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
Don't Give Up
Caligula's Horse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We were wanted all along
I was taught to fight, taught to win
I never thought I could fail
No fight left or so it seems
I am a man whose dreams have all deserted
I've changed my name, I've changed my face
But no one wants you when you lose
'Cause you have friends
Don't give up
You're not beaten yet
Don't give up
I know you can make it good
Though I saw it all around
Never thought I could be affected
Thought that we'd be the last to go
It is so strange the way things turn
Drove the night toward my home
The place that I was born, on the lakeside
As daylight broke, I saw the earth
The trees had burned down to the ground
Don't give up
You still have us
Don't give up
We don't need much of anything
Don't give up
'Cause somewhere there's a place
Where we belong
Rest your head
You worry too much
It's going to be alright
When times get rough
You can fall back on us
Don't give up
Please don't give up
'Got to walk out of here
I can't take anymore
Going to stand on that bridge
Keep my eyes down below
Whatever may come
And whatever may go
That river's flowing
That river's flowing
Moved on to another town
Tried hard to settle down
For every job, so many men
So many men no-one needs
Don't give up
'Cause you have friends
Don't give up
You're not the only one
Don't give up
No reason to be ashamed
Don't give up
You still have us
Don't give up now
We're proud of who you are
Don't give up
You know it's never been easy
Don't give up
'Cause I believe there's a place
There's a place where we belong
The lyrics of Caligula's Horse's song "Don't Give Up" convey a message of resilience, perseverance, and the importance of support from others during challenging times. The song explores the struggles one faces in life and the feeling of being unwanted or rejected when experiencing failure.
The opening verses depict a sense of strength and confidence, growing up in a proud land and being taught to fight and win. However, as the song progresses, the singer reveals that they have reached a point where they feel defeated and have lost hope. They have changed their name and face, possibly symbolizing a loss of identity and a desperate attempt to reinvent themselves. The line "But no one wants you when you lose" emphasizes the harsh reality of society's tendency to abandon those who are struggling.
Despite this, the chorus repeatedly urges the listener to not give up because they have friends and support. It encourages them to keep going, assuring them that they are not yet beaten and that they have the potential to turn their situation around. The lyrics express the hope that there is a place where they belong, where they can find solace and acceptance.
The song also touches upon the unexpected and unpredictable nature of life. The line "Thought that we'd be the last to go" suggests a sense of disbelief and surprise at witnessing the downfall of something stable or familiar. The verses further highlight the singer's disillusionment as they witness the destruction of their home and familiar surroundings. However, the song reaffirms the importance of not losing hope and relying on the support of others during times of difficulty.
Overall, "Don't Give Up" encourages listeners to persevere through hardships, reminding them that they are not alone and that there is always hope.
Line by Line Meaning
In this proud land we grew up strong
We have grown up in a land that instilled strength and pride in us.
We were wanted all along
We have always been valued and desired.
I was taught to fight, taught to win
I was raised to be resilient and determined, to always strive for victory.
I never thought I could fail
I had never considered the possibility of failure in my endeavors.
No fight left or so it seems
I feel depleted and devoid of any remaining strength or determination.
I am a man whose dreams have all deserted
As a person, my aspirations and desires have all abandoned me.
I've changed my name, I've changed my face
I have undergone significant transformations, both in identity and appearance.
But no one wants you when you lose
When you experience defeat, people tend to reject and abandon you.
Don't give up
'Cause you have friends
Despite the challenges, do not lose hope because you have supportive friends by your side.
Don't give up
You're not beaten yet
Do not surrender because you still have the strength to overcome adversity.
Don't give up
I know you can make it good
Continue persevering because I believe you have the capability to turn things around for the better.
Though I saw it all around
Never thought I could be affected
Despite witnessing others struggle, I never anticipated that I would be personally impacted by difficulties.
Thought that we'd be the last to go
It is so strange the way things turn
I believed we would be among the final survivors, but life unfolds in mysterious ways.
Drove the night toward my home
The place that I was born, on the lakeside
I traveled through the night to return to my birthplace, a lakeside location that holds significance to me.
As daylight broke, I saw the earth
The trees had burned down to the ground
Upon the arrival of dawn, I witnessed the devastating aftermath of a fire where all the trees had been reduced to ashes.
Don't give up
You still have us
Do not lose hope because you still have our support and companionship.
Don't give up
We don't need much of anything
There is no need to despair because we find contentment even with minimal possessions or resources.
Don't give up
'Cause somewhere there's a place
Where we belong
Continue persevering because there exists a place where we will feel a sense of belonging and acceptance.
Rest your head
You worry too much
It's going to be alright
Relax and ease your constant worrying because everything will eventually turn out fine.
When times get rough
You can fall back on us
During challenging times, you can rely on us for support and assistance.
Don't give up
Please don't give up
I implore you not to surrender or lose hope.
'Got to walk out of here
I can't take anymore
I need to leave this place as I am unable to handle the current situation any longer.
Going to stand on that bridge
Keep my eyes down below
I will position myself on the bridge, focusing my gaze on what lies beneath.
Whatever may come
And whatever may go
That river's flowing
That river's flowing
Regardless of what may occur or what may be lost, the river continues to flow steadily, symbolizing the persistence of life's essence.
Moved on to another town
Tried hard to settle down
I have relocated to a different town in an attempt to find stability and establish roots.
For every job, so many men
So many men no-one needs
There are numerous individuals seeking employment, but unfortunately, there is a surplus of laborers and a lack of demand for their services.
Don't give up
'Cause you have friends
Do not lose hope because there are friends who support and care for you.
Don't give up
You're not the only one
Do not surrender because you are not the sole person facing these challenges.
Don't give up
No reason to be ashamed
There is no need to feel ashamed or embarrassed in the face of difficulties.
Don't give up
You still have us
Do not lose hope because we are still here to support you.
Don't give up now
We're proud of who you are
Do not surrender at this moment because we are proud of your identity and accomplishments.
Don't give up
You know it's never been easy
Do not lose hope because you are aware that the journey has never been simple.
Don't give up
'Cause I believe there's a place
There's a place where we belong
Continue persevering because I believe there is a specific place where we will find a sense of belonging and acceptance.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PETER GABRIEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind