John: So, I listen to a lot of Jackson Browne. But if I could say - and who am I to criticize a songwriter who is my superior in every way - but, he doesn't really address people turning into wolves in their minds enough in these songs. So musically, this is kind of a Jackson Browne pastiche. Lyrically, it has more people turning into a wolf in their minds than most Jackson Browne songs do. To the best of my knowledge and I have most of the albums. It's about how if you have a thing- [John laughs at audience members howling.] That's really funny! Peter: You've created... a monster. John: [Laughs.] So, this song is about - I mean, beyond what I've told you about it - it's about how you carry a vision of yourself that is hard, sometimes, to shake. And when I say hard, I'm soft-soaping the case because people who know what I'm talking about know that it's not hard, it's impossible.
John Darnielle introducing Never Quite Free, Bowery Ballroom on 2012-10-16