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.
Thistled Spring
Horse Feathers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A blossom that's bloomed, in a house that's a tomb, trapped in the rhododendron fumes.
Bit by the Spring, Hurt by the thing, Plagued by the memories that it brings.
No peace in the miles, there's word of the coming of a child.
The broke can still break, oh, what time can take, somewhere in the rules lies the stakes.
Bit by the Spring, Hurt by the thing, Plagued by the memories that it brings.
Bride to be, my only friend, is leaving me, in a Spring with no end.
Bride to be, my only friend.
In this song, Horse Feathers tells the story of an old love of theirs who is getting married to the worst man she can find. The lyrics carry a sense of sadness and helplessness as the singer watches this wedding unfold, knowing that it's not going to end well for his old love. The imagery used in the song is also quite poignant, with the "blossom that's bloomed in a house that's a tomb" trapped in the fumes of rhododendron. This incredibly powerful metaphor speaks to the idea of being trapped in a situation that is beautiful on the surface but is slowly choking the life out of you.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "bit by the Spring, hurt by the thing, plagued by the memories that it brings." This repetition drives home the idea that past experiences and memories can have a powerful hold on us and can continue to hurt and haunt us even as time moves forward. The song also alludes to the idea of stakes and rules, suggesting that we are all bound by certain restrictions and limitations when it comes to matters of the heart. The singer's helplessness and sense of loss are ultimately epitomized in the lines "Bride to be, my only friend, is leaving me, in a Spring with no end."
Overall, Horse Feathers's Thistled Spring is a beautifully written and incredibly moving song that touches on themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. The carefully chosen metaphors and poignant lyrics come together to create a truly unforgettable story that will stay with the listener long after the song is over.
Line by Line Meaning
An old love of mine to wed the worst man she finds.
An ex-lover of mine is getting married to the worst possible person she could find.
A blossom that's bloomed, in a house that's a tomb, trapped in the rhododendron fumes.
Someone/something beautiful has grown or appeared inside a house that feels like a prison, with the poisonous smell of rhododendrons all around.
Bit by the Spring, Hurt by the thing, Plagued by the memories that it brings.
Springtime, while usually a time of rejuvenation, reminds me of past hurts and painful memories that still linger.
No peace in the miles, there's word of the coming of a child.
There's no calmness or tranquility in my surroundings, and to add to it, there are rumors of a newborn baby who will bring more chaos.
The broke can still break, oh, what time can take, somewhere in the rules lies the stakes.
People who are already struggling can still suffer losses, and time can snatch away our possessions, there are risks involved in everything that we do.
Bride to be, my only friend, is leaving me, in a Spring with no end.
My closest friend, who is getting married, is leaving me alone without any hope of change or improvement (like an endless spring).
Bride to be, my only friend.
This line is repeated as if emphasizing the fact that the person getting married is the only important person in the singer's life.
Contributed by Ella B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.