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
The City Has No Empathy
Caligula's Horse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Siren's song
Drift down deeper
The city's heart is waiting for me
City, soulless
All empty syringe, hollow promise and careful disguise
Bright eyes
Ever the optimist
So sing your song
Like a sight
Your sentimental lie
Liar
Open your mouth and sing like you've got something
You've got something to say
My head in my hands
Try to ignore the sound turning to sand
Cold wind carries my own voice
A whisper begging for release
I am released
So sing your song
Like a sigh
Your sentimental lie
Liar
Open your mouth and sing like you've got something
Something to say
Sing your song
Like a sigh
Your sentimental lie
Liar
Open your mouth and sing like you've got something
Something to...
Fuck this city
I've been released
I spread out wide my arms
I breathe in deep and sing
I am released
The City Has No Empathy by Caligula's Horse is a song that captures the feeling of being trapped in a soulless city where promises are empty and hope is fleeting. The opening verses describe the city as an empty shell, and the singer as a lost soul trying to make sense of it all. The siren's song calls out to the singer, as if beckoning him to dive deeper into the city's abyss. The bright eyes of hopeful people briefly carry the singer with them, but they are ever the optimist in a city that has no empathy.
Line by Line Meaning
Empty streets call
The deserted streets beckon and invite me in.
Siren's song
The city has a mesmerizing yet dangerous charm.
Drift down deeper
I allow myself to be fully drawn into the city's way of life.
The city's heart is waiting for me
The city's life and energy are calling out to me, waiting for me to embrace it.
City, soulless
The city is devoid of any genuine emotion or humanity.
All empty syringe, hollow promise and careful disguise
Everything in the city is fake, filled with lies and promises that never come to fruition.
Bright eyes
People in the city, despite its flaws, still have hope and are drawn in by its grandeur.
Briefly carry the hopeful
This hope is fleeting and short-lived due to the city's superficial nature.
Ever the optimist
Yet, some people still hold on to the belief that the city will fulfill its promises eventually.
So sing your song
Let yourself be carried away by the city's facade and lies.
Like a sight
The city is a beautiful but fleeting illusion.
Your sentimental lie
All the promises and dreams of the city are nothing more than empty, manipulative gestures.
Liar
The city itself is a liar, deceiving and controlling those who fall under its spell.
Open your mouth and sing like you've got something
Even if you know it's all fake, fully embrace the city as though it is the truth.
You've got something to say
Don't let your doubts and fears prevent you from experiencing everything the city has to offer.
My head in my hands
I am overwhelmed and frustrated by the city's hold on me.
Try to ignore the sound turning to sand
Even the sounds of the city, once beautiful, now grate on me and feel false.
Cold wind carries my own voice
I feel like I am losing myself in the city and becoming a product of its deceptions.
A whisper begging for release
I long to break free from the city's grasp and live genuinely.
I am released
Finally I have broken free from the city's illusory grip.
Fuck this city
I am done with the city's lies and facades.
I spread out wide my arms
I embrace the genuine freedom and release that comes from leaving the city behind.
I breathe in deep and sing
I am finally able to express myself genuinely and truly live.
Contributed by Lucy P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Djerszium
Empty streets call
Siren's song
Drift down deeper
The city's heart is waiting for me
City - soulless
All empty syringe, hollow promise and careful disguise
Bright eyes
Briefly carry the hopeful
Ever the optimist
So sing your song
Like a sigh
Your sentimental lie
Liar!
Open your mouth and sing like you've got something
You've got something to say
My head in my hands
Try to ignore the sound turning to sand
Cold wind carries my own voice
A whisper begging for release
I am released
So sing your song
Like a sigh
Your sentimental lie
Liar!
Open your mouth and sing like you've got something
Something to say
Sing your song
Like a sigh
Your sentimental lie
Liar!
Open your mouth and sing like you've got something
Something to...
Fuck this city
I've been released
I spread out wide my arms
I breath in deep and sing:
I am released
I am released
@turtlekappa7141
Just quite literally stumbled upon Caligula's Horse yesterday. This band is fire
@IntrusiveThot420
OG caligula's horse is so good, new stuff is good, stuff in between is good. God damn I'm so excited to see these guys live sometime!
@wolfiewylde5143
This is my favorite new band. Holy shit.
@ernestof6697
seriously. same here
@semioszek1131
@@ernestof6697 seriously. same here
@VulgrimOfficial
Try Leprous too
@grumpymeercat
Man the chorus just works so well
@PLSGuitar
Why this doesn't have thousands of views is a greater mystery than the meaning of life.
@caligulashorse
He was absolutely the inspiration :p
@mytemporallobeisshapedlike1796
Who? Please this has been bothering me for years