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.
Sitcom #3
HORSE the band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I bleed into the night
And desperate all the same
No faith to turn and fight
The knife blade cuts the flesh
The blade that has their life
It all comes to an end
No telling wrong from the right
But I will carry on
Hold my head up high in the sky, yeah
And I will lay you down
I will make things right
And you will carry on
Head up high in the sky, yeah
And I will lay you down
I will make things right
I remember the days
When everything was new
We were happy and young
And didn't have a clue
But now I've come to realize
That I'm an adult
I'm one of the oppressors
I'm a member of the cult
If you're like me
You'll know it's hard to see
That the whole human race
Was born without a face
And I don't really know why it really has to be this way
Why has everything good gone away, yeah-yeah, yeah
And we will carry on
Tears will stop and dry, yeah
And we will make the sound
Loveless in our eyes
The world will carry on
You and me inside, yeah
Together we'll be found forever in the light
??? my body???
??? blinded by the sight
??? that shields me???
Together once again
???
The lyrics of Horse the Band's song Sitcom #3 depict the struggles of dealing with pain and desperation. The singer talks about bleeding into the night and feeling powerless against the knife blade that cuts the flesh. They lament how it all comes to an end without any clear demarcation of right and wrong. Despite this, the singer commits to carrying on and holding their head up high in the sky. They promise to make things right and lay those who have been hurt down. The lyrics also touch upon the loss of innocence as one grows up and how it is hard to come to terms with the fact that we are all members of the same oppressors' cult. The singer finds it hard to believe that the whole human race was born without a face, and wonders why everything good has gone away. However, they end on a hopeful note, talking about how the world will carry on and they will be together forever in the light.
The song is a commentary on the painful realities of life and the struggles that we all face. The lyrics urge the listener to carry on despite the difficulties and to keep their head held high. The loss of innocence, growing up and the existential crisis that comes with it are also themes that are tackled in the song. Horse the Band's musical style is characterized by their use of dynamic tempos, unusual sounds, and unconventional song structures. Sitcom #3 is a classic example of Horse the Band's unique musical style.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm drunk with all the pain
Feeling overwhelmed with pain and sorrow
I bleed into the night
Expressing pain during the night, often through screaming or crying
And desperate all the same
Feeling helpless despite attempts to appear otherwise
No faith to turn and fight
Feeling hopeless and unable to overcome obstacles
The knife blade cuts the flesh
Experiencing physical or emotional pain
The blade that has their life
The source of the pain or struggle that is impacting the person's life
It all comes to an end
Feeling like there is no resolution or end to the pain or struggle
No telling wrong from the right
Feeling lost and unsure of how to navigate the situation
But I will carry on
Despite the pain and struggle, the person will remain strong and resilient
Hold my head up high in the sky, yeah
Displaying confidence and strength, even in adverse situations
And I will lay you down
The person will overcome the source of their pain and move on
I will make things right
Promising to fix or overcome the problem
I remember the days
Reflecting on the past when life was easier and less complicated
When everything was new
Being young and naive when life had not yet presented challenges and struggles
We were happy and young
Feeling carefree and happy in the early stages of life
And didn't have a clue
Not fully understanding the world around them
But now I've come to realize
Having learned and grown from life experiences
That I'm an adult
Realizing the responsibilities and struggles that accompany being an adult
I'm one of the oppressors
Understanding that they are part of the larger structure that perpetuates societal struggles
I'm a member of the cult
Feeling trapped in an unfair system that is difficult to overcome
If you're like me
Identifying with the listener and acknowledging that they may relate to these feelings
You'll know it's hard to see
Acknowledging that it's difficult to see beyond struggles and pain
That the whole human race
Recognizing that everyone experiences struggles and pain
Was born without a face
Feeling like people lack individuality and are easily lost in societal structures
And I don't really know why it really has to be this way
Questioning why people must experience so much pain and struggle
Why has everything good gone away, yeah-yeah, yeah
Feeling like positive aspects of life have disappeared without explanation
Tears will stop and dry, yeah
Feeling like pain and sadness will eventually fade
And we will make the sound
Making their presence known and refusing to stay silent
Loveless in our eyes
Feeling like they lack love or support in their struggles
The world will carry on
Acknowledging that life moves forward despite personal struggles
You and me inside, yeah
Feeling like they have found companionship and support
Together we'll be found forever in the light
Optimistic about finding happiness and resolution together
Contributed by Sydney M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.