Faye Wong is one of the most iconic music artists in the Chinese-speaking world. I’m Willing is one of her hit songs. It is a ballad about unconditional love, longing, and selflessness. The lyrics express a willingness to sacrifice everything for love.
When I saw The Snow Wolf: A Winter’s Tale, a dramatized documentary by the BBC, I thought of Faye Wong’s song. The film follows an alpha she-wolf (luna wolf) and her six cubs as they live and survive in the Alps, and it touched me so much that I wanted to share their tale. The loyalty displayed by the luna wolf after her alpha male was killed embodies the meaning of I’m Willing.
Here are the lyrics:
Thinking of someone is difficult to understand
like a shadow following the form
no sound and no breath, but it exists in the heart
suddenly, it touches me in my loneliness
The alpha wolf is killed by a bear
The story of the wolves takes place in the Alps. To protect the deer the wolf pack had hunted, the alpha wolf fought alone against a brown bear that came to steal the venison. Although the alpha wolf, smaller in size compared to the bear, protected the venison, it took a big hit from the bear. His body was flung far away, breaking its spine, and the alpha wolf died in pain. Kumar, the luna wolf, was instantly swallowed by loneliness.
I cannot resist, especially in the night,
can’t breathe thinking of you
regret that I cannot run immediately to you
telling you loudly
Wolves have long-lasting bonds with their mates, especially the alpha pair. Kumar chose to be with the alpha wolf. She must have missed her mate tremendously and perhaps fantasized about seeing him again.
For you I’m willing, for you I’m willing
I’m willing to forget my name for you
to stay in your arms even for one more second
Losing the whole world wouldn’t be a loss to me
The wolves recognized the alpha wolf’s eldest son as the new leader
After the alpha wolf died, the rest recognized the alpha wolf’s eldest son as the new leader and left with him. Kumar licked the blood off her mate’s body so that he could die with dignity. She lay over his body, unwilling to go for a long time. His death meant she had lost her “alpha title,” the family she depended on for survival, and the territory that belonged to her mate’s family. Kumar lost her entire world.
For you I’m willing, for you I’m willing
For you I’m willing even to go into exile
If Kumar chose to follow her family, she might be able to live comfortably, but she was already pregnant with the alpha wolf’s pups, and the new alpha wolf would kill her cubs. She left the group to keep her mate’s offspring and wandered alone in the snow. Kumar endured hunger and gave birth to the cubs. She bravely protected her pups against predators and hunters. To ensure the cubs had a place to live and survive, they risked crossing towns populated by humans.
If only you truly love me with your heart
I’m willing to do anything, I’m willing to do anything for you
Although the film doesn’t reveal how the alpha wolf cared for Kumar when he was alive, it shows him struggling to crawl toward Kumar as he was dying, demonstrating his deep affection for Kumar. Because the alpha wolf expressed his true feelings, Kumar would do anything for him.
After all the hardships, Kumar eventually brought the fruits of their love — the six little wolves — to the national park. They had their own territory and formed a new family, thus continuing the bloodline of the brave alpha wolf.
Wolves are often perceived as ferocious creatures. Some people may think that animals have no emotions or feelings. The story of these wolves suggests that they possess feelings, despite their appearance, and can be loyal.
Translated by Elaine
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