Var e vargen


Var e vargen is a Swedish post-punk song by Swedish rock band Imperiet, released as a single in 1986.

History

The song was already recorded in 1985 under the name Den vilda världen. Covers for both 7" and 12" singles were pressed but as the band were not satisfied with the final mix, the release was canceled and the covers were destroyed.
The first release of the song on record was instead the English translation “The Wild World”, albeit with different lyrics to the Swedish version, which was released as the B-side of the vinyl single single by Imperiet)|Peace] on April 2, 1986. It was not until May 7 that the Swedish original was finally launched, now under the new title Var e vargen.
The song is one of the most widely released songs in Imperiet's history; no less than seven different versions exist on disc, three of which are the English version The Wild World.
After the breakup of Imperiet in 1988, Joakim Thåström during his solo career and during the period with Peace, Love & Pitbulls performed Var e vargen on several tours.

Interpretation

One interpretation of the text is that it refers to the return of the wolf in Scandinavia, as the grey wolf had previously gone extinct in Scandinavia in the early 20th century, but later re-established itself when Finnish and Russian wolves migrated into Sweden and Norway during the late 1970s and then got puppies in the early 1980s.

Releases

  • 1986 – Var e vargen Mlrs 48
  • 1986 – Var e vargen Mlrmz 7
  • 1986 – Peace Mlrs 49
  • 1986 – Peace Mlrmz 49
  • 1988 – Imperiet Mlr 61
  • 1988 – Imperiet Mlr 64/65
  • 1988 – Kickar Mlr 79
  • 1995 – C.C. Cowboys Mnwpr9505
  • 1995 – Greatest Hits Mnw279
  • 2002 – Alltid rött, alltid rätt Mnwcd2005
  • 2007 – Klassiker Mnwcd2031
  • 2009 – Silver, guld & misär Mlrcd115
  • 2017 – Silver, guld & misär 060255732809

Versions

  • "Original version"
  • "Unreleased version" – the original version: Den vilda världen, from 1985
  • Remix -95
  • Vargen Dub
  • The Wild World
  • The Wild World remix
  • Wild World

Covers