“Wolf Count” revisits the concept of a grander end than just one death.

Track: “Wolf Count”
Album: Getting Into Knives (2020)

The history of wolves in England is not one I know, but “Wolf Count” pictures the final days. Edward I ordered the extermination of wolves in England, apparently, and much later it seems he got his wish. There are other Mountain Goats songs about creatures facing the end, even entire species facing the end, so “Wolf Count” is among friends. It’s not even that uncommon that we hear from the animals directly. “Deuteronomy 2:10” is the obvious choice, with three creatures narrating their end in the context of a Biblical tribe that faced the same fate.

We catch a few other details in “Wolf Count.” The wolves score some victories against their enemies, but they also accept the futility of their situation. “Soon it’ll be my time to go” is exactly the same sentiment found in the other song I referenced, but the addition of “I know” is possibly a step further. It’s personal, here, for this wolf. It’s different to confront the loss of the tribe versus your own role in that overall loss. I think I struggle with Getting Into Knives because so much of it feels like territory the band has covered in other places, but I will say the closing verse has some very strong lyrics: “sleep on the road and dream // the only dream worth dreaming // the thronging plain // the bloodbath.” Everyone involves here knows how this story ends, sure, but they haven’t really reckoned with the cost of getting to that ending.