The trio's fans were amazed by the lightning style, precise technique highly lyrical solos of the band’s 18 year old guitarist Phil Keaggy, who had the use of only nine fingers. Combined with the tasteful, rhythmic bass lines of Daniel Pecchio and the sharp, assertive drumming of John Sferra, Glass Harp created a wall of sound that thrilled sell-out crowds across the upper Midwest and beyond. They garnered a large and loyal regional following. National notoriety followed when they toured with Traffic, Yes, The Kinks, Humble Pie, Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, and Grand Funk Railroad. Through the efforts of manager Chip Killinger, they connected with Lewis Merenstein, and with him, even greater national attention came with the release of the band's three critically- acclaimed Decca(MCA) LPs: Glass Harp, Synergy, and It Makes Me Glad. The band's highly energetic and wildly improvisational live concerts fueled the band's legend. Concert goers from the Fillmore West to Carnegie Hall turned into instant fans.
Glass Harp's music has been cited as an influence over an astounding variety of artists, from guitar heroes (Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, Rick Derringer) and jam bands (Derek Trucks Band, Ekoostik Hookah, Col. Bruce Hampton & The Code Talkers), to progressive rock (Kansas, Adrian Belew, Mike Keneally, Spock's Beard) and even heavy metal (King's X, P.O.D.). In their short life, the band made an indelible mark on the history of rock 'n' roll.
The band dissolved on the cusp of achieving mainstream rock stardom when Phil Keaggy left to become a pioneer in Christian music. It's within this scene that Phil found a home releasing 50 solo recordings, performing live throughout the world. With his Christian music recordings Phil has earned 5 Dove awards, 2 Grammy nominations, 2 Nashville Music Awards, and he has finished #2 and #3 twice each in the annual Guitar Player Magazine poll.
In 1997 the band acquired and released the “Live at Carnegie Hall” recording that was made in 1972. Glass Harp reunited in 2000 for a show at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2000 they recorded the "Live with The Youngstown Symphony Orchestra" CD in their hometown. The concert was recorded and independently released in 2001 on the “Strings Attached” CD. Response to the CD was great and created more opportunities to play live. In 2002 they began work on their first studio project in 30 years. They recorded 16 songs at Blue Desert Recording on "The Row" in Nashville and in Phil's home studio. The 2003 CD HOURGLASS was mixed in Ohio and mastered in Nashville with Richard Dodd.They released the "Hourglass" studio CD in 2003, and the triple-live album "Stark Raving Jams" in 2004. They toured in 2003 and 2004. Glass Harp has rekindled interest amongst longtime fans while finding an entire new generation of listeners through the internet and live concerts.
Colt
Glass Harp Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey, you've lost yourself to what you were afraid of
Now you are the stuff you thought that dreams were made of
Will you go away and leave yourself behind?
Now I know that we'll be much more kinder to ourselves.
When I saw that we were getting older,
I thought it over--did we mean the things that we said?
Just a colt trotting down the winding road,
Thinking of things that are old
Waiting to glimpse the face of light
Now I know we'll be much more clear to ourselves.
In the song Colt by Glass Harp, a person is addressing someone who has lost themselves to their fears, and has become the very thing they used to only dream about. The singer questions if this person will leave their old self behind and move on to a new phase of life. As the singer reflects on their own life, they realize that with age comes more thoughtfulness and kindness towards oneself. The metaphor of a colt trotting down a winding road, contemplating the past and waiting for the glimpse of light, signifies the journey towards self-discovery.
The lyrics urge the listener to question their own transformation and whether they have become the person they wanted to be. It is an introspective song that encourages self-reflection and growth, and acknowledges that with time comes a better understanding of ourselves. The use of the colt as a symbol for self-discovery is particularly interesting, as it is a young horse that is not yet fully developed, suggesting that the journey towards self-discovery is a lifelong process.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, you've lost yourself to what you were afraid of
You have allowed your fears to overpower you and in doing so, you have lost your true identity
Now you are the stuff you thought that dreams were made of
You have become successful and accomplished all that you ever dreamt of
Will you go away and leave yourself behind?
Are you willing to give up your true self in order to maintain your success?
Now I know that we'll be much more kinder to ourselves.
We will treat ourselves with more compassion and understanding in the future
When I saw that we were getting older,
As we age, we start to realize the importance of introspection
I thought it over--did we mean the things that we said?
We start questioning the authenticity of our words and actions as we get older
Now I know that we'll be much more thoughtful To ourselves.
We will become more reflective and considerate of our own feelings and needs
Just a colt trotting down the winding road,
A young and inexperienced person embarking on a journey towards self-discovery
Thinking of things that are old
Reflecting on the past, both good and bad, to understand the present
Waiting to glimpse the face of light
Eager to shed light on one's own insecurities and fears
Now I know we'll be much more clear to ourselves.
Through introspection, we will gain clarity and understanding about our own selves and our journey
Contributed by Brooklyn S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.