Soul Coughing,was founded by vocalist and guitarist Mike Doughty (who billed himself at the time as 'M. Doughty'), a folk singer, slam poet, and music writer.
Doughty was a doorman at the old Knitting Factory on Houston Street in New York. While working there he met sampler artist Mark De Gli Antoni, upright bass player Sebastian Steinberg, drummer Yuval Gabay, and artist David Linton. Doughty convinced them to join him in forming a new band. They played their first gig, as 'M. Doughty's Soul Coughing' at the Knitting Factory on June 15, 1992, a late-Monday night slot that Doughty cadged from his boss because nobody else wanted it. In 1993, he founded a club night called SLAW at CBGB's 313 Gallery, which was meant to emulate the popular jazz and hip hop club Giant Step, but eventually became a showcase for Soul Coughing. Posters for SLAW were headlined 'Deep Slacker Jazz' (a parody of The Who's slogan 'Maximum R&B'), which became an enduring description of the band's sound.
The band was signed within a year to Warner Brothers subsidiary Slash Records, and released three albums: Ruby Vroom (1994), Irresistible Bliss (1996), and El Oso (1998). They enjoyed minor hit singles with "Circles," "Super Bon Bon," and "Screenwriter's Blues."
The band broke up in 2000, after years of feuding over songwriting credits and publishing money. Doughty continued as a solo artist, and Gabay, Steinberg, and De Gli Antoni have been involved with other projects including a trio disc sans Doughty in 2004.
16 Horses
Soul Coughing Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The speaker moves
Magnetism pushes
The impulse through
But I can't keep that speed
I can't generate that frequency
What the sound pressure level means
Wants a randomized electrons
And you're still not dancing
She came pushing sixteen
She came pushing sixteen horses
I saw her and thought of her and thought of her
And I thought I heard a doorbell tone
And I thought I saw, thought I saw and thought I saw
You watching from the lawn
She went over bridges like the river was a dream, dream
Over bridges like the river was a dream, dream
She came pushing sixteen
She came pushing sixteen horses
Two rings, two rings, two rings, clamp down
Quit it
Two rings, two rings, two rings, clamp down
Quit it
Two rings, two rings, two rings, clamp down
Quit it
Two rings, two rings, two rings, clamp down
Quit it
She came pushing sixteen
She came pushing sixteen
She came pushing sixteen
She came pushing sixteen horses
The lyrics to Soul Coughing's "16 Horses" are a bit abstract and open to interpretation, but there is a recurring theme of being unable to keep up with the speed and intensity of modern life. The opening lines describe the constant motion of sound waves being generated and pushed through speakers at thousands of times per second due to magnetism. The singer admits that they cannot keep up with this speed or generate the same frequency, and that the meaning behind the sound pressure level eludes them. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for feeling overwhelmed or out of sync with the fast-paced world around them.
The song then shifts focus to a woman who is described as "pushing sixteen horses." This could be interpreted as her having a lot of energy and momentum, or possibly a metaphor for her carrying a heavy burden or responsibility. The singer seems to be fixated on her, possibly even mistaking a sound or visual for her presence. The repetition of "two rings, two rings, two rings, clamp down... quit it" could be interpreted as the singer's attempt to quiet or calm their racing thoughts.
Overall, the lyrics to "16 Horses" create a sense of disorientation and feeling overwhelmed by the swift pace of modern life, while also hinting at a search for connection and meaning.
Line by Line Meaning
Fourteen thousand times a second
The frequency of the sound that the singer is generating is 14000 times a second.
The speaker moves
The sound waves produced by the singer are in motion.
Magnetism pushes
The magnetic force pushes the sound waves through the air.
The impulse through
The electrical impulse generated by the artist travels through the wires to create sound waves.
But I can't keep that speed
The artist cannot keep up with the frequency of 14000 times a second.
I can't generate that frequency
The singer is incapable of producing frequencies at that level.
What the sound pressure level means
The singer doesn't understand the sound pressure level being generated.
Wants a randomized electrons
The sound wants randomized electrons to generate sound waves.
I can't read
The artist cannot interpret the sound waves being produced.
And you're still not dancing
Despite the sound being produced, the listener is not moved to dance.
She came pushing sixteen
The subject in the song arrived emphatically and with strong intent.
She came pushing sixteen horses
The subject arrived with an overwhelming force, as if accompanied by a team of 16 horses.
I saw her and thought of her and thought of her
The singer saw the subject and could not stop thinking about her.
And I thought I heard a doorbell tone
The singer thought he could hear a doorbell ringing, potentially indicating the arrival of the subject.
And I thought I saw, thought I saw and thought I saw
The singer thought he repeatedly saw the subject, unable to take his focus elsewhere.
You watching from the lawn
The subject's presence caused the artist to believe that someone was watching from the nearby lawn.
She went over bridges like the river was a dream, dream
The subject effortlessly and easily navigated across bridges, as if it was part of a dream.
Two rings, two rings, two rings, clamp down
This repetition of the phrase indicates a sense of urgency and a need to take action quickly.
Quit it
The singer is telling someone to stop doing whatever they are doing.
She came pushing sixteen
The song repeats the idea that the subject arrived with force and determination.
She came pushing sixteen horses
The song again emphasizes the idea that the subject arrived with an overwhelming force and energy.
Two rings, two rings, two rings, clamp down
The repetition of this phrase indicates that there is still a need for urgency and action to be taken.
Quit it
The singer is continuing to tell someone to stop doing whatever they are doing.
She came pushing sixteen
The song ends with a final statement of the subject's forceful and determined arrival.
She came pushing sixteen horses
The song concludes with a final description of the subject's overwhelming energy and determination.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARK DEGLIANTONI, MICHAEL DOUGHTY, SEBASTIAN STEINBERG, YUVAL GABAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Roger Montegreta
Doughty's singing/wordplay always reminded me of 50's beat poetry. The acoustic bass brings this feeling home. Then we have incredible drumming on what sounds like differently tuned snares. And this guy quoting everyone from The Andrews Sisters to King Crimson on the sampler, also playing simple chord progressions on piano/synth. You're right, WeMust, they defy comparison.
Lazybones
King Crimson? in which song?
Bundy1
Awesome tune; great soundtrack!
theshellmeister
My all time fav Soul Coughing song....thx for posting! I first heard it on the X-Files Soundtrack, too! ;-)
Emily Fabian
um, i've owned this album for about 10 years now...and i've never heard this song? wtf?
4waySaline
I miss this band so.
fryday13
me too man me too
PacifistNL
Does anyone have a guitar tab for this song. I would so like to learn how to play this. It's got an amazing melody... Thanks for any help!
Lukas Policha
love'd it in that soundtrack.
Aphoticbeauty
X-Files! Heck yeah!