All The Pretty Horses
Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real Lyrics


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Thinking of forgiveness in the flickering light
Walking through the rain on a winter night
The breathing of the horses shivering in the breeze
The song of love blowing through the trees

Riding on a trail that my father left me
A pathway to heaven 'neath the wandering trees
Riding with a woman, she's the love of my life
And the day may come that I make her my wife

Walking on a trail, I'm walking alone
Trying to find my way back home
The horses are running to the shelter and food
Helps me remember what I get from you

Hold on tight and don't look back
My horse is running, my saddle is slack
Grittin' my teeth to the angry wind
I'm coming back home to you my friend

............

For Christina...

............

Trying to believe in things that last
The snow on the leaves, the dew on the grass




A big woodfire burning in my heart
Keeps me warm when we're apart

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real's "All The Pretty Horses" is a beautiful ode to love, forgiveness, and the winding road of life. The song opens with the singer contemplating forgiveness while walking through the rain and basking in the light of a flickering fire. The horses' breath shivering in the breeze and the love song that echoes through the trees reflect the deep thoughts and emotions that have been stirred up by the singer's situation. They proceed to describe the road ahead, which was carved out by their father, and how they're riding with the love of their life towards a path to heaven under the wandering trees. The singer seems sure that they'll make this love of their life their wife someday, and their journey is progressing in the right direction.


The singer then reflects on life and how they're walking alone, trying to find their way back home and how the horses running towards food and shelter make them recall what they received from this love of their life. But they quickly shed that thought and hold on tight to the horse, trying not to look back, as they race towards coming back home to their friend. The song ends with the singer trying to hold on to things that last, such as the dew on the grass and the snow on the leaves, while the big woodfire burning in their heart keeps them warm when they're apart.


Line by Line Meaning

Thinking of forgiveness in the flickering light
Contemplating letting go of hurt and anger while watching the light flicker


Walking through the rain on a winter night
Strolling in the rain during a cold winter evening


The breathing of the horses shivering in the breeze
The horses taking deep breaths while feeling chilly in the wind


The song of love blowing through the trees
The overwhelming feeling of love resonating through nature


Riding on a trail that my father left me
Following the path that his father once took


A pathway to heaven 'neath the wandering trees
A road that leads to happiness under the branches of the wayward trees


Riding with a woman, she's the love of my life
Having the most ultimate ride with his partner who completes him


And the day may come that I make her my wife
They could potentially take it to the next step and tie the knot one day


Walking on a trail, I'm walking alone
Moving on the journey without anyone accompanying him


Trying to find my way back home
Struggling to get back to the place where he belongs


The horses are running to the shelter and food
The four-legged animals are making a run towards protection and sustenance


Helps me remember what I get from you
Reminding him of the benefits he gains from his lvoed ones


Hold on tight and don't look back
Clutching onto something and focusing only on moving forward


My horse is running, my saddle is slack
The horse gallops freely with little resistance from the loose saddle


Grittin' my teeth to the angry wind
Biting his teeth and enduring the harsh winds


I'm coming back home to you my friend
Heading back to the person who he values as a companion


Trying to believe in things that last
Attempting to have faith in things that have longevity


The snow on the leaves, the dew on the grass
Snow settling on the leaves and dewdrops forming on the grass


A big woodfire burning in my heart
A passionate love inside his heart that is flaring up


Keeps me warm when we're apart
That love keeps him comforted when he's physically distant from his love




Contributed by Micah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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