A Formal Horse is a new progressive rock quartet based in Southampton. Alth… Read Full Bio ↴A Formal Horse is a new progressive rock quartet based in Southampton. Although the band's sound is difficult to pinpoint, their dense instrumental passages are reminiscent of King Crimson and Mahavishnu Orchestra, whilst Francesca Lewis' lead vocals evoke the whimsical surrealism of the 1970s Canterbury scene. However, A Formal Horse go beyond simply regurgitating the music of their predecessors. With influences as diverse as Bartok and Bon Iver, the band prove that there is still much territory to be explored in the field of British progressive rock.They have recently recorded their debut EP with Rob Aubrey (IQ, Big Big Train).

Bird
A Formal Horse Lyrics

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I wrote a song about loss
But I lost it
I wrote a song about love
But I couldn′t let it go

Bird - sweet redwing come softly 'till I end this song
Bird - like Zooey come quietly

I wrote a song about loss
But I lost it

I wrote a song about love
But I couldn′t let it go

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to A Formal Horse's song Bird carry an introspective and sombre tone, delving into the themes of loss and love. The first few lines convey a sense of frustration and disappointment in oneself, as the songwriter confesses to having written a song about loss but lost it, and a song about love but could not let it go. These lines are open to interpretation, but they could suggest that the songwriter struggled with expressing their emotions and was unable to put them into words or music effectively. Alternatively, the lines could also imply that the songwriter experienced significant losses and was unable to process them through their music.

The chorus of the song features the repeated phrase "Bird - sweet redwing come softly 'til I end this song, Bird - like Zooey come quietly". The bird imagery adds a touching layer of metaphorical meaning to the lyrics, suggesting a sense of longing and the desire to escape from the pain of loss and heartbreak. The reference to Zooey could be a tribute to novelist J.D. Salinger's book "Franny and Zooey", which features the character Zooey as someone who is wise and compassionate, offering comfort and guidance to his sister Franny when she is struggling with existential despair. The songwriter may be hoping for someone like Zooey to come into their life and help them get through their difficult times.

Overall, the song Bird by A Formal Horse is a poignant reflection on the complexities of human emotions and the challenge of expressing them through art. The songwriter's struggles with loss and love are palpable, and the bird imagery adds a beautiful layer of metaphorical meaning to the lyrics.

Line by Line Meaning

I wrote a song about loss
I penned a melody about the sadness of losing something or someone in my life.

But I lost it
Unfortunately, I misplaced or lost the lyrics to the aforementioned song.

I wrote a song about love
I composed a tune about the feeling of being in love with someone or something.

But I couldn′t let it go
Regrettably, I couldn't release the emotions and express my feelings regarding love, thereby hindering my endeavors.

Bird - sweet redwing come softly 'till I end this song
Sweet redwing bird, fly gently until I am finished with this song, for your melodious voice inspires me to continue.

Bird - like Zooey come quietly
Dear bird, like Zooey Deschanel, please approach this song gently and peacefully, so as not to disturb its emotional content.

Writer(s): Benjamin Short, Hayley Mcdonnell, Mike Stringfellow, Russell Mann

Contributed by Sebastian W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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