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
Valkyrie
Caligula's Horse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You’re holding your breath and not your ground
We’re here again
With a head full of war,
you need it to fill the fight in your hands
So scream at the wall
An echo calm spits back to say,
Wait
Pacify, survive
Time’s no symmetry
You rattle the cage,
but to be still is not to be weak,
and you’ll never run until you’ve got the strength to be on unsteady feet
Collide
Breathe with me
Peace is not your enemy
Call for the valkyrie
It’s not impossible,
it’s just the end of your reach
This is not forever
Valkyrie
The song inside us all
This is it
You and me,
we bleed impossible
It’s alright
Can’t you see the wonder in the wait?
It’s never too late
It’s alright now
Gravity is growth, we’re not there yet
Can’t you see the wonder in the waiting?
It’s alright
Choose the way
Unafraid,
and the wait hasn’t even begun
Together we choose the way
Collide
Choose the way
You can fight for the quiet, the old war
Together we choose the way
Collide
Choose the way
The alive will strive to sever
Untethered, we choose the way
We’re not there yet
Clinging to the weight of the world,
to static, the martyr to pride
But you are the war,
the spite and its author
You and I were born unready,
to stumble, to see
Peace was never your enemy
Go on and call for the valkyrie
It’s not impossible,
it’s just the end of your reach
This is not forever
Valkyrie
The song inside us all
This is it
You and me,
we bleed impossible
It’s alright
Can’t you see the wonder in the wait?
It’s never too late
It’s alright now
Gravity is growth, we’re not there yet
Can’t you see the wonder in the waiting?
It’s alright
The lyrics of Caligula’s Horse's song "Valkyrie" seem to be about resilience in the face of struggle and adversity. The song opens by acknowledging the anxiety and fear that can come with being in a volatile state, but the lyrics encourage the listener to keep a level head and not falter. The narrative then shifts to remind the listener that time is not a constant, and though things appear impossible, the end of any reach is still a place of progress. The lyrics propose that peace is not the enemy of strife, and that one should call upon the valkyrie - an angel in Norse mythology responsible for choosing who lives and dies in battle - when in need of support to face one’s inner demons.
Throughout the song, we hear an encouragement to choose personal agency in the face of challenges, and to collaborate with others to tap into collective strength. The repeated lines "It’s not impossible, it’s just the end of your reach" and "Can’t you see the wonder in the waiting?" express that patience and resilience are necessary for growth, and that progress is always possible.
Overall, it seems that the lyrics of "Valkyrie" are a celebration of the human will to fight and survive, and an invitation to reach out for help when needed.
Line by Line Meaning
Wait
Take a moment to pause and prepare yourself for what comes next.
You’re holding your breath and not your ground
You're feeling intimidated and uncertain, but it's important to stand firm.
We’re here again
We're facing a new challenge, but we've been through this before.
With a head full of war, you need it to fill the fight in your hands
You're mentally preparing for battle and seeking the courage to take action.
So scream at the wall
Release your frustration and let out your emotions.
An echo calm spits back to say, “I will not falter”
Despite the challenges, you will remain strong and steadfast.
Pacify, survive
You need to find inner peace and resilience in order to overcome the difficulties ahead.
Time’s no symmetry
The journey ahead may be unpredictable and uneven.
You rattle the cage, but to be still is not to be weak, and you’ll never run until you’ve got the strength to be on unsteady feet
Even if things are difficult, it's important to stay strong and take action when the time is right.
Collide
The moment of impact is approaching, and you need to be ready for it.
Breathe with me
Take a deep breath and find your center.
Peace is not your enemy
Don't let the pursuit of victory blind you to the possibility of peace.
Call for the valkyrie
Request help and support from the divine forces that may guide and protect you.
It’s not impossible, it’s just the end of your reach
This challenge may seem daunting, but you're closer to success than you may realize.
This is not forever Valkyrie
The divine forces will not abandon you, even if the challenge seems never-ending.
