Formed in the mid 1990's, Bluehorses are fronted by co-founder and lead singer Lizzy Prendergast playing electric violin, electric Celtic harp, space-mandolin and synthesizer. The band also comprises Nic Waulker, on drums - co-founder and co-songwriter, Rhayn Jooste on Bass and Jay MacDonald on guitar.
Fusing the passionate intensity of Celtic themes, a heavy rock and roll mindset and stunning improvisations, Bluehorses' music is a genuinely unique hybrid.
Bluehorses have shared stages with bands as diverse as Hawkwind, The Levellers, Tricks Upon Travellers and Oysterband. They have played festivals in nearly every country of Western Europe and Scandinavia.
Bluehorses have received many accolades including a Mojo magazine 'Album of the Month' and a 'Best Of 2005' award from The Classic Rock Society.
Pentyre Town
Bluehorses Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nights are dark when the boats go down
But souls flit back on the wild winds track
And they gather in Pentyre Town
Wild grey gulls in the narrow streets
Weaving, wavering to and fro
Hear the echo of vanished feet
The nights are dark when the boats go down
The nights are dark when the boats go down
Pale she stands at her open door
Dark little streets of a fishing town
Feel the voices from sea and shore
In the air as the sun goes down
One sails past with an outstretched beak
White throat high in a wailing cry
Stoops his wing to a woman's cheek
Light as he wavers by
Still as a dream until it was nearly morning
Sails burn rosy from afar
Alien songs that bring her loves voice calling
Alive with ruby hearted stars
Still she stands at her open door
Flickering sun is faint and far
Woe is heavy you doubt no more
The waves on the dull doombar
No boat stirs on the dark sea breast
Clouds that writhe on a palid sky
Storm winds wail to the lurid west
Shrill as a sea bird cry
The lyrics of the Bluehorses' song Pentyre Town convey an eerie and melancholic atmosphere. The opening lines imbue a sense of danger and destruction: foam flies white over rocks of black, and nights are dark when the boats go down. However, the soul of the lost sailors returns on the wild wind's track gathering in Pentyre Town. There's a sense of haunting nostalgia in the song, as it alludes to vanished feet and abandoned streets. The image of wild grey gulls weaving and wavering through the narrow alleyways adds to the eerie feeling of the song.
The singer of the song is a woman who stands at her open door and senses the voices from sea and shore in the air as the sun goes down. The song describes how she feels the presence of someone who is no longer there, as a white-throated gull flies by, stooping his wing to the woman's cheek. Despite the hopelessness conveyed in the song, the lyrics also offer a note of beauty and vivid imagery, describing how the sails burn rosy from afar, and how the nights become quieter as the boats stay on the dark sea breast.
Overall, Pentyre Town is a powerful song for its ability to evoke a sense of longing, mourning, and haunting beauty.
Line by Line Meaning
Foam flies white over rocks of black
The waves crash violently against the dark rocks, creating white foam.
Nights are dark when the boats go down
When the fishing boats return from sea and dock for the night, the town is engulfed in darkness.
But souls flit back on the wild winds track
The spirits of the fishermen who died at sea return to the town on the wind.
And they gather in Pentyre Town
The spirits of the dead fishermen gather in the town to be reunited with their loved ones.
Wild grey gulls in the narrow streets
The streets of the fishing town are filled with grey seagulls.
Weaving, wavering to and fro
The seagulls move in a disjointed, unsteady manner.
Hear the echo of vanished feet
The sound of footsteps long gone can be heard in the town.
Flocking as the sun sinks low
The seagulls gather in large numbers as the sun sets.
Pale she stands at her open door
A woman stands at her doorway, looking out at the town.
Dark little streets of a fishing town
The town has small, dark streets that wind around buildings.
Feel the voices from sea and shore
The woman can sense the voices of the sea and the town coming together.
In the air as the sun goes down
The voices of the sea and the town become more prominent as the sun sets.
One sails past with an outstretched beak
A seagull flies by with its beak extended.
White throat high in a wailing cry
The seagull lets out a mournful cry as it flies by.
Stoops his wing to a woman's cheek
The seagull briefly lands on the woman's cheek.
Light as he wavers by
The seagull quickly takes off again and flies away.
Still as a dream until it was nearly morning
The night passed by slowly and quietly, like a dream, until dawn approached.
Sails burn rosy from afar
The distant sails of fishing boats appear red-orange in color.
Alien songs that bring her loves voice calling
The sounds of the sea and the town together create a haunting, unfamiliar melody that reminds the woman of her lost love.
Alive with ruby hearted stars
The night sky is bright with the glow of stars.
Flickering sun is faint and far
The sunrise is weak and far away.
Woe is heavy you doubt no more
The feeling of sadness in the town is nearly palpable.
The waves on the dull doombar
The waves crash heavily against the sandbar near the town, creating a dull roar.
No boat stirs on the dark sea breast
There are no fishing boats on the dark sea.
Clouds that writhe on a palid sky
Clouds move and twist in the grey sky.
Storm winds wail to the lurid west
Strong winds blow from the west, creating a mournful sound.
Shrill as a sea bird cry
The sound of the wind is piercing, like a seagull's cry.
Contributed by Isabelle F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.