"I was 19 when I wrote it. It's one of t… Read Full Bio ↴Paddy McAloon on this song:
"I was 19 when I wrote it. It's one of the early Sprout songs from when we were playing pubs and had a much more rock'n'roll oriented set because that was what I liked. It's a bit like doing a cover version because I don't remember what it was about." - i-D: The Tribal Issue
Golden Calf
Prefab Sprout Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When the distant sea blended with the sky
Past coliseum's filled with brass on pavements carved from toasted glass
I carried in my heart a word or two
You dashing horseman all gone away
Left you a stable bill to pay
And now the golden calf has turned to clay
Couldn't touch your windswept harbour love
White and open-necked you would still play
I'd resort to sleepwalking to catch the mood that fills the sails
With harvest nets and tides don't ever bring
But every night was halloween, and every friend fell in between
And how capricious nature ruled my mind
You dashing horseman all gone away
Left you a stable bill to pay
And now the golden calf has turned to clay
All my feelings dressed in gloves
Couldn't touch your windswept harbour love
White and open-necked you would still play
Once upon a time I stalked the streets on raining evenings
When the distant sea blended with the sky
Past coliseum's filled with brass on pavements carved from toasted glass
I carried in my heart a word or two
But you would always make me see today
You dashing horseman all gone away
Left you a stable bill to pay
And now the golden calf has turned to clay
All my feelings dressed in gloves
Couldn't touch your windswept harbour love
White and open-necked you would still play
I sound so different these days, I barely can believe I'm here
If I didn't know better, I would swear I was someone else
Lord I can't believe, I don't believe I'm me
But who on Earth could I be?
You dashing horseman all gone away
Left you a stable bill to pay
And now the golden calf has turned to clay
All my feelings dressed in gloves
Couldn't touch your windswept harbour love
White and open-necked you would still play
The lyrics to Prefab Sprout's song The Golden Calf describe a lost love and the yearning for a time that has passed. The singer reminiscences about walking the streets on rainy evenings when the sea blended with the sky, and carrying a few words in their heart. The song delves into themes of disillusionment and regret, with lines like "And now the golden calf has turned to clay" which refers to the biblical story of the Israelites turning to the worship of a golden calf instead of God. The song also touches on the idea of identity, with the last stanza asking "But who on Earth could I be?"
The lyrics use a lot of vivid imagery, such as "past coliseums filled with brass on pavements carved from toasted glass" and "harvest nets and tides don't ever bring". The song is told from a first-person perspective and creates a sense of vulnerability and introspection. The use of the phrase "you dashing horseman all gone away" creates a bittersweet tone and highlights the sense of loss in the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Once upon a time I stalked the streets on raining evenings
I used to wander around the streets during rainy nights
When the distant sea blended with the sky
The sea appeared to merge with the sky in the distance
Past coliseum's filled with brass on pavements carved from toasted glass
I walked past buildings with brass decorations on sidewalks made of shiny glass
I carried in my heart a word or two
I had a few words lingering in my mind
You dashing horseman all gone away
The person I was thinking about, who used to be confident and successful, is now absent
Left you a stable bill to pay
They have to pay a large sum of money for something they own
And now the golden calf has turned to clay
Their source of wealth or success is now failing them
All my feelings dressed in gloves
I could not express my emotions openly
Couldn't touch your windswept harbour love
I couldn't seem to reach the person's distant, promiscuous love
White and open-necked you would still play
The person remained flirtatious and carefree despite their circumstances
I'd resort to sleepwalking to catch the mood that fills the sails
I would try to immerse myself in a romantic atmosphere, even in my sleep
With harvest nets and tides don't ever bring
I couldn't catch the love I sought, even when the opportunity presented itself
But every night was halloween, and every friend fell in between
Things would turn dramatic and chaotic every night, and my friendships would suffer as a result
And how capricious nature ruled my mind
I was at the mercy of my own erratic thoughts and emotions
But you would always make me see today
Despite everything, the person I was thinking about would ground me in reality
I sound so different these days, I barely can believe I'm here
I've changed so much that I hardly recognize myself
If I didn't know better, I would swear I was someone else
I feel like a completely different person now, to the point where I question my own identity
Lord I can't believe, I don't believe I'm me
I'm struggling to come to terms with the person I've become
But who on Earth could I be?
I don't know who I am anymore
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: PADDY MCALOON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@californyaeh
he Golden Calf
Once upon a time I stalked the
Streets on raining evenings when the
Distant sea blended with the sky
Past Coliseum's filled with brass
On pavements carved from toasted glass
I carried in my heart a word or two
Your dashing horseman all gone away
Left you the stable bill to pay
And now the golden calf has turned to clay
All my feelings dressed in gloves
Couldn't touch your windswept harbour love
White and open-necked you would still play
I'd resort to sleepwalking
To court the mood that fills the sails
With harvest nets and tides don't ever bring
But every night was Halloween, and every friend fell in between
And how capricious nature ruled my mind
Your dashing horseman all gone away
Left you the stable bill to pay
And now the golden calf has turned to clay
All my feelings dressed in gloves
Couldn't touch your windswept harbour love
White and open-necked you would still play
Once upon a time I stalked the
Streets on raining evenings when the
Distant sea blended with the sky
My mouth was full of cigarettes
My hair is full of long-term bets
But you would always make me see the day
Your dashing horseman all gone away
Left you the stable bill to pay
And now the golden calf has turned to clay
All my feelings dressed in gloves
Couldn't touch your windswept harbour love
White and open-necked you would still play
I sound so different these days, I barely can believe I'm me
If I didn't know better, I would swear I was someone else
Lord I can't believe, I don't believe I'm me
But who on earth could I be?
Your dashing horseman all gone away
Left you the stable bill to pay
And now the golden calf has turned to clay
All my feelings dressed in gloves
Couldn't touch your windswept harbour love
White and open-necked you would still play, play, play
Your dashing horseman all gone away
Left you the stable bill to pay
And now the golden calf has turned to clay
All my feelings dressed in gloves
Couldn't touch your windswept...
@michelepistillo7980
La Band dei sogni .. ke misica fantastica !!!❤❤❤❤💯💯💯💯💯
@markfewings8614
best prefab tune... amazing,...
@truckertom3323
In the mid to late 80's i was on the Continental Trucking run to the then West Germany, and all the while my Cassette player in the Merc, was only playing Prefab Sprout Tapes, on all Eight speakers, they are still my favourite band to this day, and they always will be, i have never seen them in Concert, but now thanks to CD's, they are in my Computer forever.
I first heard this Band in 79/80 i was 19, and will be 60 in July, that's 41 years! if that is not Love then i do not know what is.
@IndependentVFX
Your comment paints such a great picture! Awesome
@cafedeltransit
Was that with EST .....?
@truckertom3323
@@cafedeltransit no, but i used to see a lot of EST on the ferry, and on the road, they were happy days.
@cafedeltransit
@@truckertom3323 nice one,a guy I know used to work for EST,retired now and living by the sea in Devon,he’s told me a few stories which I’m sure you’d be able to relate to...! 🤣
@Zetep
Cool, I was driving a lot in Germany in the 80’s, trucking for ACL, flatbeds and containers for US Army. We could have met.
@longfade
If Prefab Sprout is one of the great under-rated bands of their time (and they certainly are), Martin McAloon is one of the most underrated bass players ever.
@privysorrow5120
The bass on Cue Fanfare. My god what a song.