Rocking Horse
The Dead Weather Lyrics

I drank some dirty water
I have been involved in unpleasant experiences or situations, which were possibly unhealthy or unethical.

Shook evil hands
I have been associated with, willingly or unwittingly, some shady characters and their nefarious activities.

I've done some bad things
I am not a completely innocent person, having committed some actions that may have been harmful or unacceptable.

And they get easier to do
Repeating those past negative patterns of behavior increasingly desensitizes me to moral or ethical qualms or consequences.

Then I wrote a nasty letter
I expressed my anger or bitterness through a written message, that was intended to hurt or offend someone.

And I sent it to the Lord
I directed my grievances towards a higher power or authority, which may be a religious figure, a deity, or an abstract concept of justice.

I said don't you dare come
I challenged the legitimacy or the influence of the said entity, and refused to accept its intervention or guidance.

And bother me no more
I demanded that I be left alone, regardless of the consequences or implications of my defiance.

I had a good friend
I once had a close companion, who might have been reliable, supportive, or affectionate.

I could only destroy
However, I managed to ruin or undermine that friendship, either intentionally or indifferently, and now it is irreparably damaged or lost.

And lovers I loved less
I also had romantic partners, but my feelings towards them were lukewarm, inadequate, or inferior.

Than anybody could afford
I was not worth the investment of their emotions, time, or attention, and they deserved better than me.

Yes but this old rocking horse
Despite my shortcomings and misfortunes, there is an object, like an antique toy horse, that has endured and remains unchanged through time and events.

Just nods his head
That object has a simple, repetitive, and predictable behavior, like nodding its head, that contrasts with the complexity and unpredictability of human behavior.

And he's gonna rock back and forth
That object is destined to keep moving in a cyclic or repetitive way, almost like it is stuck in a loop, without any meaning or purpose beyond its own existence.

The way that he always did
That object is a symbol of something that remains unchanged, unaffected, and unenlightened, in contrast with the passage of time and changing circumstances.

Baby don't you bother
In this part, someone else, like a lover or a child, is being addressed with a warning or an advice.

Tasting the water
That person is cautioned against experiencing or trying something that I consider to be unpleasant or toxic, like the dirty water I drank earlier.

And, baby don't you bother
The same caution or advice is repeated, reinforcing the impression of a parental or protective role.

Coming closer to me
That person is suggested to keep a physical or emotional distance from me, possibly due to my negative influence or behavior.

Yes when you see my eyes?
The focus shifts back to the first-person point of view, as if I am talking to an imaginary interlocutor or confessor.

They're half the size
My eyes, which can be a window to my soul or emotions, are diminished in size, possibly due to exhaustion, drug use, or a metaphorical self-censorship.

And I'm not able
I am admitting that I have limitations, weaknesses, or disabilities, that prevent me from acting, seeing, or thinking clearly or effectively.

To look at you
One of those consequences is that I cannot face or confront the person I am talking to, as if I am too ashamed, guilty, or afraid to do so.

No, no, oh oh, oh
The song closes with some non-lyrical sounds or exclamations, that may suggest a sense of despair, anguish, or pleasure, depending on the interpretation of the listener.

Oh, oh, oh,
The repetition of those sounds, along with the melody, may convey a haunting or hypnotic effect, that may linger in the mind or the body of the listener.

Oh, oh, oh oh
The final words of the song are also nonsensical or ambiguous, and may evoke different associations or emotions in different individuals.