The song inside us all This is it You and me, we bleed impossible
We all have great potential and can accomplish amazing things, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
Can’t you see the wonder in the wait? It’s never too late It’s alright now
Don't give up hope or lose faith, even if the situation seems overwhelming. There is still time to succeed.
Gravity is growth, we’re not there yet Can’t you see the wonder in the waiting? It’s alright
Growth is a gradual process, and success may not come overnight. But don't let that discourage you from persevering.
Choose the way Unafraid, and the wait hasn’t even begun Together we choose the way
Be brave and fearless as you move forward, and remember that you're not alone in this journey.
You can fight for the quiet, the old war Together we choose the way
You may be fighting old battles or dealing with the same issues over and over again, but you can still find a new path forward.
The alive will strive to sever Untethered, we choose the way
Those who are truly alive will keep moving forward, free from the chains of the past.
We’re not there yet
Success may still be far away, but that doesn't mean it's not worth pursuing.
Clinging to the weight of the world, to static, the martyr to pride
Don't let the burdens of the world weigh you down, or let your pride blind you to the better path forward.
But you are the war, the spite and its author
You have the power to create change, to stand up to obstacles and to overcome them.
You and I were born unready, to stumble, to see Peace was never your enemy
We may not be fully prepared for the challenges ahead, but we have the strength to overcome them, and peace is always a possibility.
Go on and call for the valkyrie
Continue to seek guidance and support, even when things seem difficult.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: James Grey, Samuel Vallen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ricky Smart
[Verse 1]
Wait
You're holding your breath and not your ground, we're here again
With a head full of war, you need it to fill the fight in your hands
So scream at the wall, an echo calm spits back to say
"I will not falter"
Wait
Pacify, survive, time's no symmetry
You rattle the cage but to be still is not to be weak
And you'll never run until you've got the strength to be on unsteady feet
[Refrain]
Collide
Breathe with me
Peace is not your enemy
Call for the Valkyrie
[Chorus]
It's not impossible
It's just the end of your reach
This is not forever
Valkyrie
The song inside us all
This is it
You and me
We bleed impossible
[Post-Chorus]
Oh, it's alright
Can't you see the wonder in the wait?
It's never too late
It's alright now
Gravity is growth, we're not there yet
Can't you see the wonder in the waiting?
It's alright
[Bridge]
Choose the way
Unafraid and the wait hasn't even begun
Together we choose the way (We choose the way)
Collide
Choose the way
You can fight for the quiet, the old war
Together we choose the way (We choose the way)
Collide
Choose the way
The alive will strive to sever
Untethered, we choose the way
We're not there yet
[Verse 2]
Clinging to the weight of the world
To static, the martyr to pride
But you are the war
The spite and its author
You and I were born unready
To stumble, to see
Peace was never your enemy
Go on and call for the Valkyrie
[Chorus]
It's not impossible
It's just the end of your reach
This is not forever
Valkyrie
The song inside us all
This is it
You and me
We bleed impossible
[Post-Chorus]
Oh, it's alright
Can't you see the wonder in the wait?
It's never too late
It's alright now
Gravity is growth, we're not there yet
Can't you see the wonder in the waiting?
Oh, it's alright
Adam the awesome person
Valkyrie
Wait
You're holding your breath and not your ground
We're here again
With a head full of war
You need it to fill the fight in your hands
So scream at the wall
An echo calm spits back to say
"I will not falter"
Wait
Pacify, survive
Time's no symmetry
You rattle the cage
But to be still is not to be weak
And you'll never run until you've got the strength to be on unsteady feet
Collide
Breathe with me
Peace is not your enemy
Call for the valkyrie
It's not impossible
It's just the end of your reach
This is not forever
Valkyrie
The song inside us all
This is it
You and me
We bleed impossible
It's alright
Can't you see the wonder in the wait?
It's never too late
It's alright now
Gravity is growth, we're not there yet
Can't you see the wonder in the waiting?
