The brainchild of guitarist, songwriter and producer Sam Vallen, CALIGULA'S HORSE - initially composed of just Vallen and vocalist Jim Grey - released its digital debut “Moments From Ephemeral City” in April 2011, and received instant acclaim from lovers of all strains of progressive music across many continents. Originally intended as a studio-only project, Vallen and Grey put out feelers for a live band soon after the album's release, assembling the current lineup of Geoff Irish on drums, Zac Greensill on guitar and Dave Couper on bass and vocals.
CALIGULA’S HORSE's approach to songwriting is uncompromisingly eclectic, but no less accessible to audiences of all different musical styles. They take influence from such bands and artists as Devin Townsend, Pain Of Salvation, Opeth, Meshuggah, Porcupine Tree, Steve Vai, Frost, Periphery, Karnivool, Muse, Steely Dan, The Beatles, and Frank Zappa amongst many others.
After months of rehearsing the recorded material, and also recording two additional tracks as the “Colossus” EP - released in September of 2011 - the “C-HORSE”, as some devotees like to abbreviate it to kicked off with live shows in October 2011. These are early days for a diverse and enthusiastic bunch of young virtuosos, but 2012 looks to be the breakout year for CALIGULA’S HORSE.
Caligula's Horse is:
Jim Grey - Lead Vocals
Sam Vallen - Guitar, Programming, Production, Mixing
Dale Prinsse - Bass
Josh Griffin - Drums
Dark Hair Down
Caligula's Horse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It was his neck or her wrist
Clean nails on iron fist
Dreams of peace beyond the wall
She'd cry out for mercy but she had no voice at all
Here
Here and now it ends
Her promise she would make amends
He lay not yet cold on the ground
This day of all days she would wear her dark hair down
This time the wheel has come around
Free of her cage she crows with a fearless sound
"Your fists can't hurt me now"
A fearless sound
She'll wear her dark hair down
Down
And blood brought the answer that time could not provide
Scars that read like home could hide
Her prison swallowed everything but piercing open eyes
She proudly bore the mark
Where his brand had met her head
She spat "The coward could not kill what was already dead."
Dark hair down
This time the wheel has come around
Free of her cage
A fearless sound
Stand and fight
This is my salvation
Blood for blood my love
With a fearless sound
"Your fists can't hurt me now"
A fearless sound
She'll wear her dark hair down
Blood for blood my love
The lyrics to Caligula's Horse's song Dark Hair Down tell a story of a woman who is trapped in an abusive relationship with a man. The first verse describes her dilemma: she is at a crossroads where she knows she must either fight back with all her might or succumb to her abuser's demands. The second verse portrays the woman's triumph at finally escaping her abusive partner despite the physical and emotional scars he has inflicted upon her. The chorus, where she proclaims her resilience and courage, is a rallying cry to other victims of domestic violence to stand up and fight for their own freedom.
The song's lyrics are powerful in their message of hope, resilience, and self-empowerment. They call on listeners who have experienced or witnessed domestic violence to adopt a more positive outlook on life and to believe in their own strength and ability to overcome any obstacle. This positive message is further underscored by the guitar riff which provides a sense of energy and momentum to the entire song.
Line by Line Meaning
Down
The scene is set post the act of revenge
It was his neck or her wrist
Her need for freedom led to an act where she was left with no choice but to kill him
Clean nails on iron fist
She was determined to not let anything come in her way
Dreams of peace beyond the wall
Her dreams of freedom weren't limited by the boundaries of her imprisonment
She'd cry out for mercy but she had no voice at all
Her desire for freedom was met with the harsh reality of her vulnerability and powerlessness
Here and now it ends
The act of revenge concludes the long-winded story
This quiet victory
The quiet is the after-effect of the storm that just passed
Her promise she would make amends
She made a vow that she would make things right
He lay not yet cold on the ground
He just died, and the body hasn't even gotten cold yet
This day of all days she would wear her dark hair down
She had decided to wear her hair down, symbolizing freedom and breaking free of constraints
This time the wheel has come around
The cycle of revenge has come full circle
Free of her cage she crows with a fearless sound
She rejoices at her newfound freedom with a sense of bravery and strength
"Your fists can't hurt me now"
Her physical vulnerability no longer matters as she has already achieved what she had set out to
Stand and fight
A call to rise up and fight for oneself
This is my salvation
The act of revenge was her salvation, giving her freedom from bondage
Blood for blood my love
The act of revenge was a result of the deep love and emotional attachment she had for the one who suffered
She proudly bore the mark
She wears the physical evidence of what she had to do to achieve her freedom
Where his brand had met her head
The physical manifestation of his control over her
She spat "The coward could not kill what was already dead."
She proudly proclaims that his attempt at control caused her to break free and come back stronger
Dark hair down
Symbolic of freedom
With a fearless sound
Bravery and fearlessness in the face of challenges
Contributed by Brooklyn B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@DLeRoux
7 Years now - still on my playlist. Incredible band. Incredible song.
@RyanxDunn
"this time the wheel has come around" no one has sounded more like Maynard than when he sings this line and it's awesome
@KingAlpaca
Very true
@based7881
I still think he is a more capable singer than maynard
@RyanxDunn
@Based hearing Jim live on videos is insane. I think Maynard has gotten older obviously and he's also focused on other things like wine and martial arts and whatnot. He's very busy. What I love about Jim is his ability to alternate between falsetto and those powerful shouts that he uses when belting notes. Honestly he's one of the best vocalists I've heard in metal and music in general for my taste.
@the7stringshred
Sam, Jim, Zac, Dave, Geoff, all of the guys in CALIGULA'S HORSE... Bought it, and can't stop listening... One of my top ten albums of all time. And this song is a horrendous heart-breaker. ALMOST PERFECT... You cast the PERFECT female lead for the video... Almost too much for me to bear...
@rataks
Holy crap, what an amazing track! Absolute killer. Just got to discover the band, already fell in love.
@brandonwoods2985
Listening to recommended songs in the background while surfing the internet. Every once in a blue moon a song will sink in and i'll have to start listening closely and pay more attention. Then i'll have to play it over again just to get another hit. That's when it hits me. I like this; no I really like this. Like this band is going to become a part of my life. Like I need more of this.
I guess it's kind of like panning for gold. You shake the filter while thinking about other things, not really expecting to find anything. And so it goes for weeks on end. Then you look down. Is that a spec of gold? It is. Keep shaking. Oh man there is more here! I've really got something! Yeah let's play this song a third time. Then probably a fourth. What other songs does this band have on here and are they as good? Let's get this journey started and see just how deep is the rabbit hole.
@BrutalOslaugh95
Beautiful
@JansPlayhouse
True dat! LOVE LOVE LOVE them!