| Dispatch – Flying Horses Lyrics | 10 months ago |
|
I conclude that the song is about a profound life lesson learned during the transition to adulthood: that neither absolute certainty, beauty, nor the carefree nature of childhood can endure. What remains, however, is the wisdom gained along the way — a duality of both change and stability, which humans are constantly seeking and striving to balance. In detail: The song tells a sequential story ("Then I...", "Then I...") that begins at a point in life where the protagonist is filled with doubt ("river of doubts"). This likely represents the phase of entering the adult world after growing up — a time of uncertainty and self-discovery. Through introspection ("all alone"), the protagonist reaches an enlightening moment of clarity ("to the sky"), symbolized by the "stone" — an anchor of certainty amidst the chaotic "river of doubts" ("...gave birth to a stone"). This stone symbolizes a stable idea or sense of direction — perhaps a decision about where he wants his life to go. > From the river, he takes the stone, which becomes his anchor of certainty ("The stone lay still"). The story continues as the protagonist discovers aesthetic beauty and experiences his first love ("feelings defied the law"), along with the awakening of sexuality (the "prettiest girl" who "did not wear clothes"). > From the girl, he takes a lock of her hair, symbolizing the objectification of her beauty and his desire to preserve it. However, this love is fleeting. She leaves him, but the impression she leaves behind is profound. His focus remains on the beauty of the experience rather than the pain of her departure ("gorgeous footsteps"), underscoring the genuine optimism and gratitude he feels, even in loss. Within this heartache, the protagonist gains the realization that life is a balance between certainty and change, both of which contribute to wisdom ("Take a look down the road," "wise old look of the old"). Here, the narrative introduces two symbolic creatures: - The badger represents groundedness and stability — the certainty that humans long for. - The one-eyed toad embodies change and unpredictability — the opposite of stability. The missing eye reflects the pain and imperfection that accompany change, just as the protagonist experienced when his love left. It also highlights the idea that no one, no matter how wise, can fully see the entire picture of life. These two creatures, standing like signposts by the road, offer silent wisdom. > From these mythical beings, the protagonist figuratively takes "a look" ("Then I took a look, a look...", "they just looked at me"), gaining insight from their presence — a metaphor for the wisdom and experience gathered on life's journey ("down the road"). Feeling unsteady once more, the protagonist seeks solace in a familiar place from his childhood ("to town," "to my favorite merry-go-round"), possibly his parental home. This is a place where he once felt carefree and safe, where things seemed steady and playful ("you seldom see a frown"). > From the flying horses, he takes a ring, symbolizing the magical levity and wonder of childhood. Hoping to recapture the innocence of childhood, the protagonist forcefully tries to reclaim it ("I stole a ring"). But he is disillusioned to find it unattainable (the ring becomes "all rusty", "can't begin to explain how"). Childhood's carefree nature was shaped by protection and guidance. Now, as an adult, he must navigate life on his own, without the shelter that once existed. The plea: The song concludes with a poignant plea to the listener: Do not try to hold on to things that are meant to change ("But don't pick them up"). Certainty ("stone fell through my pocket"), beauty ("lock of hair flew away with the wind"), and the levity of childhood ("ring... all rusty") are all impermanent, yet they are part of a story ("you know where they've been"), just as the one the song tells. The message, instead, is to cherish these fleeting experiences for what they are in the moment ("Beauty like that knows no home"). What remains is the memory, the wisdom, and the growth they bring — elements that, unlike all the others in the song, are not embodied by any object, but by something intangible: "a look" down the road. This contrast between tangible and intangible things, along with the twist in the song — that tangible things fade while intangible things persist — highlights the paradox that life's idea of persistence is counterintuitive. What we seek to hold onto — the physical, the certain — slips away, while the wisdom and experiences we cannot grasp endure. Ultimately, the message is one of acceptance: Do not mourn what has been lost, but embrace the journey — its joys and sorrows alike — as essential parts of growth and life itself. |
|
* This information can be up to 15 minutes delayed.