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.
Salvation Army
HORSE the band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Hi there its me again
I'm sorry that I called
I didn't mean to interrupt your sleep
(I didn't mean it)
I just thought that since you all smile at me
that means that you like me but no
(I guess not)
my face against the wall
I've been screaming charity
You've forgotten while I fall
I'd smack you in the face
Now I gotta look out after your eye
But your face is my life
And I don't have much left
Go!!
Bitch don't sit by me in class
don't smile at me in the hall
don't giggle with your friends
when you see me at the mall
you know how to kick my ass
without touching me at all
so stop playing this game
I'm not a charitable cause
So if I ever see you again
With another guy at a dance
I'll kill you
Kill you
(Kill you)
Kill you
(kill you)
Kill you
(Kill you)
Kill... you!
The opening lines of the HORSE the band's Salvation Army, "Hi there its me again, I'm sorry that I called, I didn't mean to interrupt your sleep," suggest a conversation that's already in progress. It feels like the singer is talking to someone who is either indifferent to his presence or probably don't know him enough to care. The singer thinks that people are smiling at him, signifying their liking towards him, but eventually realizes they don't care. He seems disappointed and frustrated that people are not empathetic towards him. The lines "I've been screaming charity, you've forgotten while I fall," point towards the singer's failed attempts at receiving help from people who have the resources to help.
The second passage brings up the singer's animosity towards someone, and hence the lines "Bitch don't sit by me in class, don't smile at me in the hall, don't giggle with your friends when you see me at the mall." It's evident that the singer has been treated poorly by someone and is frustrated that they are pretending to be nice. The lyrics "I'll kill you" suggest the anguish and the pain that the singer is going through. Each section of the song is a manifestation of the singer's frustration and disillusionment towards society and the people around him.
Line by Line Meaning
Hi there its me again
The singer is apologizing for another call.
I'm sorry that I called
The singer regrets about disturbing the other person because of the phone call.
I didn't mean to interrupt your sleep
The singer calls the other person at an inconvenient time, not knowing they were asleep.
(I didn't mean it)
The artist did not intend to cause harm or annoyance.
I just thought that since you all smile at me
The artist believes that the other person likes them because they received smiles from them and others.
that means that you like me but no
The singer understands that the smiles were not indicative of affection.
(I guess not)
The singer acknowledges that they misunderstood the other person's intention.
Hey now that kinda hurts
The rejection of the other person's affection hurts the artist.
my face against the wall
The artist's disappointment with the rejection led to a moment of frustration and self-blame.
I've been screaming charity
The artist expresses their feelings of betrayal since they have been charitable to the other person.
You've forgotten while I fall
The other person ignored the singer's acts of kindness and let them down.
I'd smack you in the face
The artist feels so hurt that they are envisioning violent reactions to the other person.
Now I gotta look out after your eye
The singer's violent reaction may cause harm to the other person.
But your face is my life
The singer is referring to the importance of the other person in their life despite feeling rejected.
And I don't have much left
The singer highlights their vulnerability by implying that they have nothing to lose.
Bitch don't sit by me in class
The artist uses a derogatory term as they address the other person directly.
don't smile at me in the hall
The artist tells the other person to stop pretending to be friendly.
don't giggle with your friends
The singer asks the other person to stop mocking them in front of their friends.
when you see me at the mall
The singer implies that the other person is stalking them and asks them to stop.
you know how to kick my ass
The artist acknowledges the other person's influence and its impact on them.
without touching me at all
The artist implies that the other person's psychological control is more significant than their physical strength.
so stop playing this game
The artist demands that the other person stops manipulating them.
I'm not a charitable cause
The singer intends to discontinue their charitable acts towards the other person.
So if I ever see you again
The artist threatens the other person, indicating the depth of their feelings of anger.
With another guy at a dance
The singer would be infuriated if they saw the other person with another man at a dance.
I'll kill you
The singer's anger reaches its peak, and they express their desire to harm the other person.
Kill you
The singer repeats their violent intentions to emphasize their extreme reaction.
(Kill you)
The artist still has the same violent thoughts and emotions towards the other person.
Kill you
The artist's anger has yet to subside, and they repeat their violent intentions.
(kill you)
The singer is still in a state of extreme anger and hostility towards the other person.
Kill you
The singer reiterates their intention to harm the other person.
(Kill you)!
The artist has concluded the song with the same violent intentions towards the other person.
Contributed by Nolan S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
mo_chiptu
Extremely underrated but still badass
Meat Helicopter
Dat guitar solo.
SoulSecure
yeah same here. it's fuckin awesome
LaPetiteVieEnLigne
The name is "Salvation army"
duglas04
love it as i love pizza
casper heyzeus
not daves finest moment haha. still love the pre borlax stuff
Funky_Priestess
punk rock
Euphoric apathy
could you send me this song please? i cant find it any wear
Kevin Koch
not metalcore either. its nintendocore
theangryemonerd
Its okay but not as great as the screaming vocals on R borlax or the mechanical hand.