irish-charts.com \| access-date=5 August 2010}} \|71
{{single chart\|Scotland\|31\|date=20150425\|rowheader=true\|access-date=29 August 2015}}
scope="row"\| Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan){{Cite web\|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/215?dspy=2015&dspp=20\|title=Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 20, 2015\|language=sv\|publisher=Sverigetopplistan\|access-date=2 May 2021}} \| 8
{{single chart\|UK\|56\|date=20150425\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=29 August 2015}}
{{single chart\|Billboardbubbling100\|2\|artist=Mumford & Sons\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 7, 2021}}
{{single chart\|Billboarddigitalsongs\|43\|artist=Mumford & Sons\|rowheader=true\|access-date=August 7, 2021}}
{{single chart\|Billboardrocksongs\|11\|artist=Mumford & Sons\|rowheader=true\|access-date=29 August 2015}}
{{single chart\|Billboardrockairplay\|3\|artist=Mumford & Sons\|rowheader=true\|access-date=29 August 2015}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" !Chart (2015) !Position
scope="row"\|US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2015/hot-rock-songs\|title=Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2015\|magazine=Billboard\|accessdate=4 June 2020}} \|22
scope="row"\|US Rock Airplay (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2015/rock-airplay-songs\|title=Rock Airplay Songs – Year-End 2015\|magazine=Billboard\|accessdate=4 June 2020}} \|11

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

!Chart (2015)

!Position

scope="row"|US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2015/hot-rock-songs|title=Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2015|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=4 June 2020}}

|22

scope="row"|US Rock Airplay (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2015/rock-airplay-songs|title=Rock Airplay Songs – Year-End 2015|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=4 June 2020}}

|11

=Certifications=

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Mumford & Sons|title=The Wolf|award=Silver|relyear=2015|certyear=2019|id=15562-2307-1|access-date=5 April 2019}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

Release history

class=wikitable
Region ! Date ! Label ! Format ! Catalogue no.
rowspan="2"\| Worldwide \| 9 April 2015 \| rowspan="2"\| {{flatlist\| Island Glassnote Gentlemen of the Road }} \| Digital download \| —
18 April 2015 \| Record Store Day 7" \| 4730218

class=wikitable

Region

! Date

! Label

! Format

! Catalogue no.

rowspan="2"| Worldwide

| 9 April 2015

| rowspan="2"| {{flatlist|