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.
Pizza Nif
HORSE the band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hot and fresh at any time.
I attack like an animal,
Delicious and casual.
Please can you go out and go get me some
P (I want some) I-Z-Z-A!?
I wanna get my greasy little hands on some
Please will you cook me up some of that delicious
P (I want some) I-Z-Z-A!?
I want to go buy a slice of
P (I want some) I-Z-Z-A!
WHAT I WANT I WANT AND I WANT IT RIGHT NOW!
WHAT I WANT I WANT AND I WANT IT RIGHT NOW!
WHAT I WANT I WANT AND I WANT IT RIGHT NOW!
WHAT I WANT I WANT AND I WANT IT NOW!
I'm giddy with wiggle as I cut and I giggle.
IT'S TOO HOT TO TOUCH!
My eyes alight so satisfied,
MY PIZZA NIF!
It's good I got enough to share,
BUT WILL I DARE???
I'm giddy with wiggle as I cut and I giggle.
IT'S TOO HOT TO TOUCH!
When that hot fresh slice hits my mouth and my life I whoooooooom pizza nif!
When that hot fresh slice hits my mouth and my life I whoooooooom pizza nif!
When that hot fresh slice hits my mouth and my life I whoooooooom pizza nif!
When that hot fresh slice hits my mouth and my life I whoooooooom PIZZA NIF!
N-I-F!
N-I-F!
PIZZA NIF!
N-I-F!
N-I-F!
PIZZA NIF!
N-I-F!
N-I-F!
PIZZA NIF!
N-I-F!
N-I-F!
PIZZA-
Shhhhhhhhhh...
At first glance, HORSE the band's song "Pizza Nif" seems like a lighthearted and simple tribute to the joys of eating pizza. However, upon closer inspection, the lyrics reveal a deeper obsession with the cheesy delight. The first verse sets the scene: one slice of pizza is enough to "light up [the singer's] life," and they describe their eagerness to consume it with animalistic language ("I attack like an animal"). The chorus is a repetitive chant expressing their intense craving for pizza, demanding that someone go out and buy it for them. The second verse continues the theme of being consumed by the desire for pizza, with the singer describing how they are "giddy with wiggle" as they cut and eat their slice.
Throughout the song, there is a sense that pizza is more than just a food to the singer; it's a source of comfort and perhaps even an addiction. They describe it as "delicious and casual" and "too hot to touch," using language that suggests a kind of infatuation. The repeated phrase "pizza nif" seems to be a made-up term that captures the indescribable feeling of pure pleasure that comes from eating pizza. Overall, while the lyrics to "Pizza Nif" may seem silly, they also speak to the universal experience of being consumed by a particular craving or desire.
Line by Line Meaning
One slice lights up my life,
A single slice of pizza brightens up my entire life
Hot and fresh at any time.
Pizza is always best when served hot and fresh
I attack like an animal,
I devour pizza with the same ferocity as a wild animal
Delicious and casual.
Pizza is both delicious and easy to eat in a casual setting
Please can you go out and go get me some
Asking someone to go and get pizza for me
P (I want some) I-Z-Z-A!?
Spelling out pizza as if it's a rare commodity that needs to be spelled aloud
I wanna get my greasy little hands on some
Expressing a strong desire to have pizza in a casual manner
Please will you cook me up some of that delicious
Asking someone to cook a delicious pizza
I want to go buy a slice of
Expressing a desire to go out and buy a slice of pizza
WHAT I WANT I WANT AND I WANT IT RIGHT NOW!
Demanding pizza right at this moment
I'm giddy with wiggle as I cut and I giggle.
Being so excited and happy to eat pizza that you shake and laugh while cutting it
IT'S TOO HOT TO TOUCH!
Pizza is so hot that it can't be touched without causing burns
My eyes alight so satisfied,
Feeling content and happy after eating pizza
MY PIZZA NIF!
Referring to pizza as a magical or special thing in my life
It's good I got enough to share,
Having enough pizza to share with others
BUT WILL I DARE???
Being unsure whether to share the pizza or keep it all for myself
When that hot fresh slice hits my mouth and my life I whoooooooom pizza nif!
The joy and ecstasy of eating a hot and fresh slice of pizza
N-I-F!
Short for 'pizza nif'
Shhhhhhhhhh...
The sound of contentment after eating pizza
Contributed by Charlotte H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.