Meaning of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" by Passenger

"The Boy Who Cried Wolf" by Passenger explores the consequences of one's actions and the difficulty of regaining trust once it is lost. The narrator admits to having lied in the past, hence their reputation as the boy who cried wolf. They establish that they know the repercussions of their dishonesty, as they have witnessed the skepticism and doubt from others. However, they insist that they have genuinely seen a wolf, portrayed through vivid imagery such as its yellow eyes and footprints. The narrator yearns to be believed this time, acknowledging that they have an honest heart but lies on their tongue. They question the origin of their reputation and the lack of evidence they can provide for their claims. Despite their sincere desperation to be trusted again, they know that they can never escape their past. They illustrate this by expressing that they could achieve extraordinary feats like swimming every sea and climbing every tree, yet they will still be perceived as the boy who cried wolf. The lyrics convey the frustration and helplessness of the narrator, trapped in their own reputation and forever burdened by their past actions.