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.
Sex Raptor
HORSE the band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can smell them and taste them at the same time.
My mouth waters with anticipation,
we're together and I'm alive.
Feel my teeth, they're long and hard,
the tips sharp enough to pierce your hide.
Now it's time to taste your flesh,
you gasp and whimper a silent cry,
I prowl the room,
I prowl the room for something sweeter to consume.
I prowl the room,
I prowl the room for something sweeter to consume.
It's not enough,
it's not enough,
it's not enough,
no, it's not enough.
My sweat it starts to cover you,
and your body starts to shake.
No matter how much that you give,
I just want more to take.
It's natural,
it's natural.
I prowl the room,
I prowl the room for something sweeter to consume.
I prowl the room,
I prowl the room for something sweeter, something sweeter, something sweeter.
It's not enough,
it's not enough,
it's not enough,
no, it's not enough.
My mouth has had its fill of you,
I can taste you on my breath.
I give you one last kiss,
and it's the kiss of death
It's not enough,
it's not enough,
it's not enough,
no, it's not enough.
The lyrics to HORSE the band's song "Sex Raptor" are highly suggestive and potentially controversial, as they seem to describe the experience of a predator. The lyrics begin with an ode to the physical appearance and scent of a woman's legs, which the singer claims to be able to taste and smell simultaneously. The language becomes more violent and predatory as the song progresses, with the singer describing their teeth as "long and hard" and capable of piercing the woman's skin. Despite her gasps and silent cries, the singer claims to continue consuming her flesh until she is dead, at which point they "prowl the room" in search of their next victim.
While the imagery in "Sex Raptor" is unquestionably disturbing, it is possible to interpret the song as a commentary on toxic masculinity and the ways in which societal expectations can lead men to view women as objects to be dominated and consumed. The repeated refrain of "it's not enough" suggests that the singer's behavior is driven by an insatiable desire for power and control, rather than any genuine physical need.
Line by Line Meaning
Your legs are sweet and look like ivory,
I find your legs attractive and they remind me of ivory.
I can smell them and taste them at the same time.
I am so enamored with your legs that I can almost taste and smell them.
My mouth waters with anticipation,
I am excited by the prospect of being with you.
we're together and I'm alive.
Being with you makes me feel more alive.
Feel my teeth, they're long and hard,
I want to use my teeth on you, and they are strong and sharp.
the tips sharp enough to pierce your hide.
My teeth are so sharp that they could puncture your skin.
Now it's time to taste your flesh,
I want to consume you, either literally or metaphorically.
you gasp and whimper a silent cry,
You are both frightened and aroused by what I am doing.
goodbye.
This encounter is over and I am leaving.
I prowl the room,
I am searching for something or someone to consume.
I prowl the room for something sweeter to consume.
I am looking for a more tantalizing target.
It's not enough,
My desire for consumption is insatiable.
no, it's not enough.
There is always a stronger desire, a more intense craving.
My sweat it starts to cover you,
We have been physically intimate and I have left my mark on you.
and your body starts to shake.
You are both exhilarated and frightened by the experience.
No matter how much that you give,
You can never fully satisfy me.
I just want more to take.
My hunger for consumption is insatiable.
It's natural,
This desire to consume is a natural part of who I am.
I prowl the room for something sweeter, something sweeter, something sweeter.
I am constantly searching for something more enticing.
My mouth has had its fill of you,
I am done consuming you and moving on to the next target.
I can taste you on my breath.
I can still feel the effects of our encounter.
I give you one last kiss,
I am saying goodbye to you.
and it's the kiss of death
This marks the end of our relationship or encounter.
Contributed by Andrew V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.