It's alright
Choose the way
Unafraid
And the wait hasn't even begun
Together we choose the way
Collide
Choose the way
You can fight for the quiet, the old war
Together we choose the way
Collide
Choose the way
The alive will strive to sever
Untethered, we choose the way
We're not there yet
Clinging to the weight of the world
To static, the martyr to pride
But you are the war
The spite and its author
You and I were born unready
To stumble, to see
Peace was never your enemy
Go on and call for the valkyrie
It's not impossible
It's just the end of your reach
This is not forever
Valkyrie
The song inside us all
This is it
You and me
We bleed impossible
It's alright
Can't you see the wonder in the wait?
It's never too late
It's alright now
Gravity is growth, we're not there yet
Can't you see the wonder in the waiting?
It's alright
Different
Caligula's Horse is a serious challenger in the prog scene
Bendik Lingeberg
IMO one of the very best, second only to BTBAM. Never could get into Haken as much, even though they're always super solid and I love many of their tracks. Think I listened to Dream Theater too much as a kid lol
Freeze
@Bendik Lingeberg Dream Theater Portnoy era is the GOAT for me - BTBAM is following very close thereafter with Opeth, Steven Wilson (marco, guthrie), Porcupine Tree and Haken in tow. I just got into CH and the Tide the Thief... is definetely my favourite album so far. All three of these new singles are contending for their top 10 best songs which makes me beyond hyped for this new album. Give Haken some time to click. The Architect is the song that got me really in to them. The mountain takes some time to digest but opens up to become one of the greatest prog albums ever made and oddly enough the crystallized EP is one of my top picks from them as well.
Ricky Smart
[Verse 1]
Wait
You're holding your breath and not your ground, we're here again
With a head full of war, you need it to fill the fight in your hands
So scream at the wall, an echo calm spits back to say
"I will not falter"
Wait
Pacify, survive, time's no symmetry
You rattle the cage but to be still is not to be weak
And you'll never run until you've got the strength to be on unsteady feet
[Refrain]
Collide
Breathe with me
Peace is not your enemy
Call for the Valkyrie
[Chorus]
It's not impossible
It's just the end of your reach
This is not forever
Valkyrie
The song inside us all
This is it
You and me
We bleed impossible
[Post-Chorus]
Oh, it's alright
Can't you see the wonder in the wait?
It's never too late
It's alright now
Gravity is growth, we're not there yet
Can't you see the wonder in the waiting?
It's alright
[Bridge]
Choose the way
Unafraid and the wait hasn't even begun
Together we choose the way (We choose the way)
Collide
Choose the way
You can fight for the quiet, the old war
Together we choose the way (We choose the way)
Collide
Choose the way
The alive will strive to sever
Untethered, we choose the way
We're not there yet
[Verse 2]
Clinging to the weight of the world
To static, the martyr to pride
But you are the war
The spite and its author
You and I were born unready
To stumble, to see
Peace was never your enemy
Go on and call for the Valkyrie
[Chorus]
It's not impossible
It's just the end of your reach
This is not forever
Valkyrie
The song inside us all
This is it
You and me
We bleed impossible
[Post-Chorus]
Oh, it's alright
Can't you see the wonder in the wait?
It's never too late
It's alright now
Gravity is growth, we're not there yet
Can't you see the wonder in the waiting?
Oh, it's alright
Laughing Man
A good anthem for the Indo-European race at this point in time, we need to be patient and hold out until our time comes again. That time is coming very soon.
Kel
This song isn't even a grower, it's awesome immediately
First listen:
First Chorus hits
Me: :)
Second Chorus hits
Me: VAAAAAALKYYYYRIEEEE, IT'S NOT IMPOSSIBLE!
Owly Owlman
so very true!
Evil Toad
Same thing for me. I stood up with my arms out on the 2nd chorus and was just "VAAAALKYRIEEEE! IT'S NOT IMPOSSIBLE!"
Blamjack
Hard agree. It hits like a truck.
MarceloJCH
XDD