Band of Horses, known early in its life simply as Horses, is an Indie band … Read Full Bio ↴Band of Horses, known early in its life simply as Horses, is an Indie band formed in Seattle, Washington, United States. The band's lineup has changed multiple times, and the current lineup consists of Ben Bridwell (vocals, guitar), Ryan Monroe (guitar, keyboards), Tyler Ramsay (keyboards, guitar), Bill Reynolds (bass) and Creighton Barrett (drums). The band is currently based in Charleston, South Carolina and has released five albums to date: "Everything All the Time" (2006), "Cease to Begin" (2007), "Infinite Arms" (2010), "Mirage Rock" (2013) and Why Are You OK?" (2016).

Band of Horses was formed by Ben Bridwell (guitar, vocals) and Mat Brooke (guitar) in 2004 after the break-up of their previous band, Carissa's Wierd. Rob and Creighton were formerly of the mathrock band The New Mexicans before joining Band of Horses. The group initially got attention from Sub Pop records after opening for Iron & Wine in Seattle area shows. In 2005, the band released their debut EP, Band of Horses Tour EP, which was sold exclusively at shows and on Sub Pop's website. Their debut full-length, Everything All the Time was recorded in 2005 with producer Phil Ek and released on March 21, 2006 to generally good reviews.

On July 13, 2006, Band of Horses appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman sans Brooke. As of July 25, 2006, Mat Brooke left Band of Horses to focus more on his other band, Grand Archives, who had also signed to Sub Pop.

The band's second album, Cease to Begin, was released on October 9 2007. The band has recently moved its base of operations from Seattle to Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina

Their album, Infinite Arms, was released in May of 2010.

Their album, Mirage Rock, was released in September 2012.

Their latest album, Why Are You OK? was released in June 2016.

Slow Cruel Hands Of Time
Band of Horses Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The biding of time getting stuck in my mind is a boat to roll
Two hours later, back in my neighborhood where everything just stalled
It still looks the same
They remembered my name, steppin' in for a cup full
There's a big city man I used to rumble with him back in high school
The slow cruel hands of time
Turn you into molten lava, oh my

A place on the rise you can stop for awhile
Look-out for the police man
There's no street lamps, only three buildings and one of them's vacant
It's taking all day the packs feeling heavy and soon the night
Backwards down the mountain, the axle is grinding, pull into the wrong drive
The sky is in the yard
The stringy cotton candy is the fall
The slow climb, the hard the fall
Sometimes I don't want it at all
I've done this so long
It's something I ought know so long

Finally up on the pieces disrupting and the birds fly
Trapped for a moment, the sheriffs department got the wrong guy
The towns reveal the law
Visible wind through the fog

The slow cruel hands of time
Turning you back into a child

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Slow Cruel Hands of Time" express the frustration of getting stuck in a cyclical routine that is hard to break out of. The first lines suggest that time is passing slowly, and the singer is feeling trapped in their own thoughts. They reference a neighborhood that "stalled" where everything looks the same, highlighting the monotony of their surroundings. But even in this familiar place, the singer still manages to find some comfort, as they are remembered by the locals.

The verses paint vivid pictures of travels through different environments, like a small town and a mountain, that both seem to have their own set of problems. The image of the sky in the yard and the cotton candy-like fall creates a sense of whimsy and nostalgia, which is soon replaced with the idea of struggling and the hard climb back up. As the song progresses, the singer seems to become more disenchanted with their situation, questioning why they continue to do something that leaves them feeling unfulfilled. The final line about turning back into a child emphasizes the cyclical and repetitive nature of life, suggesting that sometimes it feels like we're going in circles without making any progress.

Overall, the lyrics of "Slow Cruel Hands of Time" carry a sense of disillusionment and a desire to break free from the monotony of life. While there are moments of comfort and familiarity, the singer ultimately sees time as a cruel force that brings us back to our starting point.

Line by Line Meaning

The biding of time getting stuck in my mind is a boat to roll
The passing of time makes me feel anxious and trapped, like a boat struggling to move forward

Two hours later, back in my neighborhood where everything just stalled
After waiting for what seems like a long time, I return to my familiar surroundings which seem to have stagnated

It still looks the same
Despite the passage of time, everything around me remains unchanged

They remembered my name, steppin' in for a cup full
As I enter a local establishment, the people there recognize me and serve me a cup of coffee

There's a big city man I used to rumble with him back in high school
I encounter a man from my past who I used to fight with in high school, who has since moved to the city

The slow cruel hands of time
Time can be both slow and painful

Turn you into molten lava, oh my
The passage of time can make you feel like your insides are melting

A place on the rise you can stop for awhile
There's a location you can visit for relaxation and respite

Look-out for the police man
Be cautious and alert, as police may be nearby

There's no street lamps, only three buildings and one of them's vacant
The setting is sparse and deserted, with few man-made structures in sight

It's taking all day the packs feeling heavy and soon the night
Traveling in this place is arduous and tiring, and night is fast approaching

Backwards down the mountain, the axle is grinding, pull into the wrong drive
Driving down the mountain is difficult, the car is struggling, and I accidentally enter the wrong driveway

The sky is in the yard
The sky is visible and prominent in the yard

The stringy cotton candy is the fall
The cotton candy-like strands in the sky represent the coming of autumn

The slow climb, the hard the fall
Life is an uphill battle, and the descent can be just as difficult

Sometimes I don't want it at all
There are times when I'm overwhelmed and wish to give up

I've done this so long
I've been fighting for so long

It's something I ought know so long
I should be familiar with the struggle by now, having endured it for so long

Finally up on the pieces disrupting and the birds fly
I've finally made some progress and the birds are taking flight

Trapped for a moment, the sheriffs department got the wrong guy
I am briefly detained by the police, who have mistaken me for someone else

The towns reveal the law
The townspeople are subject to the law and its enforcement

Visible wind through the fog
Despite the fog, the wind is clearly visible

The slow cruel hands of time
Time can be both slow and painful

Turning you back into a child
The passage of time can make you feel vulnerable and powerless, like a child again