Shakira
poem to a horse Lyrics


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You're too far to bring you close
And too high to see below
Just hangin' on your daily dose

I know you never needed anyone
But the rolling papers for your grass
How can you give what you don't have
You keep on aiming for the top
And quit before you sweat a drop
Feed your empty brain
With your hydroponic pot
Start out playing with yourself
You get more fun within your shell
Nice to meet you but I gotta go my way

I'll leave again 'cause I've been waiting in vain
But you're so in love with yourself
If I say my heart is sore
Sounds like a cheap metaphor
So I won't repeat it no more

I rather eat my soup with a fork
Or drive a cab in New York
'Cause to talk to you is harder work

So what's the point of wasting all my words
If it's just the same or even worse
Than reading poems to a horse

You keep on aiming for the top
And quit before you sweat a drop
Feed your empty brain
With your hydroponic pot
I bet you'll find someone like you
'Cause there's a foot for every shoe
I wish you luck but I've other things to do

I'll leave again 'cause I've been waiting in vain
But you're so in love with yourself
If I say my heart is sore
Sounds like a cheap metaphor
So I won't repeat it no more

I'll leave again 'cause I've been waiting in vain

If I say my heart is sore
Sounds like a cheap metaphor

I'll leave again 'cause I've been waiting in vain
But you're so in love with yourself
If I say my heart is sore




Sounds like a cheap metaphor
So I won't repeat it no more

Overall Meaning

Shakira's "Poem to a Horse" is a song about frustration and disappointment in a relationship that seems to be going nowhere. The singer is addressing someone who is too distant and unreachable for her to connect with them on a meaningful level. They are too high and too far away, and seem to be more interested in themselves than in her or anyone else.


The song portrays the image of a person who is addicted to drugs and is not willing to put in any effort to improve their life. The singer knows that this person has never needed anyone to get by in life, except for their rolling papers and grass. This person is so focused on their hydroponic pot that they do not have anything worthwhile to offer in a relationship. They are always aiming for the top, but never willing to put in the effort to get there.


The chorus of the song reinforces the frustration of the singer in this relationship. She feels like she's wasting her words and time trying to connect with this person. The metaphor of reading poems to a horse is used to show that the person she's addressing is incapable of understanding or appreciating her efforts.


Line by Line Meaning

You're too far to bring you close
You are unreachable


And too high to see below
You are too successful to pay attention to the people beneath you


Just hangin' on your daily dose
You are addicted to a certain lifestyle


I know you never needed anyone
You are fiercely independent


But the rolling papers for your grass
The only thing you truly need is your marijuana


How can you give what you don't have
You cannot provide for others when you are incapable of taking care of yourself


You keep on aiming for the top
You are constantly striving for greatness


And quit before you sweat a drop
You give up too easily


Feed your empty brain
You fill your mind with meaningless things


With your hydroponic pot
Specifically, you consume marijuana to escape reality


Start out playing with yourself
You are selfish and self-involved


You get more fun within your shell
You prefer to stay within your comfort zone


Nice to meet you but I gotta go my way
I acknowledge your presence but must part ways


I'll leave again 'cause I've been waiting in vain
I have been waiting for a change that will never come


But you're so in love with yourself
You are self-absorbed


If I say my heart is sore
Expressing my emotions to you is pointless


Sounds like a cheap metaphor
It would be meaningless to you


So I won't repeat it no more
I will not bother repeating myself


I rather eat my soup with a fork
I would rather do something unconventional


Or drive a cab in New York
I would rather do a difficult job


'Cause to talk to you is harder work
Engaging with you is a challenge


So what's the point of wasting all my words
Speaking to you is futile


If it's just the same or even worse
It will not make a positive difference


Than reading poems to a horse
It would be just as pointless as reading poetry to an animal that cannot understand it


I bet you'll find someone like you
You will find someone equally self-centered


'Cause there's a foot for every shoe
There is a match for everyone


I wish you luck but I've other things to do
I have other priorities




Contributed by Eva E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Jaz RA

Por favor ruego por que Shakira pueda incluir nuevamente esta joya en sus presentaciones. 🙏🏽🫶🏽

Marisol Frias

Siii te aviso te anuncio, poem to a horse, y varias delas viejitaas

NARCISSAg

Seguro le mete un remix regueton/pop 🥲 mejor dejémosla x ahí nomas

Eduardo S

lamentablemente para nosotros, Shakira nunca mas va a volver a cantar esta cancion en una gira

AnitaLu1611

@Eduardo S porque?

15 More Replies...

Brian Javier Villanueva Castillo

Shakira es lo más grande que ha dado la música latina.
Like si la apoyas, saludos de México.

Remi Gofflo

JE T'AIME AMOUR COEUR CHÉRI CHERIE SHAKIRA 😘😗😚😚👍❤❤❤JE T'AIME AMOUR COEUR CHÉRI CHERIE REMI GOFFLO 😘😗😚😚👍❤❤❤

Cintia Robles

Tampoco tanto je, tiene algún que otro tema. Uno es éste.

Luis Vazquez

Aún no se cómo no fue elegido como sencillo está canción es una "obra de arte"

Daniel Valverde

Fue sencillo para el disco en vivo LIVE AND OFF THE RECORD

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