After fronting several rock bands in his native Idaho, singer/songwriter Justin Ringle moved to Portland, OR in 2004 and began focusing on acoustic music, playing open mics regularly under the moniker Horse Feathers. In 2005, multi-instrumentalist Peter Broderick heard a couple of Justin's demos and offered to help flesh them out. In February 2006 the duo went into Skyler Norwood's Miracle Lake studios and recorded their debut album, Words are Dead, which was released that September on Portland label, Lucky Madison. Later that year, Peter's sister Heather Broderick joined the group on cello and by 2007, Horse Feathers began featuring a rotating cast of instrumentalists backing Justin's guitar and vocals.
Justin and the Brodericks returned to Miracle Lake studios in the fall and winter of 2007 and recorded House With No Home, which was released on Kill Rock Stars in the spring of 2008. Around that time, Peter left the country to pursue music in Europe, and Nathan Crockett was enlisted to cover violin duties. Several months later, Heather also left the group to pursue other musical projects and cellist Catherine Odell came on board. The current lineup was rounded out at the beginning of 2009 when Sam Cooper joined as a multi-instrumentalist. As a four piece, the group has been touring extensively and released a new album entitled Thistled Spring on Kill Rock Stars, April 20th, 2010.
Curs in the Weeds
Horse Feathers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Won't you agree
How the winter could bring
The darkest spring
With hell on your face
Dirt on the walls
In the back of the place
Father of three
Won't you believe
That the ones in between
The ones that are blamed
Of fickle faith
Cynics that seethe
How their children are cursed
Cursed to believe
It's like marrow without bone
To live in a house with no home
Where the son is the darkest seed
He crawls with the curs in the weeds
Where had you been son
Not in the street, not in the yard
Only once, I'll call off the dogs
If you call off your guard
Where had you gone
Where had you been
The song "Curs in the Weeds" by Horse Feathers is a poignant commentary on the dark realities of life, particularly those that are glossed over or ignored. Through the use of stark imagery and metaphors, the lyrics explore the harshness of winter and how it can bring about the darkest of springs – a metaphor for how difficult times can give rise to hopelessness and despair. The imagery of "hell on your face" and "dirt on the walls" conjures up a sense of bleakness and hopelessness, while the phrase "you grew and complained" hints at the frustration that can come with enduring difficult times without a clear way out.
As the song progresses, the lyrics shift to focus on the challenges faced by a father of three, and the struggle to believe in the face of cynicism and fickle faith. This is expressed through the metaphor of cursed children who are doomed to believe in a world that offers them little hope or comfort. The starkness of this imagery is underscored by the chorus, which describes living in a house with no home, and the darkest seed crawling with the curs in the weeds, a metaphor for feeling lost and alone in the world.
Overall, "Curs in the Weeds" is a powerful song that speaks to the complexities of life and the struggles that people face in their journey. It offers a poignant commentary on the human experience, weaving together bleak imagery and evocative metaphors to create a haunting portrait of the darker side of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Lover of things
Addressing someone who loves material possessions
Won't you agree
Asking for their confirmation
How the winter could bring
Pointing out how harsh winter can be
The darkest spring
When winter overextends its stay and bleeds into spring
With hell on your face
Referring to someone who has been to the lowest place
Dirt on the walls
Indicating a somber place with little to no maintenance
In the back of the place
The worst part of the area
You grew and complained
Where you were raised wasn't the best, but you still made do
Father of three
Addressing someone who has three children
Won't you believe
Asking for their acceptance or followance in what is said next
That the ones in between
Making a general statement about the kids that are not the oldest or youngest
The ones that are blamed
Those that tend to receive the brunt of punishment
Of fickle faith
Adjectives describing someone's wavering belief system
Cynics that seethe
Those who disbelieve and anger boils within them
How their children are cursed
Their offspring will bear the consequences of those who disbelieve
Cursed to believe
The only hope in this harsh world is to have faith and believe
It's like marrow without bone
Something fundamental is missing and incomplete
To live in a house with no home
To be in a physical dwelling that circumstances make unwelcoming
Where the son is the darkest seed
A troubled child, a metaphorical plantation for something sinister
He crawls with the curs in the weeds
He associates with negative influences, like a dog creeping in the underbrush
Where had you been son
A concerned parent or guardian asking where their youth has been
Not in the street, not in the yard
The son was not in areas that are easy to keep an eye on
Only once, I'll call off the dogs
The guardian promises a singular pardon for the son's wayward behavior
If you call off your guard
The son must change their ways and work towards better behavior
Where had you gone
Continuing to ask specifics about where the son might have been
Where had you been
Repeating the same concern about the son's whereabouts
Lyrics © Sentric Music, TERRORBIRD PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: JUSTIN WAYNE RINGLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
SLF É-U
The most beautiful song!
