"Indiscriminate Act of Kindness", one of Foy’s most popular tracks "live" was featured in the a TV commercial for Great Ormond Street Hospital which was aired in the UK up until Christmas of 2006. Foy often uses alternative tunings for his guitar, for example the song 'Indiscriminate Act of Kindness' he uses the tuning CGDGCe.
Foy has previously released two limited edition EPs on Wurdamouth records; "Live Sessions and the birth of the Toilet tour" and "Watermelon Oranges". His regular piano player is London based composer Jules Maxwell.
Dark Horse
Foy Vance Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of having gone before you
And as a matter of course, call it chance or design
It never seems to ignore you
It hides in the shadow of several dark alleys
And then when you least expect
It bites through the marrow and fills the dead valleys
Hold me close and hold me strong
Hold me pure and hold me long
Hold me dark and hold me light
Hold me wrong and hold me right
Hope is a sword with both sides as sharp
As the other as sharp as the other
And it cuts you of course, and it cuts to the heart
It cuts all your sisters and brothers
It cannot be blunted by roughest of stones
And the wounds will not lose their sting
They just grow deeper 'til they cut through the bones
Fill you up with the heartache and peace about things
Hold me close and hold me strong
Hold me pure and hold me long
Hold me dark and hold me light
Hold me wrong, hold me right
Hold me close and hold me strong
Hold me pure and hold me long
Hold me dark and hold me light
Hold me wrong and hold me right
The lyrics of Foy Vance's song "Dark Horse" explore the concept of hope and its multifaceted nature. The song suggests that hope is a mysterious force that operates in unexpected ways and has both positive and negative effects on individuals.
The opening lines, "Hope's a dark horse and it shows no sign / Of having gone before you," convey the elusiveness of hope. It often appears out of nowhere and does not provide any clear indication of its presence. The following line, "And as a matter of course, call it chance or design / It never seems to ignore you," suggests that hope is not a random phenomenon but rather something that is meant to cross paths with a person, regardless of whether it is by chance or some divine plan.
The second verse continues to explore the contradictory nature of hope. It mentions that hope hides in the shadow of dark alleys, suggesting that it often manifests in unexpected and hidden places. However, when it does reveal itself, it brings forth positive changes, symbolized by "grass and peace and incense." It signifies that hope has the power to transform and bring about tranquility in the most desolate of circumstances.
The chorus reinforces the duality of hope. It emphasizes the need for hope to be both comforting and strong, pure and long-lasting, dark and light, and both right and wrong. This suggests that hope embraces both the positive and negative aspects of life and provides support in times of both joy and hardship.
Overall, "Dark Horse" is a poignant exploration of the complexity of hope, acknowledging its ability to both heal and hurt, uplift and challenge, as it weaves its uncertain path through one's life.
Line by Line Meaning
Hope's a dark horse and it shows no sign
Hope is an unpredictable force that does not give any indication of its presence
Of having gone before you
It does not come from past experiences
And as a matter of course, call it chance or design
Whether attributed to luck or intention, hope naturally appears
It never seems to ignore you
Hope never disregards or neglects you
It hides in the shadow of several dark alleys
Hope remains concealed in uncertain and difficult circumstances
And then when you least expect
And unexpectedly
It bites through the marrow and fills the dead valleys
Hope penetrates through the core of despair and brings life to desolate places
With grass and peace and incense
Bringing growth, tranquility, and a sense of sacredness
Hold me close and hold me strong
Embrace me tightly and with determination
Hold me pure and hold me long
Embrace me with innocence and for an extended period
Hold me dark and hold me light
Embrace me in both difficult and joyful times
Hold me wrong and hold me right
Hold me despite any mistakes or uncertainties
Hope is a sword with both sides as sharp
Hope can be simultaneously empowering and painful
As the other as sharp as the other
Each side is equally sharp
And it cuts you of course, and it cuts to the heart
Hope inevitably inflicts wounds, reaching deep into your emotions
It cuts all your sisters and brothers
Hope affects not only you but also those around you
It cannot be blunted by roughest of stones
Hope remains resilient even in the face of great adversity
And the wounds will not lose their sting
The pain caused by hope's cuts does not dull over time
They just grow deeper 'til they cut through the bones
The wounds intensify until they penetrate to the very core of your being
Fill you up with the heartache and peace about things
The wounds simultaneously bring deep sorrow and a sense of acceptance
Hold me close and hold me strong
Embrace me tightly and with determination
Hold me pure and hold me long
Embrace me with innocence and for an extended period
Hold me dark and hold me light
Embrace me in both difficult and joyful times
Hold me wrong and hold me right
Hold me despite any mistakes or uncertainties
Writer(s): Foy Vance
Contributed by Cole I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@SamEvansYoutube
Still loving this song in 2023! You are one of the greats Foy 🙌
@happytrails2006
Fantastic song, Foy just keeps getting better
@willykayak
his passion and soul just ooze. . . . .Willy
@sambarnes12
soo much love for this!
@TheOpinionatedGuitarist
AWESOME!!!
@MySecretCollective
Amazing stuff Foy. See you in Cork
@Lemmecommentazhul
omg i had to stop what i was doing to listen to this.
@RSNmusik
I love this song! Where do I get chords or lyrics of it? :)
@Crazycupmuffin
Is that Gareth dunlops drummer?