The Violence

"The Violence" is the lead single from Wolves and the third track on the album. It was released on April 20, 2017, alongside the announcement of the album's release date.

Background
Lyrically, "The Violence" is about the nature of humans, and whether or not aggression and violence are a choice, or simply in our nature. The lyrics are also inspired by the 2016 United States presidential election. Tim McIlrath stated:

""As we were watching the news and seeing all the different things [unfold] around the planet, I realized that violence has such a role in a lot of what we see when the world is falling apart. The violence is a reflection of whether our [aggression] is in our nature, our DNA, or whether we have a choice to be part of it. And it is a choice that we make - a conscious one - to use violence as a means to an end. Aren't we better than this? Aren't we the apex of the animal kingdom? Aren't we the only ones on the planet that have the capacity for compassion? Aren't we good enough or brave enough to not sink to violence?""

- Tim McIlrath in an interview with Kerrang!

The band attempted to record a music video, but they were prohibited from recording at the desired location because of their supposedly "anti-government" message. A lyric video was released instead.

Lyrics
Dancing on the crumbling precipice The rocks are coming loose just at the edge Are we laughing? Are we crying? Are we drowning? Are we dead? Or is it all a dream?

The bombs are getting closer everyday "That can never happen here," we used to say Have these wars come to our doorstep? Has this moment finally come? Or is it all a dream?

Are we not good enough? Are we not brave enough? Is the violence in our nature just the image of our maker? Are we not good enough? Are we not brave enough? To become something greater than the violence in our nature? Are we not good, good enough? Or is it all a dream?

To a predetermined fate are we condemned? Or maybe we're a book without an end? We're not stories, we're not actors We're awake and in control and this is not a dream

So can we break this mold and set in motion something new? Forgetting what we know, an evolution overdue Fight the current, pull the ripcord, get away

Are we not good enough? Are we not brave enough? Is the violence in our nature just the image of our maker? Are we not good enough? Are we not brave enough? To become something greater than the violence in our nature? Are we not good, good enough?

Well-trodden paths are all we take We need a storm, let's pray for rain now To wash these roads away Let's get off track and wander far Same roads lead to same destinations Follow nothing, but your heart We're talking in our sleep, and sleeping through our lives And we dream of the places where we never die We step from the shadows and into the light

Are we not good enough? Are we not brave enough? Is the violence in our nature just the image of our maker? Are we not good enough? Are we not brave enough? To become something greater than the violence in our nature? Are we not good enough? Are we not brave enough? Are we not good, good enough? Or was it all a dream?