While you may not have recognized Karlsson and Winberg by their full names, you may have heard their work as production duo Bloodshy & Avant. The duo has written and produced for Kylie Minogue, Madonna and Britney Spears and claimed a Grammy for their work on Britney Spears’ Toxic. Wyatt is fresh off co-production duties with Mark Ronson on Daniel Merriweather’s April release, Love And War.
A Horse Is Not A Home
Miike Snow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And our drinks were just poured
Look outside someone's waiting
With a yellow horse
With a hole in my heart I was s'posed to ride
In morning traffic
With a golden hand by your fortress side
Somebody, somebody, somebody tell me
It wont be long
Cause a horse is not a home
A horse is not a home
Uninvited to the play where language doesn't hurt
With nothing on my shirt
Sometimes I swim with you in a room that is ocean sized and clear
Not here where all I breath is smoke
With a hole in my heart I was s'posed to ride
In morning traffic
With a golden hand by your fortress side
But without magic
Somebody, somebody, somebody tell me
It wont be long
Cause a horse is not a home
A horse is not a home
With a hole in my heart I was s'posed to ride
In morning traffic
With a golden hand by your fortress side
But without magic
Somebody, somebody, somebody tell me
It wont be long
Cause a horse is not a home
A horse is not a home
Somebody, somebody, somebody tell me
It wont be long
Cause a horse is not a home
A horse is not a home
The lyrics of Miike Snow's A Horse Is Not A Home speak to feelings of unease and alienation. The opening line "Oh God I think I'm dying" creates a sense of urgency and fear, which is compounded by the line "and our drinks were just poured." This juxtaposition of impending mortality with the mundanity of having just ordered drinks sets a surreal and unsettling tone for the rest of the song.
The imagery in the lines "Look outside someone's waiting/With a yellow horse" is striking, and adds a sense of foreboding to the already ominous atmosphere. The idea of someone waiting with a yellow horse creates a sense of danger or impending doom, and contrasts with the idea of riding off into the sunrise that is developed in later verses.
The repeated refrain "A horse is not a home" speaks to the idea of seeking comfort and stability in something that ultimately cannot provide it. The lines "With a hole in my heart I was s'posed to ride/In morning traffic/With a golden hand by your fortress side/But without magic" underscore this idea, as they reference the desire for intimacy and connection that is ultimately unfulfilled. The song ultimately leaves the listener with a sense of melancholy and longing.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh God I think I'm dying
Feeling overwhelmed and on the verge of collapse both physically and emotionally.
And our drinks were just poured
Drinks have been served and are freshly made, yet the situation or the person's present state of being causes little enjoyment of this fact.
Look outside someone's waiting
With a yellow horse
Someone is waiting outside with transportation in the form of a yellow horse, however, this doesn't bring any comfort or solace.
With a hole in my heart I was s'posed to ride
In morning traffic
Despite feeling incomplete and unable to fill the void within, the person was meant to ride and accept the hustle and bustle of daily life.
With a golden hand by your fortress side
But without magic
Despite having the support and protection of a powerful ally, it is not enough to create the desired outcome or feeling of fulfillment.
Somebody, somebody, somebody tell me
It wont be long
Cause a horse is not a home
A horse is not a home
Seeking some form of reassurance and confirmation that the current situation, which seems unfulfilling and empty, will not last forever.
Uninvited to the play where language doesn't hurt
With nothing on my shirt
Feeling like an outsider who was not invited to, or unable to participate in a space where communication is non-threatening and uninhibited due to their own vulnerability and lack of protection.
Sometimes I swim with you in a room that is ocean sized and clear
Not here where all I breath is smoke
Occasionally connecting intimately and deeply while in a place of openness and clarity, but feeling suffocated and stifled when in the current space filled with harmful, toxic substances.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW WYATT BLAKEMORE, CHRISTIAN KARLSSON, PONTUS WINNBERG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sophia Catherine
whenever I'm feeling depressed, Miike Snow's music always helps for some reason ♥
Jude Hart
This was so well done I thought it was the actual music video. Great job!
alesenka121
What an amazing video! it suits the song very well in my opinion. i feel like i can relate to what the character is feeling in the video...very well done!
smilyface38
This was a pretty well directed film. Me being an average joe this seems really great, good job
Nathan Online
I really like the reversal of the smoke in the mask. Great simple effect.
Uriel Vera
Me encanto este video, yo pense que era el oficial, les quedo muy bien
Lily Idle
I really like this video. It's beautifully shot. My only constructive criticism would be that I wish there was more conflict.
ROSSZip
Awesome video, sticks to the surreal style of Miike Snow videos and it works toward a nice conclusion. Looks very professional
CFLNHLFIFAFAN
Great song and love it, at first I thought it sang "A Horse is not a Hoe" and thought it was funny and cool, but its a great song, along with Miike Snow's many great songs.
Annon Beepath
Great job! I had to read the comments to realize this is not official.