At 24 years old, Ian St. Arnaud found himself to be an old hand on the fest… Read Full Bio ↴At 24 years old, Ian St. Arnaud found himself to be an old hand on the festival performer circuit, a University graduate, an accidental overdose survivor and at a loss for what to do with himself next.

The previous Fall, St.Arnaud, along with drummer with Will Holowaychuk, had seen his bandmate, friend, and at times antagonist, hit by a train, thus dissolving their Americana/folk trio - North of Here. The three had met in high school and from humble beginnings, their first performance being in a small town library to a meager audience of 14, they quickly became darlings of the Canadian folk movement. They had been preparing to head into the studio to follow up on their pair of 2017 Singles: Without Windows and Milk & Honey, when their bandmate, Luke Jansen, was killed. Hauntingly, the album title had already been chosen - The Cost of Living.

Ian St.Arnaud, songwriter, and Will Holowaychuk, drummer and third member of North of Here, wanting to honour their band & the loss of their friend, reworked and rewrote many of the songs that make up the bulk of St. Arnaud’s debut album. However, new music inevitably began to pour out of St.Arnaud, and the first string of releases ensued, including: two singles, Dark Horse (August 2018), Morning Dreamers (September 2018), and St.Arnaud’s debut 6-track EP, Morning, Buddy (October 2018). Teaming up with Juno Award-nominated producer Graham Lessard (The Barr Brothers, Timber Timbre, Basia Bulat), Ian dove fully into the studio to flesh out his understated and raw songs. Hearkening to ‘70s protest folk, beaming, clever lyrics belay the dark weight of his themes. Simply orchestrated solo and band-performances, and impeccably-composed, St.Arnaud’s debut LP, The Cost of Living, set to be released Fall 2019, is a stunning sonic achievement. Ian tackles head-on themes of death, loss and confusion with sardonic humour and heart-on-the-sleeve puppy-love honesty. His simple, insightful lyrics bob and weave through layers of trumpet and electrified tenor guitar interplay, all tastefully layered over a sweet and solid rhythm section.

Dark Horse
St.Arnaud Lyrics

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I've been calling up my friends in droves
Looking for a shoulder
I'm tired of it all, but who knows
When it'll be over

I was strumming in this empty room
Until I wore the chords down
I've been doing everything I can

But it just won't work out

They won't see me coming around
I want to be the dark horse

We've all gotta bear our cross
Don't we know it
I've been twiddling my thumbs too long
What's to show for it

I miss the songbird shot down
In a bolt of lightning
Like the sun gone behind the clouds
Darkened mourning

They won't see me coming around
I want to be the dark horse

They won't see me coming around
They won't see me coming around
If you want to feel us shakin' the ground

Help me get the vote out
I'm gonna be the dark horse

Overall Meaning

The song "Dark Horse" by St.Arnaud is a melancholic track that showcases the songwriter's struggles with life and disappointments that have come his way. The song takes the form of a confessional narrative in which St.Arnaud shares his innermost feelings with his audience and reveals his thoughts on the complexities of life. The lyrics are imbued with a sense of desperation and longing, as the singer seeks comfort in his friends but finds it hard to come by. He is tired of trying and hoping, yet he keeps going, somehow believing that things will get better.

The song's chorus is particularly powerful, as it talks about the singer's desire to be a "dark horse". This phrase refers to someone that is underestimated and overlooked, but who ultimately comes out on top. The singer sees himself as someone who has been passed over, but who has the potential to rise above it all. He wants to prove his worth to the world and make a name for himself, and he believes that the only way to do so is by becoming a dark horse.

Overall, "Dark Horse" is a deeply personal and relatable song that captures the emotions of anyone who has struggled with disappointment and the complexities of life. St.Arnaud's lyrics are poignant and powerful, and his delivery is imbued with a sense of vulnerability that makes the song all the more resonant.

Line by Line Meaning

I've been calling up my friends in droves
I have been reaching out to my friends in large numbers

Looking for a shoulder
Seeking comfort and support

I'm tired of it all, but who knows
I am exhausted from everything, but uncertain of when it will end

When it'll be over
When the situation will resolve

I was strumming in this empty room
Playing music alone in a desolate space

Until I wore the chords down
Repeatedly playing until the strings on the guitar erode

I've been doing everything I can
Putting forth great effort

But it just won't work out
Despite the effort, things are not improving

They won't see me coming around
Others will not expect to see me again

I want to be the dark horse
I aspire to be the unexpected winner

We've all gotta bear our cross
We all must carry burdens in life