Thank U

transparent dangling 'carats' - as in DIAMONDS - she's making a statement about how corrupt the diamond industry is.

I've never heard of anyone using a carrot to entice a horse to walk.

@raysug Steven Wilson covered this on his single "Cover Version" and changed that line to:<br /> "How 'bout changing a line 'cause it don't make sense?"

@raysug While it’s good to remember that song lyrics can be subjective, you are 1,000% correct about the meaning of the dangling carrots. The idea is to keep something rewarding just out of a person’s reach, so that they’re always moving toward the unobtainable, much as an old workhorse would keep plowing along, trying to reach a carrot just a foot or two in front of its face. \r\n\r\nThe idea of the dangling carrot being transparent, means that we can see through the manipulation, but we keep falling for the ruse.

@raysug While it’s good to remember that song lyrics can be subjective, you are 1,000% correct about the meaning of the dangling carrots. The idea is to keep something rewarding just out of a person’s reach, so that they’re always moving toward the unobtainable, much as an old workhorse would keep plowing along, trying to reach a carrot just a foot or two in front of its face. \r\n\r\nThe idea of the dangling carrot being transparent, means that we can see through the manipulation, but we keep falling for the ruse. \r\n\r\nAlso, in response to some of the other comments I’ve seen, diamonds are measured in ‘carats,’ not ‘carrots.’ \r\n\r\nAnd yes, I’m replying to comments that were made years ago; just a little bothered by some of the misconceptions.

I'd always interpreted that line the way @raysug and @amanda1135 do, as a reference to a carrot on a stick. I think that interpretation leads nicely into the next line about elusive kudos, which meant to me that you should stop worrying so much about what other people think and stop chasing after the approval of people who will never approve of you. <br /> <br /> But "transparent dangling carat" works also.