Joseph Arthur (born September 28, 1971) is an American contemporary singer-… Read Full Bio ↴Joseph Arthur (born September 28, 1971) is an American contemporary singer-songwriter from Akron, Ohio. He is known for his melodic compositions combined with swirling choruses. He was discovered by Peter Gabriel in the mid-'90s and signed to Gabriel's Real World label in 1996. Arthur's first album, Big City Secrets, was released in 1997 to critical acclaim.

In 2006, Arthur's song "In the Sun" was covered by Michael Stipe (of R.E.M.) and Coldplay singer Chris Martin. Released for a Hurricane Katrina Relief program, the EP includes six versions of the cover, one of which has Arthur himself singing with Stipe.

Arthur established his own record label, Lonely Astronaut Records, in 2006, and released two studio albums, Let's Just Be (2007) and Temporary People (2008) with backing band The Lonely Astronauts. Arthur subsequently returned to performing and recording as a solo artist, releasing The Graduation Ceremony in 2011 and the double album, Redemption City in 2012.

Arthur is also an acclaimed painter and designer. His artwork has graced the sleeves of his entire discography; the sleeve design for his 1999 album entitled Vacancy was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Recording Package.

Horses
Joseph Arthur Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I don't wanna hold you hostage
I wanna set you free
If I could I'd pay your ransom
And give your eyes to see
You know my love, it will follow
If you only follow me
Your eyes will open up so easily
I don't wanna make you suffer

Or fill you up with shame
What I want is to protect you
Give you shelter from the rain
If you take my hand and maybe
Even take my name
We won't have anyone else left to blame
See how the horses run
Round the track
Until the winner come
Wait for the sound of his gun
And then the horses run
I guess I was only dreaming
I'm here all on my own
I remember how you left me
Homeless in my home
But you said I had it coming
'Cause I've always done you wrong
But I was finding out where I belong
See how the horses run
Round the track
Until the winner come
Wait for the sound of his gun
And then the horses run
See how the horses run
Round the track
Until the winner come

Wait for the sound of his gun
And then the horses run

Overall Meaning

In "Horses," Joseph Arthur seems to be addressing a loved one whom he has hurt in the past, and who has left him. He expresses his desire to set them free and provide them with a better life, free of suffering and shame. He offers his love and protection, hoping that they will choose to follow him and open their eyes to a new way of living. Arthur also acknowledges the pain that the relationship has caused him but seems ready to move on and find his place in the world.

The imagery of horses running round and round a track adds another layer of meaning to the song. It could represent the cycles of life and love, where people keep making the same mistakes and hurt each other repeatedly until a winner (presumably, someone who learns the lessons and breaks the cycle) emerges. The sound of the gun at the end of the race could symbolize a final reckoning, a moment of clarity that separates winners from losers.

Overall, "Horses" is a poignant and heartfelt song that deals with themes of love, loss, and redemption. Joseph Arthur's lyrics are open to interpretation, but they undeniably evoke strong emotions and showcase his talent for crafting beautiful and evocative songs.

Line by Line Meaning

I don't wanna hold you hostage
I don't want to keep you captive or force you to do anything

I wanna set you free
I want you to have the freedom to make your own choices

If I could I'd pay your ransom
If it were possible, I would offer a price to free you from any burden or oppression

And give your eyes to see
Help you perceive the world in a way that you may not be capable of without assistance

You know my love, it will follow
My love for you will always be present

If you only follow me
If you choose to accept my guidance or companionship

Your eyes will open up so easily
You will gain a new perspective and understanding of the world with my help

I don't wanna make you suffer
I don't want to cause you pain

Or fill you up with shame
I don't want to make you feel guilty or embarrassed

What I want is to protect you
I want to keep you safe from harm

Give you shelter from the rain
Provide protection and comfort in times of difficulty or hardship

If you take my hand and maybe
If you allow me to guide you in life

Even take my name
If you agree to share your life with me and have a genuine connection

We won't have anyone else left to blame
If we choose to be together, any issues or problems in our lives will no longer have other people or factors to blame

See how the horses run
Observe the way in which horses move and run

Round the track
In a circular path, as in a racecourse

Until the winner come
Until the one horse crosses the finish line first

Wait for the sound of his gun
Anticipating the sound of the starting race signal

And then the horses run
Once the race has commenced, the horses will start running and competing

I guess I was only dreaming
I understand that my hopes and expectations for our relationship were unrealistic or unlikely to come true

I'm here all on my own
I am facing my current situation without any help or support

I remember how you left me
I still hold onto the memory of your departure

Homeless in my home
Feeling lost and abandoned in a familiar or comfortable space

But you said I had it coming
You justified your leaving by saying that I deserved it or brought it upon myself

'Cause I've always done you wrong
Because I have consistently acted in a way that has caused you harm or pain

But I was finding out where I belong
I was trying to figure out my place in life and what matters most to me