“Cry Wolf” is a song by a-ha, released in November 1986 with “Maybe Maybe” on the B-side. as the second single from their second studio album, Scoundrel Days. It followed the enormous success of their debut album Hunting High and Low, and while “Cry Wolf” didn’t reach the same commercial heights as “Take On Me,” it was still a solid international hit.
The song blends synth-pop with a slightly darker, more atmospheric tone, marking a-ha’s shift toward a more mature sound. It features driving synths, a catchy guitar riff, and Morten Harket’s soaring vocals, which deliver a sense of urgency and emotional depth.
“Cry Wolf” is loosely inspired by the classic fable The Boy Who Cried Wolf, using it as a metaphor for deception, consequences, and warning signs ignored until it’s too late. The repeated line “Night I left the city, I dreamt of a wolf…” adds a surreal, almost haunting feel to the track.
The song was co-written by Magne Furuholmen and guitarist Pål Waaktaar, and it showcases the band’s growing confidence in blending pop hooks with more introspective, moody themes.
Chart-wise, “Cry Wolf” reached the Top 10 in several European countries, including No.5 in the UK, and made it to No. 14 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, making it one of their last major American hits.
The music video, directed by Steve Barron, used dreamlike, wintry imagery to match the song’s tone and helped cement the band’s visual style during the Scoundrel Days era.