Curs in the Weeds
Horse Feathers
Lover of things
Won't you agree
How the winter could bring
The darkest spring
With hell on your face
Dirt on the walls
In the back of the place
You grew and complained
Father of three
Won't you believe
That the ones in between
The ones that are blamed
Of fickle faith
Cynics that seethe
How their children are cursed
Cursed to believe
It's like marrow without bone
To live in a house with no home
Where the son is the darkest seed
He crawls with the curs in the weeds
Where had you been son
Not in the street, not in the yard
Only once, I'll call off the dogs
If you call off your guard
Where had you gone
Where had you been
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Justin Wayne Ringle
Curs in the Weeds lyrics © Terrorbird Publishing LLC
Aaron Henderson
This song fucking hits me hard...always has...but I've been through a ton that is very much related to what this song is about...I have been recently diagnosed with BPD after struggling to have any successful relationships of any kind for years, blah blah...and my child hood was one of zero love...there was a time I can remember, still in diapers, and allowed to roam free a deserted auto wrecking yard all day unsupervised, probably 100 acres...maybe 2-3 years old...not old enough to speak properly, so maybe younger...I would wander farther and farther each day...and stay out as long as I wanted...one day, I wandered too far and couldn't find my way back, and remembered that roads go to houses, and I could see a house, and maybe would know how to get home from the road...I made it to the road, and remember not knowing what anything was, and not knowing what way to go, so I started crying and walked left. I walked for what seemed like a very long time on the gravel shoulder, and finally, a car came...and told me to get in...I cried harder and kept walking...finally, the old man in the car...he followed me...and made me scared...but didn't get out, and asked me where I was going...and I couldn't talk yet...so he followed me for a long time, and finally, I gave up...I still didn't know anything or recognize where I was at all...and it was hot, I was in a diaper...and crying...so I got in the car...luckily, the old man wasn't some creep rapist dude or something, and somehow actually got me home...I vaguely remember him asking me to point out anything I could recognize, but I don't think I was able to...and also vaguely remember him stopping and asking other old people if they recognized me or knew of where I could have came from. Anyway...that memory comes back every time I watch this...wandering through this field / abandoned wrecking yard as a toddler...
Joel Ferguson
I hope since you wrote this you have found a strong sense of purpose and self worth. I love you man. You were born for a purpose and you mean a lot to so many people. Your story meant a lot to me and I wish I could have been your brother so you weren’t alone. God is real brother and he loves you more than you can imagine. I hope you can see that there is an abundance of people out there that are willing to be your brother. If you allow god into your heart he can fill the void I promise. I can attest to it with my life. Love you man! God bless you and my his presence be upon you.
Aaron Henderson
@Joel Ferguson I didn't get notified of this reply...but I found it from listening to this song again and thanks, love you too man.
Malak Macabre
I feel the same. I'm also a diagnosed BPD. Alot of music feels relatable to me because it feels like its talking about my mental illness, not a relationship. My relationships are much the same. Im on my 3rd serious relationship of 5 years. Sometimes it seems like I'll never be happy in relationships. It always seems like I default to wanting to be alone.
TheDarkHumour
This song renews my hope in the music industry completely. As long as artists like these guys exist, then we have something grand to look forward to.
SLF É-U
The most beautiful song!
Curs in the Weeds
Horse Feathers
Lover of things
Won't you agree
How the winter could bring
The darkest spring
With hell on your face
Dirt on the walls
In the back of the place
You grew and complained
Father of three
Won't you believe
That the ones in between
The ones that are blamed
Of fickle faith
Cynics that seethe
How their children are cursed
Cursed to believe
It's like marrow without bone
To live in a house with no home
Where the son is the darkest seed
He crawls with the curs in the weeds
Where had you been son
Not in the street, not in the yard
Only once, I'll call off the dogs
If you call off your guard
Where had you gone
Where had you been
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Justin Wayne Ringle
Curs in the Weeds lyrics © Terrorbird Publishing LLC
Rob B
No song has captured how it felt to grow up with a single father doing what he could to provide physically, while having little to offer emotionally; this video really reminds me of almost raising myself, running around just doing kid stuff.. I never realized it was an avoidance of 'home' until this video; being lost in the woods, totally lost for hours at a time. "where had you been, son? not in the street, not in the yard' really reminds me of my own father's inability to connect emotionally while still having that 'fatherly' duty. One of the instances where a song feels like it was created almost perfectly for your situation, without the artist even knowing it. The tempo of the song, the kind melody of the strings, it all reminds me of different parts of my childhood. The grown kid exploring his old house and lying down, the child running through the grass back home.. All of it. It resonates so much. Thank you for this.
Blake Massengale
Beautiful stuff, man.
Vinyl For Breakfast
My dad died in 2008 and I bought this cd in Tallahassee at a used store. I listened to it over and over and this song made me feel sad and yet happy at the same time. As I looked over the farm where my mom and dad grew up this song just made me feel so much. Now when I hear it I'm transported back to that time and again I feel happy and sad, this music is so powerful.
George Heaven
People say this often but this video realy deserves more views .. its a masterpiece <3