Judy wrote the saddest song
She showed it to a boy in school today
Judy, where did you go wrong?
You used to make me smile when I was down
Judy was a teenage rebel
She did it with a boy when she was young
She gave herself to books and learning
She gave herself to being number one
Judy, I don't know you if you're gonna show me everything
Judy, I don't know you if you're gonna show me everything

Judy got a book at school
She went under the covers with her torch
She fell asleep till it was morning
She dreamt about the girl who stole a horse
Judy never felt so good except when she was sleeping
Judy never felt so good except when she was sleeping

Judy, let's go for a walk
We can kiss and do whatever you want
But you will be disappointed
You will fall asleep with ants in your pants
Judy, you're just trying to find and keep the dream of horses
And the song she wrote was Judy and the Dream of Horses
Dream of Horses, Dream of Horses
You dream of horses

The best looking boys are taken
The best looking girls are staying inside
So Judy, where does that leave you?
Walking the street from morning to night
With a star upon your shoulder lighting up the path that you walk
With a parrot on your shoulder, saying everything when you talk
If you're ever feeling blue
Then write another song about your dream of horses
Write a song about your dream of horses
Call it Judy And The Dream Of Horses
Call it Judy And The Dream Of Horses
You dream of horses


Lyrics submitted by ReActor, edited by mdznr

Judy and the Dream of Horses Lyrics as written by Isobel Campbell Christopher Geddes

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Hipgnosis Songs Group

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Judy and the Dream of Horses song meanings
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  • +1
    My Interpretation

    I think this is about sexuality. Judy's a "straight" girl who lost her edge from when she was a teenager. "She gave herself to books and learning / She gave herself to being number one" explains this transition IMO.

    When she was "a teenage rebel", she "did it with a boy" probably trying to conform to heterosexual dogma, but then the fact that she dreams about the girl in the book and that's the only time that she "feels good" makes me think that she actually likes girls and is only happy when she fantasizes with one even platonically. The frustration and disillusion from her failure at being "normal" would be the reason why she transitions into a "normal" and "straight" life.

    Then in the "let's go for a walk" part, Stuart says that they can kiss or have sex if she wants but she will be frustrated, because she would prefer to do it with a girl.

    Then the last part would be about Judy feeling lost in her "straight" life, busy from "morning to night" and the "parrot on her shoulder" representing the things that she says to put up a "straight" image of herself. Admittedly I'm still confused about the "star upon your shoulder" part, it doesn't really fit into this interpretation because the star seems to be a guide, which doesn't make sense assuming that she feels lost.

    The dream of horses would represent a fantasy in which she comes out and is free from the restraints of the heteronormative culture that she is surrounded by.

    extinctparton August 09, 2019   Link

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