Ryan Bingham doesn't really do things the normal way. If you’ve followed his career from the early days of "Southside of Heaven" to his gritty portrayal of Walker on Yellowstone, you know he’s a guy who values grit over polish. But even for him, the story behind Ryan Bingham Where My Wild Things Are is a bit of an outlier.
It’s not just a song. Honestly, it’s more of a ghost story.
Most people stumbled onto it during the summer of 2023. They expected a big, rowdy anthem maybe suited for a rodeo or a TV montage. Instead, they got something that sounds like it was recorded in the middle of a fever dream.
The Montana Cabin Sessions
To understand Ryan Bingham Where My Wild Things Are, you have to look at where he was when he wrote it. He wasn't in a fancy Nashville studio with a team of writers. He was alone.
Specifically, he was in a cabin in the Montana wilderness.
Bingham has described the process of making the Watch Out for the Wolf EP—which features this track—as a "portrait of a moment in time." He basically went into the woods with some recording gear and let the solitude do the talking.
It’s haunting. It’s quiet.
The track itself feels like it’s breathing. You can almost hear the pine trees and the cold air in the background. Bingham himself admitted the experience was "downright fucking terrifying" at times. That’s the kind of honesty you don't get from the mainstream country machine.
Breaking Down the Lyrics
The lyrics to Ryan Bingham Where My Wild Things Are aren't complicated, but they hit hard.
"Up onto this mountain where / All my wild things are / This is where I sleep at night / Out underneath the stars."
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It’s simple imagery. But coming from a guy who actually lived that life—riding bulls, sleeping in the back of trucks, and losing his parents to tragedy—the words carry a weight that a suburban kid singing about "dirt roads" just can't replicate.
He talks about spirits guiding him. He mentions wolves and owls.
It’s a song about vanishing. Not in a "I’m lost" kind of way, but more of a "I’m finally exactly where I need to be" way. He’s escaping the pain of the past by slipping into the haze of the mountains.
Why This Song Is Different From the Yellowstone Hits
People love "Wolves." They love "The Weary Kind." Those songs are masterpieces, sure. But Ryan Bingham Where My Wild Things Are represents a shift in his sound.
It’s more experimental.
There’s a lot of space in the production. It’s not cluttered with drums or polished backing vocals. It’s mostly just Ryan, his guitar, and a heavy dose of atmosphere.
Some fans were actually a bit confused when it first dropped. They wanted the foot-stomping outlaw country. What they got was a spiritual transformation caught on tape.
"Creating this album in solitude was other worldly, spiritual, and sometimes just downright fucking terrifying." — Ryan Bingham
That quote basically sums up the entire vibe. If you’re looking for a party track, keep moving. This is a song for when the sun goes down and you’re reflecting on everything you’ve lost.
The "Wild Things" Metaphor
What are the "wild things"?
Most people assume it’s a reference to the animals in Montana. Maybe. But knowing Bingham’s history, it’s more likely a reference to his own internal chaos.
He’s spent years running. From the rodeo circuit to the music industry to personal loss. The "wild things" are the parts of himself he can’t tame, and the mountain is the only place big enough to hold them.
It’s a bit like Maurice Sendak's book, but with more whiskey and less whimsical costumes.
Technical Details and Reception
The song was released on August 11, 2023, under his own label, The Bingham Recording Co. It was part of the Watch Out for the Wolf EP, which was marketed through Thirty Tigers.
Here is what makes it stand out technically:
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- Minimalism: The instrumentation is stripped back to the bare essentials.
- Vocal Delivery: Ryan’s voice sounds more weathered than ever, which adds to the "mountain man" persona.
- Pacing: At 95 BPM, it has a slow, deliberate crawl that mimics a long drive or a hike.
Critics generally loved it because it felt authentic. In an era where "country" often feels like pop music with a slight twang, Bingham reminded everyone that the genre's roots are in the dirt and the dark.
How to Truly Experience This Track
You shouldn't listen to Ryan Bingham Where My Wild Things Are through your phone speakers while you're at the gym.
You’ll miss the point.
Go find a quiet spot. Preferably outdoors. Put on some decent headphones.
Listen to the way the "open wounds that bleed out" line is delivered. You can hear the vulnerability. It’s a rare moment where a famous artist lets the mask slip entirely.
The song doesn't try to resolve anything. It doesn't have a happy ending. It just exists in that space between the stars and the mountain peaks.
If you want to dive deeper into the Bingham catalog after this, I’d suggest circling back to Mescalito. It provides the context you need to understand how he got to this point. You can see the trajectory from the "Southside of Heaven" kid to the man who found his "wild things" in the Montana cold.
Actionable Insights:
- Listen to the full EP: Don't just stop at this track. Watch Out for the Wolf is intended to be heard as a single "portrait."
- Check out the live versions: Bingham's live performances of this track often involve even more improvisation and grit.
- Explore the "Yellowstone" connection: While the song wasn't written for the show, its aesthetic perfectly aligns with the character of Walker, providing a deeper look into the world Bingham inhabits on screen.