Residing in Stockholm, Sweden, the duo quietly crafted the nine tracks that make up 2011's debut album Hearts throughout stolen moments gathered up since their formation in 2008.
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I Break Horses Lyrics
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Hit nothing but empty parts
Seems like we will glide
In perfection with the tide
These dark separate paths
Lead up to empty hearts
The opening lines of "Hearts in 2" by I Break Horses describe the feeling of aimlessly wandering through life with no real direction or purpose. The singer describes themselves as striking out to collide, suggesting an attempt to find fulfillment and meaning through connections with others, but ultimately hitting nothing but empty parts. Despite this, they seem to accept their fate and embrace the idea that they will simply glide along with the tide of life, floating along in a state of numbness and detachment.
The following lines describe the sense of isolation and emptiness that comes with this way of life. The singer contrasts the darkness of their own path with the emptiness of their heart, suggesting that they are deeply unhappy and unfulfilled, but have no idea how to break out of this cycle. The repetition of the word "empty" emphasizes the sense of loss and nihilism that pervades the song, while the sparse instrumentation and dreamy vocals accentuate the detached and ethereal quality of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Strike out to collide
We ventured out to cause some sparks or friction
Hit nothing but empty parts
But it turns out, there was nothing to clash with
Seems like we will glide
Nonetheless, we appear to have a smooth sailing
In perfection with the tide
Our journey effortlessly conforms with the natural flow
These dark separate paths
However, we both have our own secret, unhappy trails
Lead up to empty hearts
And those paths eventually reach our hollow, unfulfilled hearts
Writer(s): Fredrik Balck, Maria Linden
Contributed by Avery Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.