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All the Tired Horses Lyrics

All the tired horses in the sun, how am I supposed to get any ridin' done?
Mmm . . . .
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Cover art for All the Tired Horses lyrics by Bob Dylan

I always thought this song was symbolically important given it's context. Self Portrait is my favorite Dylan album and in my opinion does a better job summing him up than any biography would later to prove to (including Biograph and Chronicles). To begin the album 'Self Portrait' he composes All The Tired Horses- a song he arranged and wrote yet does not have a voice in. One of a handful of songs on his albums where he does not sing, but the only one where someone else sings and he is absent. Given it's placement on the album and the album which it is on the implication is that this is either the backdrop of his life- or extending the metaphor- the blank canvas against which his likeness is composed. Fittingly the album is constructed of various standards he has re-tooled in his own fashion as well as a few of his classics performed live. All the Tired Horses is reminiscent of a hymn or work song- which ultimately were the birth parents of modern American folk and country music. All the Tired Horses seems to be Dylan reconstructing the birth of both him ad his music.

nigelmustapha, thanks for your perceptive comments on this song, which has become a favorite of mine. I only have one slight comment on your comment, which is that I don't think Dylan is absent, I think he's playing guitar.

To me I think he is portraying as you grow in life it is the same day over and over and as it progresses there is a difference because of the different melodies that add to the compilation of this song from beginning to end. As you grow it is simple at first and then more instrumental music comes into play and slowly fades as you finally die. Such a beautiful song, so glad I can across it.

Cover art for All the Tired Horses lyrics by Bob Dylan

The lines seem at first to be chastising the horses. They're too tired to go out riding, so the singer is stuck. However, given the fact that it is sunny out and the melody is sublimely content, I get the feeling the singer is quite happy being lazy. He is only playfully blaming them.

My Interpretation
Cover art for All the Tired Horses lyrics by Bob Dylan

huh?

Cover art for All the Tired Horses lyrics by Bob Dylan

Epic lyrics ya got there..

Cover art for All the Tired Horses lyrics by Bob Dylan

its pretty self explanitory. great song.

Cover art for All the Tired Horses lyrics by Bob Dylan

man the lyrics don't say much ... but such a powerful song despite (because of?) the simplicity

Cover art for All the Tired Horses lyrics by Bob Dylan

self portrait is amazing. this song is sweet.

Cover art for All the Tired Horses lyrics by Bob Dylan

self portrait is amazing. this song is sweet.

Cover art for All the Tired Horses lyrics by Bob Dylan

Wow I have a complete opposite opinion of Self Portrait. I think its absolute dreck and I agree with Greil Marcus who famously wrote about Self Portratait, "What is this Shit?" Awful album.

Cover art for All the Tired Horses lyrics by Bob Dylan

Don't you see?

The horses are society, which is tired.
We are all part of that society, and we just need to play our parts... but so many feel oppressed.
It's an analogy, and it's so amazingly simple... but brilliant!!! The lightbulb just came on over my head when I was listening to this. That's it! That's the answer! Because think of our society as a peice of unshaped clay... nobody has shaped it into a horse yet, but it somehow is seen that way! Hmmmm... interesting! And how are we (the horses) supposed to carry the load (our riders) into a progressive state to meet the potential we all so desperately seek, whereby the unfulfillment of the horses own duties and responsibilities, portray a constant reminder, or indicator to each horses rider OF that unmet potential, OF those unfulfilled duties. It's a constant reminder, and the longer they aren't moving, the more the sun is burning on them. People... you can't stay in the sun very long without getting burned. There's the meaning. KABAM!