Rocking Horse
Gov\'t Mule Lyrics

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My guardian angel wears a hard hat
Said the boy with the microphone
Else, I wouldn't be standing here today
Ever since I was a young a boy
I couldn't leave well enough alone
Always trouble standing in my way

Up, down, anywhere but in the middle

Off the wagon, under the wheel again
All or nothing, never could do just a little
Never could leave it alone

Hard living be the death of me
Lead me to an early grave
To die in the saddle must be my destiny
But to ride this rocking horse I must be crazed

Good clean fun is just my imagination
Down and dirty that's the way the game is played
This hard life has caused me aggravation
Never could leave it alone

Got to ride that rocking horse

Can't leave it alone
Got to ride that rocking horse

Overall Meaning

The song 'Rocking Horse' by Gov't Mule is a reflection on a hard-lived life that has led the singer to be in danger of an early death. The first stanza speaks of the singer's guardian angel, who wears a hard hat, possibly implying that the singer has been in many risky situations and that his guardian angel needs the protection. The angel has been there throughout the singer's life to protect him from trouble, but trouble always seems to find him. The singer can't seem to settle down as he is always off the wagon, under the wheel again, and can never do just a little. He is all or nothing, always seeking out the thrill with the risk of getting hurt or killed.

The second verse hints at the possible consequences of the singer's lifestyle, stating that hard living may lead to his early grave. He believes he must be destined to die in the saddle and that he must be crazed to ride this rocking horse perpetually. The bridge of the song speaks of the dichotomy of going for good, clean fun or down and dirty in life. The latter seems to be the way the game is played, and it has caused the singer much aggravation. He can't leave it alone as he got to ride that rocking horse. In the end, the chorus repeats the phrase 'Can't leave it alone, got to ride that rocking horse.' The rocking horse symbolizes the singer's life, which goes up and down, is risky and dangerous, but it's also a thrill he can't give up.

Line by Line Meaning

My guardian angel wears a hard hat
I have faced many dangerous situations, but I have been fortunate enough to avoid serious injuries or death with the help of my guardian angel.

Said the boy with the microphone
I am the one telling this story, and I have a platform to share my experiences with others.

Else, I wouldn't be standing here today
Without the interventions of my guardian angel, I might not have been alive to share this story with others today.

Ever since I was a young a boy
This pattern of near-death experiences and feeling invincible began when I was much younger.

I couldn't leave well enough alone
I have a self-destructive tendency to engage in risky behavior and push the limits of what is safe.

Always trouble standing in my way
Despite the warning signs and potential consequences, I have continued to pursue dangerous activities, often with negative consequences.

Up, down, anywhere but in the middle
I have a pattern of extreme behavior, swinging between extremes instead of finding a balance in the middle.

Off the wagon, under the wheel again
I have struggled with addiction and unhealthy habits, falling back off the wagon and suffering negative consequences as a result.

All or nothing, never could do just a little
I have a tendency to go all-in or not at all, instead of finding moderation and balance in my decisions.

Never could leave it alone
Despite the risks and negative consequences, I have been unable to resist pursuing dangerous and unhealthy behavior.

Hard living be the death of me
I worry that my pattern of high-risk behavior will eventually catch up with me and result in my death.

Lead me to an early grave
My actions and the consequences that come with them may result in my death at a young age.

To die in the saddle must be my destiny
It seems likely that I will continue down this dangerous path and eventually meet my end as a result of my risky lifestyle.

But to ride this rocking horse I must be crazed
Despite knowing the risks and potential consequences, I cannot resist pursuing the thrill and adrenaline rush that comes with my extreme behavior.

Good clean fun is just my imagination
Despite there being many safer ways to find enjoyment and fulfillment in life, I continue to seek out high-risk behavior instead.

Down and dirty that's the way the game is played
I have convinced myself that the only way to truly live is through taking extreme risks and engaging in unhealthy behavior.

This hard life has caused me aggravation
Despite thinking that my extreme lifestyle would bring me happiness and fulfillment, it has only caused me additional stress and pain in the long run.

Got to ride that rocking horse
Despite the risks and negative consequences, I feel compelled to continue pursuing my reckless behavior.

Can't leave it alone
Despite the fact that my risky behavior has caused me and others pain and suffering, I am unable to stop myself from continuing down this path.

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ALLEN WOODY, GREGORY LENOIR ALLMAN, JACK PEARSON, WARREN HAYNES

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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