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.
New York City
HORSE the band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dreaming about how it all began
Bright lights, big city
New Amsterdam and the Indians
You called me in tears
And it looks like rain
I walk south
Civilization's honeycomb
Taxi, taxi, taxi
Warm and pungent seats
Take me across the bridge
I can't be late
I'm heavy with you
Through cold morning avenues
Rushing with the rabble
Under gluttonous swelling skies
I'll come to you
Over clandestine sidewalks
I'll come to you
Crashing through dead leaves
Crashing, I'll come to you
And the cracks in the sidewalks
I'll come to you, crashing
Well, and the crosswalk says stop
Yet there you are
Trust the flicker of a picture
Between the static of cars
And it's a relief
That these walls are so high
Like arms that hold us together
Waiting for a green light
Go, go, go, stop
Go, go, go, stop
We embrace in the heart of our city
On wet broken sidewalks we're free
HORSE the band’s song ‘New York City’ is a captivating and evocative piece centered around the city that never sleeps. The first verse talks about waking up in the city and how it all began. The mention of “New Amsterdam and the Indians” highlights the city’s early history and how it has evolved over time. The singer describes being called in tears signaling an emotional connection with someone. They proceed to walk through New York’s busy streets, portrayed as a “civilization’s honeycomb,” a metaphor that captures the city’s buzzing energy. While the city is often seen as chaotic, the lyrics reveal a sense of familiarity and comfort in its noise and activity.
The lyrics also create vivid images of the physical experiences of the city. The mention of taxis and their warm and pungent seats is a peculiar description but relatable to anyone who has ever taken a cab in New York. The lyrics also speak to the difficulty of getting around New York with the mention of not wanting to be late. The singer admits to being “heavy with you,” a poignant line that could mean the burden of the weight of the relationship or the person they’re thinking of. The references to dead leaves and swelling skies create a sense of a changing season, and the mention of clandestine sidewalks evokes the idea of hidden places in the city.
The chorus of “I'll come to you, crashing” is repeated several times and could refer to the way this person affects the singer, with their love or their pain or both. The mention of “the cracks in the sidewalks,” and the “wet broken sidewalks,” shows that even though New York has its imperfections and flaws, it's still a place where people can be free and find themselves. Overall, ‘New York City’ captures a vivid and complex impression of the city that never sleeps, described with affection, familiarity, and grit.
Line by Line Meaning
Waking up in New York City
Starting a new chapter in my life in the bustling metropolis of New York City
Dreaming about how it all began
Reminiscing about the past and how I ended up here
Bright lights, big city
The electric atmosphere of New York City
New Amsterdam and the Indians
Reflecting on the city's rich history and its origins as a Dutch colony
You called me in tears
A loved one reaching out for emotional support
And it looks like rain
The gloomy weather reflecting the mood of the conversation
I walk south
Heading towards a specific destination in the city
Through our playground
Navigating through the various iconic landmarks and neighborhoods of New York City
Civilization's honeycomb
The intricate and interconnected nature of the city, like a beehive bustling with activity
Taxi, taxi, taxi
Hailing a cab to get to where I need to be
Warm and pungent seats
The scent of the cab and its interior, a familiar memory of my time in the city
Take me across the bridge
Traveling over one of the many bridges connecting the city's boroughs
I can't be late
Feeling the pressure to arrive on time
I'm heavy with you
Thinking about a loved one, carrying that emotional weight with me on my journey
Through cold morning avenues
Braving the chilly air, making my way through the streets
Rushing with the rabble
Blending into the crowd, moving quickly with the hustle and bustle of the city
Under gluttonous swelling skies
The dramatic and looming sky that can only be seen in the heart of New York City
I'll come to you
Determined to meet with my loved one
Over clandestine sidewalks
Taking less-traveled paths to reach my destination
Crashing through dead leaves
Paying no mind to the obstacles along the way
Crashing, I'll come to you
An unyielding determination to reach my destination
And the cracks in the sidewalks
Even the imperfect and broken parts of the city don't deter me
I'll come to you, crashing
I'm coming to be by your side, undeterred
Well, and the crosswalk says stop
The official signs may tell me to slow down, but I'm still making progress
Yet there you are
My loved one waiting for me in the midst of it all
Trust the flicker of a picture
Relying on a mental image of my loved one to guide me through the chaos
Between the static of cars
Emerging through the noise of traffic and crowded streets
And it's a relief
A sigh of relief upon finally reaching my destination
That these walls are so high
The towering architecture of the city makes me feel small and protected
Like arms that hold us together
The city is a tight embrace, holding together everyone within its vast expanse
Waiting for a green light
Pausing for a moment while waiting for change to occur
Go, go, go, stop
A pattern of momentum and sudden halts that characterize all movement in the city
We embrace in the heart of our city
A loving moment shared in the midst of the chaotic heart of New York City
On wet broken sidewalks we're free
Together in this city, we're free. Even amongst the cracks in the pavement and damp surroundings, we find peace.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CHRISTOPHER LYLE PROPHET, DASHIELL HAN ARKENSTONE, DAVID ISEN, ERIK DANIEL ENGSTROM, JEFFREY NATHAN WINNEKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chrisalexander7661
Waking up in New York City
Dreaming about how it all began
Bright lights, big city
New Amsterdam and the Indians
You called me in tears
And it looks like rain
I walk south
Through our playground
Civilization's honeycomb
Taxi, taxi, taxi
Warm and pungent seats
Take me across the bridge
I can't be late
I'm heavy with you
Through cold morning avenues
Rushing with the rabble
Under gluttonous swelling skies
I'll come to you
Over clandestine sidewalks
I'll come to you
Crashing through dead leaves
Crashing, I'll come to you
And the cracks in the sidewalks
I'll come to you, crashing
Well, and the crosswalk says stop
Yet there you are
Trust the flicker of a picture
Between the static of cars
And it's a relief
That these walls are so high
Like arms that hold us together
Waiting for a green light
Go, go, go, stop
Go, go, go, stop
We embrace in the heart of our city
On wet broken sidewalks we're free
@protolexis
It’s so sad to think these guys never made it big or really kept going. Yeah the EP from a few years ago was nice, but I wish they kept making the magic. It sucks that they never truly got the recognition they deserved.
@ObeseChess
2:28-2:52 is one of the most terrifyingly incredible and emotional moments in musical history.
@alanorange9376
It's the shining example of screams on record. Your 200% correct and I feel it's not examined enough and underrated.
@seatvelt
horse the band is the most dramatic and scientifically accurate band of all time
@Nyxzen
The whole buildup from 1:40 onwards is unmatched, the most fucking primal scream known to man.
@bowlingnades
It's the way music should always be written. Purely, with raw emotion.. I highly recommend reading the lyrics to this .. They're genius
@mymorningjizzrag
13 years ago. When life was simple. Long live Horse the Band.
@A7XRules4life
Sometimes I wonder if these guys invented new notes or something, because their awesomeness cannot be done with only 12.
@liamcollins4270
Fall in love with this song over and over every time I hear it.
@operationgnp
horse is so crazy, bless them for making the sickest grimy 80s throwback video and also the dopest song for a neon 80s video haha love