Flying Horses
Dispatch Lyrics


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The river of doubt gave birth to a beautiful stone
And in my hands I held it and I knew I was on my own
So I picked it up and held it to the sky
And in my reflection I knew I was all alone

Yeah (yeah)
Then I saw this girl with the most beautiful hair
She had it wrapped around her, for clothes she did not wear
I asked her for a lock and she complied, after leaving
Gorgeous footsteps in the sand as if she didn't care

Well, she was the prettiest girl I ever saw
The stone lay still without a flaw
The feelings I had defied the law
As I came to, I went to
And I took a look, a look down the road
To see a badger and a one-eyed toad
They didn't say a word they just looked at me
With that wise old look of the old
(Yeah wise old look of the old)
Yeah

Then I went down to town
To my favorite merry-go-round
To the place where magic hoses fly
And you seldom see a frown

But then I stole a ring from the flying horses
And I can't begin to explain how
I stole a ring from the flying horses
And it's all rusty now
I stole a ring from the flying horses
And I can't begin to explain how
I stole a ring from the flying horses
And it's all rusty now
(It's all rusty)

You see 'cause that stone fell though my pocket
And that lock of hair flew away with the wind
If you chance to meet upon either
Well you know where they've been

But don't pick them up or try to find me
They're much happier to be on their own
Beauty like that knows no home
And if you take a look, a look down the road
You'll see a badger and a one-eyed toad
They won't say a word they'll just look at you
With that wise old look of the old
(Hey yeah, wise old look of the old, hey yeah)

Yeah but then I stole a ring from the flying horses
And I can't begin to explain how
I stole a ring from the flying horses
And it's all rusty now
I stole a ring from the flying horses
And I can't begin to explain how
I stole a ring from the flying horses
And it's all rusty now

I stole a ring from the flying horses
And I can't begin to explain how
I stole a ring from the flying horses
And it's all rusty now
I stole a ring from the flying horses
And I can't begin to explain how
I stole a ring from the flying horses
And it's all rusty now
I stole a ring from the flying horses
And I can't begin to explain how
I stole a ring from the flying horses
And it's all rusty now
I stole a ring from the flying horses




And I can't begin to explain how
I stole a ring from the flying horses

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Dispatch's Flying Horses are full of abstract imagery and surreal metaphors, leaving room for interpretation and individualized meanings. The song seems to follow a journey of self-discovery, with the singer encountering beautiful things (such as the river's stone and the girl's hair), as well as strange creatures (the badger and one-eyed toad). In the end, the singer admits to stealing a ring from the flying horses and expresses a sense of confusion and inability to explain how it happened.


The river of doubt and the beautiful stone may represent a moment of personal uncertainty or a difficult decision the singer faced. The girl with beautiful hair, who is "clothes she did not wear," may symbolize a free spirit or a sense of liberation that the singer longs for. The badger and one-eyed toad could be seen as ominous figures, possibly representing the consequences of the singer's actions.


The flying horses themselves are a mysterious and fantastical element to the song. The fact that the singer was able to steal a ring from them adds to the song's dreamlike quality. The line "If you chance to meet upon either, well you know where they've been" suggests that the stone and lock of hair the singer lost may have ended up in the possession of the flying horses, further emphasizing their mystical nature. The repetition of the line "I can't begin to explain how" in regards to the stolen ring reinforces the surreal and enigmatic tone of the lyrics.


Line by Line Meaning

The river of doubt gave birth to a beautiful stone
From adversity comes beauty


And in my hands I held it and I knew I was on my own
I realized that I was alone and had to rely on myself


So I picked it up and held it to the sky
I embraced the beauty and hopefulness of the stone


And in my reflection I knew I was all alone
I saw my own loneliness in the reflection of the stone


Then I saw this girl with the most beautiful hair
I encountered a stunningly beautiful woman


She had it wrapped around her, for clothes she did not wear
She wore her long hair like clothing


I asked her for a lock and she complied, after leaving
I asked for a lock of her hair and she gave it to me before leaving


Gorgeous footsteps in the sand as if she didn't care
She left behind striking footsteps in the sand, seemingly unbothered


Well, she was the prettiest girl I ever saw
She was the most beautiful person I had ever seen


The stone lay still without a flaw
The stone remained still and perfect


The feelings I had defied the law
My emotions were intense and overwhelming


As I came to, I went to
As I came to my senses, I continued on my journey


And I took a look, a look down the road
I surveyed the path ahead of me


To see a badger and a one-eyed toad
I saw an animal duo by the road


They didn't say a word they just looked at me
The animals were silent but observant


With that wise old look of the old
They conveyed an aura of ancient wisdom


Then I went down to town
I traveled to the town


To my favorite merry-go-round
I visited my favored amusement ride


To the place where magic hoses fly
An imaginative place where fantastical things happen


And you seldom see a frown
It was a happy, joyful place


But then I stole a ring from the flying horses
I committed theft from a mythical creature


And I can't begin to explain how
I cannot describe how it occurred


And it's all rusty now
The stolen item has become old and tarnished


You see 'cause that stone fell though my pocket
The beautiful stone fell out of my pocket


And that lock of hair flew away with the wind
The lock of hair was carried away by the wind


If you chance to meet upon either
If you come across either item


Well you know where they've been
You know about their journey


But don't pick them up or try to find me
Do not collect or search for these items or myself


They're much happier to be on their own
The items are better off solitary


Beauty like that knows no home
True beauty is not confined to a specific place


You'll see a badger and a one-eyed toad
You will encounter the same animal pair I did


They won't say a word they'll just look at you
The animals will continue to be silently observant


Yeah but then I stole a ring from the flying horses
I reiterate that I committed theft from a mystical creature


And it's all rusty now
The stolen item remains old and tarnished




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BRADLEY CORRIGAN,, CHARLES STOKES URMSTON, PETER FRANCIS HEIMBOLD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@PMcDFPV

This music changed my life, it still helps ground me to this day and I will always go back to Dispatch when I start to feel disconnected from this beautiful world.

@goofydawg5011

I'm Glad I'm not the only one who feels the exact same way

@mikeyrizzo7606

Ditto.

@badmoon710

Showed my 8 year old son this song and the general. Told him these were the songs that brightened up my day back in 2002-2003. He said “dad these songs brightened my day up in 2022!”

@sarahfelsch5465

Love that

@heatherherbert8322

Listening to these songs again is giving me a warm heart. My fiancé who just passed a couple weeks ago, was from cape cod and he's listened to most of their songs and told me where and what they were about. I miss him, but i know hes listening right beside me ❤

@Emma-cj8mo

He absolutely is!

@rickkomperda833

One of the greatest bands of all time. Still making amazing music. Excellent song right here.

@Jams140

Came back Dispatch during quarantine, hell ya

@staceyend611

Same!

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