Formed in 2009, the act was originally a means to expand the solo project of Dustin Payseur. That same year bassist John Peña and guitarist Christopher Burke were recruited as the lineup for their initial tour. Their debut single, Daydream / Desert Sand was released in February 2010 on Captured Tracks. In May 2010, their debut album Beach Fossilswas released and met with favorable reviews.
The following years saw a number of changes to their lineup, including when John Peña left the band in 2011 to form Heavenly Beat, and guitarist Cole Smith, who left for his solo project, DIIV. In 2012, Tommy Gardner stepped in as the drummer to form their current lineup.
Clash the Truth was released in early 2013, peaking at number 40 on the Independent Albums chart. Paysuer described it as being an album about what happens after you've solved the immediate problems that come with moving away from home - "something that just doesn't feel like it makes sense yet".
In 2017, after a long break, the third album Somersault was released
The Horse
Beach Fossils Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I'd love to walk with you
I drop from the sky right as you say goodbye
Forever have parted our dreams
I lost my heart for you
And I'd set it free for two
Stones on the ground uncovering lines
The horse, oh, you
The horse with your head to the sky
Will you turn back again? And I'm turning my head
The horse is no longer more
The lyrics of The Horse by Beach Fossils are a melancholic representation of a failed relationship. The singer expresses the desire to be close to someone that they cannot communicate with verbally, but would love to spend time with. The first two lines reveal the yearning for companionship from someone they feel is out of reach. The line "I drop from the sky right as you say goodbye" is a metaphor for feeling sudden and unexpected emotions during a moment of separation when the person they long for is leaving. The phrase "Forever have parted our dreams" portrays a sense of finality, and the realization that the two individuals’ paths have diverged, causing their dreams to no longer align.
The second verse expresses a sense of regret and longing for what could have been. The singer admits to sacrificing their heart for someone else and yet still loving them in a way that would allow them to set themself free for both of them. The line "Stones on the ground uncovering lines that I never knew were there" represents the idea that after a relationship ends, the little things you didn't pay attention to during that time become important and take on a completely new meaning. The lines could be interpreted as newfound insights as the singer recollects their time with the person.
The chorus is a plea for the stirrings of the heart, represented by the horse, to turn back and reconnect, but the reality is that the horse is no longer there. Overall, the lyrics of The Horse by Beach Fossils are about missed opportunities, unfulfilled desires, and the acceptance of the reality that some relationships just don't work out.
Line by Line Meaning
I couldn't talk to you
I lacked the ability to express my thoughts or feelings to you
But I'd love to walk with you
Despite my difficulty in communicating, I would still enjoy being in your company
I drop from the sky right as you say goodbye
At the exact moment you bid your farewell, I experience a sudden and unexpected departure
Forever have parted our dreams
We have gone our separate ways in life, causing our aspirations and hopes to diverge
I lost my heart for you
I fell deeply in love with you and gave my heart to you
And I'd set it free for two
I was willing to sacrifice my heart for both of us to be happy
Stones on the ground uncovering lines
I come across unexpected revelations or truths while walking on the ground
That I never once knew were there
These newfound discoveries were completely unknown to me before
The horse, oh, you
A metaphorical reference to something strong, powerful, or majestic
The horse with your head to the sky
The aforementioned metaphorical entity is confident and holds its head up high
Will you turn back again? And I'm turning my head
I question if this powerful entity will retreat or change direction, while I myself look away from it
The horse is no longer more
The metaphorical entity is no longer at the forefront of my thoughts or desires
Lyrics © JAMIE MUSIC PUBLISHING CO, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: James Dustin Payseur
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind