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.
His Purple Majesty
HORSE the band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Regardless, it was soft and mushy.
She said she was so nervous
when these situations arose.
She said she touched it's skin,
and it felt like uncooked chicken.
But she wanted, but she needed,
He said,
"Hold my hand while I touch you."
He said,
"It will feel better that way."
She said,
"I'll do anything you say.
This time, it was different"
She lost control.
He licks his lips,
and locks his eyes on what he likes the best.
And comes to her with swollen love,
and puts it on her chest.
His purple majesty,
his purple majesty.
She lets him inside,
even though it feels wrong.
It was all the symptoms of love,
but bleeding a black horror.
Horror!
"Nothing is worth it,
nothing is worth anything anymore",
even though the stains are gone...
A choking gasp signaled a stinking eruption,
from her mouth and her throat down her chin.
His purple majesty,
his purple majesty.
He licks his lips and locks his eyes
on what he likes the best.
and comes to her with swollen love,
and shoves it up her ass.
His purple majesty,
his purple majesty.
In HORSE the Band's song "His Purple Majesty," the lyrics paint a vivid picture of a disturbing sexual encounter. The color purple appears to be a central theme, symbolizing the unpleasant and unknown aspects of the sexual act. The opening line suggests that the encounter was purple or had elements of purple, but beyond that, it is uncertain what the color actually signifies. However, the reference to something "soft and mushy" implies a sense of disgust or discomfort towards the experience.
The female protagonist in the song is portrayed as nervous, indicating that the sexual act was not mutually consensual or comfortable. She describes the sensation of touching "its" skin as feeling like uncooked chicken, which implies a sense of revulsion. Yet, regardless of her fear and disgust, she desires "perfect sex in purple robes."
The male partner in this encounter appears to be in control, and his actions imply a sense of dominance and objectification. He tells her to hold his hand, suggesting a level of power imbalance in the relationship. She complies with his demands, losing control and ultimately becoming a victim of his desires.
The lyrics of "His Purple Majesty" deliver an unsettling portrayal of sex and power dynamics, and ultimately suggest that the encounter was exploitative and not consensual.
Line by Line Meaning
Purple or close to purple.
The color of what they were dealing with was purple or at least close to it in appearance.
Regardless, it was soft and mushy.
Despite their uncertainty about the color and texture of the object, they knew it was soft and mushy.
She said she was so nervous
when these situations arose.
The woman was anxious when faced with situations like this one.
She said she touched it's skin,
and it felt like uncooked chicken.
When she touched the object, it felt like uncooked chicken.
But she wanted, but she needed,
perfect sex in purple robes.
Despite her nervousness and the strange feeling of the object, she desired and craved perfect sex while wearing purple robes.
He said,
"Hold my hand while I touch you."
He requested that she hold his hand while he touched her.
He said,
"It will feel better that way."
He assured her that holding his hand while he touched her would feel better.
She said,
"I'll do anything you say.
This time, it was different"
She lost control.
She agreed to his request and, this time, she felt like she lost control over the situation.
He licks his lips,
and locks his eyes on what he likes the best.
He licks his lips and focuses his gaze on what he desires most.
And comes to her with swollen love,
and puts it on her chest.
He approaches her with a strong desire and places it on her chest.
His purple majesty,
his purple majesty.
The object he desires is referred to as his purple majesty.
She lets him inside,
even though it feels wrong.
She permits him to enter her even though it feels wrong to her.
It was all the symptoms of love,
but bleeding a black horror.
The experience is akin to the emotional symptoms of love, but it causes a dark, bleeding horror.
Horror!
The situation is terrifying and horrific.
"Nothing is worth it,
nothing is worth anything anymore",
even though the stains are gone...
Despite the stains being gone, they feel empty and nothing seems worthwhile anymore.
A choking gasp signaled a stinking eruption,
from her mouth and her throat down her chin.
She experiences a choking, smelly eruption from her mouth and throat down to her chin.
His purple majesty,
his purple majesty.
The object of his desire is still referred to as his purple majesty.
He licks his lips and locks his eyes
on what he likes the best.
He continues to focus on and desire what he likes most.
and comes to her with swollen love,
and shoves it up her ass.
He approaches her with a strong desire and shoves it up her rear end.
His purple majesty,
his purple majesty.
The object of his desire, which previously referred to the color of the object, now refers to his physical desire.
Contributed by Henry H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.