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The Great Salt Lake
Band of Horses Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Back of the boat was painted wrecking-ball
There was country music playing but he don't like it all
And red fire poppin' on the rained-down woody
There was whiskey bottle-spilling and a lake, it was made of salt

Well, look out back, there was a note on the door it saying
"Everybody listen, we will be the next Omaha"

Well, if you find yourself falling apart
Well, I am sure I could steer
The great salt lake
Falling apart
Well, I am sure I could steer
The great salt lake

Your old man was but a wishing machine
It's time that you could spin
Now that he is getting old
When Billy Lorett had found a watering hole
It's a place to lay south or the heads of coyote

Now, if you find yourself falling apart
Well I am sure I could steer
The great salt lake

Follow me home
We want more
Follow me home
We all want more
If ever beat down
We know who we are
They know who we are
If ever beat down
We know who we are
They all know we want more

Overall Meaning

The Great Salt Lake by Band of Horses is a song that tells a story of a partying excursion to the Great Salt Lake. The opening verses of the song describe the scene of the party, starting with the back of the boat that was painted wrecking ball. There was country music playing, but he doesn't like it all, and red fire popping on the rained-down woody. There were whiskey bottle-spilling and a lake made of salt. The setting is vividly described, with the juxtaposition of simple human activity and natural beauty.


The song also has a sense of escapism, with the line "Well, look out back, there was a note on the door it saying, 'Everybody listen, we will be the next Omaha.'" This line underscores the sense of adventure and the unknown that the band is seeking. The song also speaks to the desire to stay steady, falling apart but staying on course, with the line "Well, if you find yourself falling apart, well, I am sure I could steer the great salt lake."


Additionally, the song mentions Billy Lorett finding a watering hole, a place to lay south, or the heads of coyote, which adds to the idea of seeking adventure and exploration.


Line by Line Meaning

Back of the boat was painted wrecking-ball
The back of the boat had a painting of a wrecking-ball on it.


There was country music playing but he don't like it all
Country music was playing, but the singer didn't like it.


And red fire poppin' on the rained-down woody
The rainy weather caused the red paint to pop on the old wooden boat.


There was whiskey bottle-spilling and a lake, it was made of salt
Whiskey was spilled and the lake was made of salt.


Well, look out back, there was a note on the door it saying
Looking out back, there was a note on the door that said something.


"Everybody listen, we will be the next Omaha"
The note read, "Everyone listen, we will be the next Omaha."


Well, if you find yourself falling apart
If you're falling apart


Well, I am sure I could steer
I can help you if you need it.


The great salt lake
We could go to the Great Salt Lake.


Falling apart
If you're falling apart.


Well, I am sure I could steer
I can help you if you need it.


The great salt lake
We could go to the Great Salt Lake.


Your old man was but a wishing machine
Your father was always wishing for things.


It's time that you could spin
Now it's your turn to make wishes.


Now that he is getting old
Since your father is getting old.


When Billy Lorett had found a watering hole
When Billy Lorett found a watering hole.


It's a place to lay south or the heads of coyote
It's a place where the heads of coyotes are laid to rest.


Now, if you find yourself falling apart
If you're falling apart.


Well I am sure I could steer
I can help you if you need it.


The great salt lake
We could go to the Great Salt Lake.


Follow me home
Come with me back home.


We want more
We want more than what we have.


Follow me home
Come with me back home.


We all want more
We all want more than what we have.


If ever beat down
If we ever feel defeated.


We know who we are
We know our identity.


They know who we are
Others know our identity.


If ever beat down
If we ever feel defeated.


We know who we are
We know our identity.


They all know we want more
Others know that we want more than what we have.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BENJAMIN BRIDWELL, CHRISTOPHER EARLY, TIMOTHY MEINIG

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@ericfoster8411

This band was such a huge part of my life at one point. They’re forever one of my all time favorites but I was deeply in love with the sounds they created in 2007-2010.

@mortyshuk

were on the same boat man :))

@Shakejunt241

I was just about to say the same thing, I found them whenever the skate video “lakai fully flared” came out and I think it might’ve been 07-08, such a great time. Glad to relate to the way you expressed it 🤙

@j.t.levonick8027

I completely agree and I'm forever thankful I found this unique group

@nork.incz1

Can't belive this song is 11 yrs old now... times goes so fast.... what a ride

@meysamkashiri5018

13 y/o now! times goes so fast. we are riding to death at last. wish we can not think about it...:(

@aguy2162

Youth goes fast

@jeffmaher9704

15yrs

@johncaldwell3585

16 years, and I get to see them live again this year at red rocks!!

@SamJHalfSTAR

My all time favorite of theirs, hands down. Music just doesn't get any better than this song right here.

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