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.
Hyperborea
HORSE the band Lyrics
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Numbness swept down from the east.
The lost cold and hungry gently collapse
into the endless fields of soft luminous white.
She sulks from silver towers, she could save a life.
He says he hates us and he's afraid to try--and I know why.
Trapped under winter's paw,
Frost invades and steals my breathing.
Distant dimples glut with glitter and comfortable.
Outside the wolves are waiting.
Don't trust man,
don't trust girl,
don't trust animals,
trust in steel.
Don't stop moving,
don't stop breathing.
She sulks from silver towers, she could save a life.
He says he hates us and has no words to try and I know why.
When nature calls,
eat the kill.
When nature calls,
trust in steel.
Don't stop moving,
don't stop breathing.
When nature--
The lyrics in HORSE the band's song Hyperborea paint a vivid image of the harsh winter climate, where numbness sweeps down from the east and leaves the cold and hungry to collapse into the snow. The singer is trapped under winter's paw, likening themselves to an animal that is being overtaken by the frost. Outside, the wolves wait, emphasizing the danger and isolation of the setting. The chorus warns against trusting anyone or anything except steel, highlighting the importance of survival in these extreme conditions.
The verse describing "she" sulking from silver towers and the man who hates them and is afraid to try provides a stark contrast to the singer's struggle to survive. It could represent a judgmental or indifferent society that is not empathetic to those in need. The chorus once again emphasizes the importance of self-preservation, urging the listener not to stop moving or breathing. The final repetition of "When nature calls, eat the kill" and "When nature calls, trust in steel" hammers in the importance of survival instincts and self-reliance in the face of nature's harshness.
Line by Line Meaning
Then came winter's bitterness.
The arrival of winter brought about a sense of bitterness and harrowing coldness.
Numbness swept down from the east.
The cold numbed and paralyzed everything, spreading from the East in a gradual wave.
The lost cold and hungry gently collapse into the endless fields of soft luminous white.
The cold and hungry wanderers surrender into the vast snowy landscape that shines brightly in the night.
She sulks from silver towers, she could save a life.
A woman feels dismayed in her lofty abode and yet she possesses the power to rescue others from perilous situations.
He says he hates us and he's afraid to try--and I know why.
A person expresses dislike towards others and fears to take actions, but the reason for their reluctance is understood.
Trapped under winter's paw,
I'm the animal.
Feeling trapped by the cruelty of winter, the singer compares themselves to a helpless animal.
Frost invades and steals my breathing.
The freezing cold suffocates the singer, snatching away their breath with icy hands.
Distant dimples glut with glitter and comfortable.
Outside the wolves are waiting.
The distant lights seem warm and inviting, but in the harsh surroundings, they offer no solace. Meanwhile, the wolves wait outside, ready to pounce.
Don't trust man,
don't trust girl,
don't trust animals,
trust in steel.
The artist advises against trusting any living thing and instead urges reliance on inanimate objects like weapons made of steel.
Don't stop moving,
don't stop breathing.
In harsh conditions, it's critical to keep moving and taking deep breaths to stay alive.
When nature calls,
eat the kill.
When food is scarce, hunting for and consuming whatever animals are available is essential for survival.
When nature calls,
trust in steel.
In situations where animals pose a threat, having steel weapons can provide protection.
Don't stop moving,
don't stop breathing.
A repeated refrain to drive home the importance of perpetual motion and breathing, even in dire conditions.
When nature--
The final line of the song is unfinished, leaving the listener to ponder on what comes next.
Contributed by Julian N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.