Wolf Larsen is a songwriter and bookwriter living in the American southwest.
Known as a female Leonard Cohen, she has shared bills with The Tallest Man on Earth, Calexico and Devotchka, and is a member of the all-girl trio known as Glittersnatch.
In her writing life, she worked for Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign and she is currently finishing a book for Doubleday.
Due to a serious illness, she is not able to tour or play live shows anymore – but she does have plans to make the best of things, which she will be revealing soon enough.
In the meantime, she’s working on the second album and getting by with a little help from her friends.
(:: UPDATE :: As of Thanksgiving 2015, Wolf is finally doing somewhat better! We’re all very grateful. If you want to drop her a line, go for it at wolf@wolflarsenmusic.com. It’s sure to make her day.) - taken from her private site
Two Doves
Wolf Larsen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Grey and white in the middle of the night
And they watched me, yes they watched me
And they pulled a wreath from the old oak tree
And you know they laid it right round me
Right round me
And does the holy notion hear our cry?
What do you see when you close your eyes?
Do you pray like me,
In the middle of the night.
And when the white dove, a light in the rain
Dove down deep, deep in the water
Yes, the water
And they grey dove laughed, babe take it back
Stay with me out of the water
Yes the water
And does the holy notion hear our cry?
And do you tie your letters tight?
What do you see when you close your eyes?
Do you cry out like me,
In the middle of the night.
And does the holy notion hear our cry?
And do you tie your letters tight?
What do you see when you close your eyes?
Do you pray like me?
Do you cry out like me?
Do you pray like me,
In the middle of the night.
The lyrics of Wolf Larsen's "Two Doves" seem to be a contemplation on faith and prayer during difficult times. The two doves that appear in the snow and rain could represent hope and comfort in times of hardship, watching over the singer and laying a wreath around them. The question posed in the chorus, "Does the holy notion hear our cry?" suggests a belief in a higher power that can offer aid and guidance.
The second verse introduces a white dove and a grey dove, with the former diving deep into the water while the latter urges the singer to stay with them "out of the water." This could potentially symbolize a struggle between despair and hope, with the white dove representing a glimmer of hope in the midst of despair.
The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the idea of prayer and seeking guidance from a higher power during difficult times. The final line, "In the middle of the night," suggests a sense of loneliness or isolation that could come with struggling through hardships.
Overall, the lyrics of "Two Doves" seem to convey a sense of longing for comfort and guidance during difficult times, while also acknowledging the potential presence of hope and faith.
Line by Line Meaning
Two doves came in the snow and rain
Two birds, one grey and one white, arrived during a snowy and rainy night.
Grey and white in the middle of the night
The two doves were grey and white, seen at midnight.
And they watched me, yes they watched me
The doves were observing the singer.
And they pulled a wreath from the old oak tree
The doves removed a wreath from an old oak tree.
And you know they laid it right round me
The doves placed the wreath around the singer.
Right round me
The wreath was circular, covering the singer's body.
And does the holy notion hear our cry?
The singer wonders if a divine being can hear their plea.
And do you tie your letters tight?
The singer asks if the recipient secures their letters tightly.
What do you see when you close your eyes?
The singer wants to know what the recipient visualizes when they close their eyes.
Do you pray like me, in the middle of the night.
The singer asks if the recipient practices the same prayer habit at night.
And when the white dove, a light in the rain, dove down deep, deep in the water
The white dove, a beacon in the storm, dove deeply into the water.
Yes, the water
The water is the subject of the preceding line.
And the grey dove laughed, babe take it back. Stay with me out of the water
The grey dove expressed amusement and told the singer to retreat from the water.
And does the holy notion hear our cry?
The singer repeats the question of whether a divine entity can hear their pleas.
And do you tie your letters tight?
The singer repeats the question about letter-tying.
What do you see when you close your eyes?
The singer repeats the question about visualization.
Do you cry out like me, in the middle of the night.
The singer repeats the question about prayer habits.
And does the holy notion hear our cry?
The singer restates the question about divine hearing.
And do you tie your letters tight?
The singer restates the question about letter-tying.
What do you see when you close your eyes?
The singer restates the question about visualization.
Do you pray like me?
The singer repeats the question about prayer habits.
Do you cry out like me?
The singer repeats the question about crying out in prayer.
Do you pray like me, in the middle of the night.
The singer repeats the question about nighttime prayer.
Contributed by Bella O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.