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.
black horse
Glass Harp Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can you hear the things they've said?
Yellow moon glowing in the night can you taste?
Can you feel the lives they've led?
I think there's something on your mind
If there is, let's hear it
Your thoughts are completely out of time
If there are why fear it, why fear it?
To see daybreak just one more time......
The song "Black Horse" by Glass Harp is a poetic exploration of the unknown and the mystical. The opening lines "Black horse running through the trees can you see?" creates a vivid image of a horse running free through a forest. The next line "Can you hear the things they've said?" introduces an eerie feeling to the song, as if the forest and the horse have some kind of otherworldly connection. The yellow moon glowing in the night is another symbolic reference to the supernatural elements of the song. The line following, "can you taste?", gives a sense that the moon and everything it represents may be something that can be experienced in a sensory way. The last line of the first stanza "Can you feel the lives they've led?" implies a connection between the moon, the horse and the forest.
The second stanza continues with the theme of the unknown, and the lyrics are directed at a specific person. "I think there's something on your mind, if there is, let's hear it" seems to be an invitation to open up and share whatever is weighing on the person's mind. "Your thoughts are completely out of time, if there are why fear it, why fear it?" suggests that the person is struggling with something that may be difficult to understand or even justify. The last line "Old friends feeding on a dream, will you wake?" creates an ominous feeling, as if the person has been living in a dream world for a long time but may soon be forced to face reality.
Line by Line Meaning
Black horse running through the trees can you see?
Do you notice the ominous presence represented by the black horse galloping through the forest?
Can you hear the things they've said?
Are you aware of the dark rumors and whispers that surround this place?
Yellow moon glowing in the night can you taste?
Do you feel the eerie atmosphere of the yellow moon shining in the dark sky?
Can you feel the lives they've led?
Do you sense the weight of the tragic history that haunts this place?
I think there's something on your mind
I believe that you are troubled by something.
If there is, let's hear it
If you have something to say, speak up and share your thoughts.
Your thoughts are completely out of time
Your ideas seem outdated and out of step with the modern world.
If there are why fear it, why fear it?
If there are outdated thoughts or fears, why let them hold you back? Face them and move forward.
Old friends feeding on a dream, will you wake?
Are you going to realize that the old friends you trusted are leading you to a false hope or dream?
To see daybreak just one more time......
Will you wake up from this illusion and see the truth, even if it means facing a new day and leaving the past behind?
Contributed by Kayla C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mustard Cat
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