HORSE the band's lyrics are chaotic and colorful metaphors for vocalist Nathan Winneke's life, often with humorous or abstract pop culture reference titles and bases. Winneke has referred to his style on multiple occasions as "lynchian" in reference to his favorite film director David Lynch and his obtuse narrative style.
The band had jokingly labeled themselves "Nintendocore" very early on in their career in reference to the synth sound they had adopted. Some Nintendo characters that are metaphorically referred to include Cut Man from Mega Man, although the song is spelled "Cutsman" because the song was about a childhood friend Winneke grew up with and that was how they had said the character's name in youth; "Birdo", one of the bosses from the NES game Super Mario Bros. 2, in the song "Birdo" which was actually about Winneke's distaste for eggs and traumatic experiences with his stepfather early in his life ; and the rabbit-like nemesis from The Legend of Zelda in the song "Pol's Voice" which is about Winneke's early loathing of the sound of his own voice. Similarly, the song "A Million Exploding Suns" refers to the Marvel Comics character Sentry, a schizophrenic and agoraphobic hero with this abundance of power, pertaining to Winneke's double life as a musician and as a video rental clerk.
2007's A Natural Death featured significant lyrical and musical evolution into the concepts of nature and mortality while moving slightly away from the Nintendo metaphors. The song "Murder" is inspired by the Western novel Lonesome Dove, in which a Native American named Blue Duck stalks and kills white settlers on the plains. "Hyperborea" as a reference to Robert E. Howard's original "Conan" pulp fantasy stories from the 30s, and "The Red Tornado," a DC comics character from the company of which Winneke is such an open enthusiast.
The band's line-up has continuously fluctuated in its 10 year history. In February it was announced that Chris Prophet had been fired and Jon Karel from The Number Twelve Looks Like You would be filling in on drums during Earth Tour. In July, 2008 the band stated that long-time band friend Daniel Pouliot of Bleeding Kansas had joined as the band's full time drummer. On Wednesday, December 3 2008, the band announced that Dash Arkenstone would be leaving the band soon, though he remains on good terms with the other members and has attended local shows.
The band booked its own tours starting the summer of 2002, including a 3-month tour spanning seven countries. With a carefully maintained web presence including their MP3.com and MySpace accounts, they had gained themselves a niche audience. In the summer of 2004, the HORSE the World Tour 2004 included 85 shows in 90 days, spanning 7 countries throughout North America and Europe.
Their latest album, titled Desperate Living, was released on October 6, 2009.
04. Stabbers Of The Knife By Kenny Pelts
HORSE the band Lyrics
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The lyrics of HORSE the band's song Stabbers Of The Knife By Kenn tell the story of a person who is torn between two choices, represented by the metaphorical twins of a sun and moon. The person could have been anything - a leader or a builder - but they were blinded by their love for one of the sisters, who is described as a "wretched" liar filled with woe and hate. The love is described as being without defense, leaving the main character's eyes white and blind.
The lyrics then shift to describe the physical pain the main character experiences, as they are hacked and cleaved from their back by a "stabber of the knife." The knife is described as forcing the conceptual "heart" out of the person, leaving them cold and empty inside. Despite all of this, the main character reacts with defiance, spitting and leering and writing "pagar poetry" and "holiday commentary," seemingly determined to find meaning in their pain.
Overall, the lyrics of the song explore themes of love, pain, and existentialism. The metaphorical twins that represent the main character's choices could be interpreted as a wider commentary on the duality of human existence, and the pain and sacrifice that often accompany moments of intense emotional experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Warm flesh and oh so smooth skin TWINS a sun and moon
The singer is describing the physical features of two sisters who are like the opposite and complementary forces of the universe - the sun and the moon.
I could have been anything leading the armies of the free or building the great elaborate id.
The singer reflects on the potential paths and possibilities their life could have taken, including being a leader or a creator of grand ideas.
but one of them I dared to love so long without defense my eyes went white and blind.
Despite the singer's accomplishments and aspirations, they fell in love with one of the sisters without any caution or protection, causing them to lose sight of everything else.
now I know -only two, two wretched sisters fucking-lying sisters woe and hate.
After experiencing the painful consequences of loving one of the sisters, the artist realizes that they are both deceitful and bring only misery and suffering.
the ghost of a carcass, chipped away its morsels RED + WET losing warmth RED + WET cleaved, hacked from my back RED + WET yielded from me by a stabber of the knife.
The artist vividly describes the physical pain and emotional betrayal they felt when one of the sisters figuratively stabbed them in the back and left them with nothing but a cold, lifeless, and bleeding body.
THRUSTING/ PUSHING/ FORCING/ SPREADING/ THE HEART/ OF ME/ CONCEPTUAL KNIVES/ COLD INSIDE/ FUCKING ME/ KNIVES/ FUCKING ME/ THRUSTING/ PROBING/ DEEPLY/ SLOWLY/ FROM HER/ SWEET RIGID DEVICE
The singer uses graphic sexual imagery to portray how the pain caused by one of the sisters goes beyond physical wounds, and penetrates their emotional and mental state, leaving them defenseless and vulnerable.
and one of them I dared to love so long without defense my eyes went white and blind my eyes went white and blind my eyes went white and blind.
The repetition of this line reinforces the idea that the singer's love for one of the sisters caused them to lose sight of everything else and suffer the consequences.
TO ALL THIS I SPIT AND LEER, CHEERING VAGUE OBScENITIES IN AN EMPTY ROOM..... ON A DIRTY FLOOR.... WRITING PAGAN POETRY ON MY BIRTHDAY CARD, ANOTHER DAMN BIRTHDAY CARD SPLINTERS.... WRITING HOLIDAY COMMENTARY.
The artist concludes the song by expressing their anger and frustration towards their situation, which they cope with by indulging in vulgar and nonsensical acts that serve as a distraction from their pain.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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Rubyredskin
hell yeah
Dj
yes