Wide open, horses

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a stark, almost surreal picture of loss and a desperate search for solace. Initially, the narrator is confronted with a recurring image of dying horses, a visceral symbol of death or failure piling up. This overwhelming presence is then transformed into an ocean, a vast, inescapable expanse where these "horses" now reside on the ocean floor, suggesting a permanent, submerged grief. The repetition of "died at my door" and their eventual placement "all along the ocean floor" emphasizes the inescapable and profound nature of this loss. This overwhelming sense of finality is contrasted with a yearning for connection and survival. The narrator questions whether to "lay down, lay down, gracefully" as friends "have gone quiet," implying a shared experience of desolation or perhaps the loss of companionship. The plea to "Praying for the sun" becomes a central motif, a desperate hope for warmth, clarity, or an end to the darkness that has enveloped them and their "branded corpses." The arrival of another person, "she," offers a potential turning point. Her action of turning and dropping "her shoulder blades" is described as a "scene so perfect," suggesting a protective or comforting gesture. This leads to a shared experience of wading out "endlessly," implying a mutual journey through their shared quietude and animalistic vulnerability. The repetition of "We're just these animals" underscores a raw, instinctual existence stripped bare by their circumstances. The lyrics then shift to a more grounded, personal reflection on change and self-awareness. The narrator admits to growing up, stopping "drinking so much cheap red wine," and trying "to seem calm" despite "failing arms." This internal struggle is juxtaposed with external observations like "Weekend glow" and "Alligator skin," hinting at a façade or a hardened exterior. The final emergence of "love" and the repeated phrase "They called me strange" suggest a journey from isolation and perceived oddity towards a shared, perhaps unconventional, connection, finding a fragile peace "In between the fractured wall."