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.
The Hammer of Optirominiliukus
HORSE the band Lyrics
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Bathe my hands in glory that it brings, strike you down with righteousness it sings.
Your devastation and desecration will end. Assimilate and contemplate the meaning of the end.
The light within it makes you blink. Feel the fire within it, you can't breathe. Crashing down upon you, you're terrified. Now you see the light but in the end you die.
The life within it makes you weep. The pain within it makes you scream. Crashing down upon you, you're paralyzed. And you're terrified.
Your Mutilation will end. Genocide, Xenocide, the ending of the end. Annihilation, Reformation the cycle never ends. This is the end, don't pretend, in this ending you are dead.
-All the people, they scream and flee. You can't escape the judgment of the free. Feel the pain, taste blood running down your face. Never was, never will, vanish without a trace.
-When I'm too tired to try, too tired to do it this time. Next day I'll deal with it then, maybe I'll do it next time. But now I'm gone, this time forever. Lost my last chance, never have this again. Never again...
The lyrics to HORSE the band's song "The Hammer of Optirominiliukus" convey a message of destruction and the finality of death. The first stanza describes the anticipation of a day when a pestilence, likely a disease or other widespread disaster, will be eradicated. The singer wants to be recognized for their role in this event and to use their power for righteous destruction. The light and fire within the destruction are so intense that they cause fear and pain in those experiencing them. The second and third stanzas continue the theme of destruction, with references to mutilation, genocide, and annihilation. The repetition of the phrase "you're terrified" emphasizes the fear and paralysis that come with such catastrophic events. The final stanza is more personal, with the singer lamenting their own missed opportunities and the finality of death.
Overall, the lyrics of "The Hammer of Optirominiliukus" depict a brutal and unforgiving world, where destruction and death are inevitable. The language is vivid and intense, with repeated references to pain, terror, and annihilation. The song seems to suggest that even those with power and influence will ultimately succumb to the forces of destruction, leaving nothing behind but emptiness.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been anticipating the sacred day when this pestilence is stricken away.
I have been eagerly waiting for the day when this pandemic will be eradicated.
Bathe my hands in glory that it brings, strike you down with righteousness it sings.
I will revel in the glory of its departure, using my righteousness to defeat you.
Your devastation and desecration will end. Assimilate and contemplate the meaning of the end.
Your destruction and ruin will come to a stop. Consider the consequences of the end and accept it.
The light within it makes you blink. Feel the fire within it, you can't breathe. Crashing down upon you, you're terrified. Now you see the light but in the end you die.
The brightness within it temporarily blinds you. Its intensity overwhelms you, making it impossible to breathe. It crushes you with fear as you finally comprehend its power, but ultimately you will perish.
The life within it makes you weep. The pain within it makes you scream. Crashing down upon you, you're paralyzed. And you're terrified.
The vitality it possesses makes you cry, while its agony makes you yell. Paralyzed under its weight, you are filled with dread.
Your Mutilation will end. Genocide, Xenocide, the ending of the end. Annihilation, Reformation the cycle never ends. This is the end, don't pretend, in this ending you are dead.
Your mutilation and destruction will cease, resulting in the conclusion of your existence. The cycle of destruction, renewal, and death will continue. This is the end and there's no point in pretending - it means certain death.
All the people, they scream and flee. You can't escape the judgment of the free. Feel the pain, taste blood running down your face. Never was, never will, vanish without a trace.
People all around are screaming and running. You cannot avoid the judgment of those who are free from oppression. You will feel pain and taste the blood that runs down your face. You came from obscurity and shall never return.
When I'm too tired to try, too tired to do it this time. Next day I'll deal with it then, maybe I'll do it next time. But now I'm gone, this time forever. Lost my last chance, never have this again. Never again...
When I'm too exhausted to make an effort or too demotivated to act, I push it to the next day or tell myself 'maybe next time'. But now I am gone, and this moment will never come again. I have lost my last opportunity and will never have it again.
And you're terrified. The light within it makes you blink, feel the fire within it you can't breathe. Crashing down upon you, you're terrified. Now you see the light but in the end you die. The life within it makes you weep, the pain within it makes you scream. Crashing down upon you, you're paralyzed. And you're terrified.
You are panic-stricken, unable to cope with the light that blinds you and the fire that stifles you. Overwhelmed with terror, you finally understand its power, knowing that death is imminent. You cry in despair as the agony intensifies and causes you to scream, immobilizing you with fear.
Contributed by Nathan S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
E R
Thanks for posting this, this is my favorite old HtB song.
lordfumblesquid
this reminds me of how much i need to get their old songs
GreyRWolff
Nathan played bass and sung backup for the band until 2002, when he took the place of lead singer
Neil Patrick Hairless
Nathan originally played drums for HTB to fill in for Jason Karuza after a house fire burned his drum set IIRC. He is a bass player though. Their song Purple is entirely Nathan playing except for six string and the Mulholland Drive samples, I think. Bass for HTB was originally another guy named Jason who later became a vocalist? (stage prop) along with Adam Crook and another guy named Risto who was an exchange student from Finland. Another guy (named Guy) played bass with them for a while.
Neil Patrick Hairless
In the very early years of the band Erik also played guitar on some songs fwiw
Allan Tober
i cant pronounce the title but XD i love it
Neil Patrick Hairless
op tear oh min ee lee oo cuss
Tsama
Horse really needs to remake some of these. Just for shits or somethin
DasGobi
where i can buy this? ._.
NinjaBlaze1025
wtf how do i get this someone please help!!!