Tibet has been the only constant in the group, though Steven Stapleton (of Nurse With Wound) has appeared on nearly every Current 93 release. Michael Cashmore has also been a constant contributor since Thunder Perfect Mind. Douglas P. of Death In June has played on well over a dozen Current 93 releases, and Steve Ignorant of Crass (using the name Stephen Intelligent), Boyd Rice, runologist Freya Aswynn , Nick Cave, Björk, Andrew W.K., Will Oldham, Ben Chasny, Rose McDowall, Tiny Tim, Tony Wakeford of Sol Invictus, Marc Almond, John Balance of Coil, Antony Hegarty of Antony and the Johnsons, Baby Dee and Ian Read of Fire + Ice have also lent their talents over the years. Tibet is fond of the works of American writer Thomas Ligotti, and invited him to collaborate with Current 93.
Current 93 have released over twenty albums and many singles as well as having been a guest on many of the above listed artists' records. Tibet has also collaborated with Nature and Organisation and The Hafler Trio.
Much of Current 93's early work was similar to late 1970s and early 1980s industrial music: abrasive tape loops, droning synthesizer noises and Tibet's distorted, excoriating vocals. This early work became influential with the goth scene. Later works found Tibet mostly casting off such trappings in favor of a more organic sound, labeled by some as "apocalyptic folk" music, occasionally featuring his sinister nursery rhyme-influenced singing and primarily acoustic folk-styled music.
Tibet's lyrics have been fairly consistent, regardless of delivery: The earlier recordings reflect his preoccupation with death, Christ, mysticism, Aleister Crowley (Tibet borrowed the term "93 Current" from Crowley - the 93 Current being the current of Thelema or Agape), Tibetan Buddhism, Gnosticism, runes, swastikas, Noddy, The Wicker Man, and a variety of occult notions. The later to present-day period of Current 93's recordings increasingly reflect Tibet's interest in Christian mysticism. Tibet has stated that he identifies as a Christian.
Literary influences include Lautreamont's Les Chants de Maldoror, the Bible, The Poetic Edda, Hildegard von Bingen, John Dee, Heptarchia Mystica, The Thunder, Perfect Mind, William Blake, Louis Wain, writer Thomas Ligotti, occult British author Arthur Machen (originator of the title "The Inmost Light"), M.R. James's various ghost stories, The Cloud of Unknowing, Count Eric Stenbock, and Russell Hoban's Riddley Walker.
Musical influences include religious chants, traditional folk music, The Tam Lin ballad, The Incredible String Band, Sand, Comus, Blue Öyster Cult, Black Sabbath, Love, Shirley Collins, some progressive bands such as Yes, King Crimson, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and the British composer Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji.
David Keenan's book England's Hidden Reverse - A Secret History of the Esoteric Underground (SAF Publishing 2003) extensively covers Tibet's musical evolution along with that of Coil, Stephen Stapleton, and others.
All the Pretty Little Horses
Current 93 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't you cry
Go to sleepy little baby
Go to sleepy little baby
When you wake
You shall have
All the pretty little horsies
All the pretty little horsies
Blacks and bays
Dapples and greys
All the pretty little horsies
Way down yonder
In the meadow
Lies a poor little lamby
Bees and butterflies
Flitting round his eyes
Poor little thing is crying
"Mammy"
Go to sleep
Don't you cry
Rest your head upon the clover
Rest your head upon the clover
In your dreams
You shall ride
Whilst your mammy's watching over
Blacks and bays
Dapples and greys
All the pretty little horsies
All the pretty little horsies
All the pretty little horsies
All the pretty little horsies
The lyrics to Current 93's "All the Pretty Little Horses" are a lullaby-like refrain sung to an infant to encourage them to go to sleep. The lyrics center around the promise of horses that the child will receive in their dreams, with the refrain "All the pretty little horses" serving as a calming and soothing assurance. The first stanza reads, "Hush-a-bye, Don't you cry, Go to sleepy little baby" with the repetition of the stanza providing the song's structure.
The second stanza speaks of the different colors and types of horses that the baby will receive in their dreams, including blacks and bays, dapples and greys. The third stanza introduces a new character, a poor little lamb in a meadow, surrounded by bees and butterflies. The lamb cries out for its mother, linking the song's themes of comfort, reassurance, and protection, with the mother's watching over the dreaming child.
The song is hauntingly beautiful, with the repetition of the simple lyrics providing a sense of comfort and security. The song's structure and melody echo the lullaby's of childhood and highlight the power of music in calming and soothing the human spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
Hush-a-bye
Shh, be quiet
Don't you cry
Don't shed any tears
Go to sleepy little baby
Fall asleep, little one
When you wake
After you've rested
You shall have
You'll receive
All the pretty little horsies
A collection of beautiful horses
Blacks and bays
Horses with black and brown coats
Dapples and greys
Horses with speckled and gray coats
All the pretty little horsies
More beautiful horses
Way down yonder
Far away
In the meadow
On the grassy area
Lies a poor little lamby
There's a young lamb laying
Bees and butterflies
Insects that fly
Flitting round his eyes
Moving quickly around its eyes
Poor little thing is crying
The young lamb is upset and making noise
"Mammy"
It's calling for its mother
Go to sleep
Close your eyes and rest
Don't you cry
No need to be upset
Rest your head upon the clover
Lay your head on the plant
In your dreams
As you sleep
You shall ride
You'll be able to experience
Whilst your mammy's watching over
While your mother is taking care of you
Blacks and bays
Horses with certain colored coats
Dapples and greys
Horses with a certain type of coat
All the pretty little horsies
More beautiful horses
All the pretty little horsies
More beautiful horses
All the pretty little horsies
More beautiful horses
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Anthem Entertainment
Written by: MARINELLI, TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ashleyl.4611
I love Nick Cave, but the atmosphere of this version is phenomenal.
@emilyexplosion9120
Check out the coil version, too.
@mr.j8568
@Emily Explosion The Coil version is insane.
@jamesmitchell8028
Just heard this song for the first time and it’s absolutely beautiful song
@LeandroAlves-rc2qg
God! I love this song for years
@scouts9447
So great. ♡
@AnthonyMonaghan
Excellent in its simplicity...
@asdasd-mr9vc
bu tür şarkıları bizim türkler cok iyi buluyor. sanirim hepimizin icinde melancholy var.
@scouts9447
Beautiful way to put it.
@zic75
Magnifique album