The second musical chapter to “The Horseman” (released as part of “Russia,” found on this site), “The Horseman II” continues the loosely defined tale of a character called (unsurprisingly) the Horseman, scarred by some calamity known only to himself. A tormented soul compelled to seek absolution in the face of exploitation, deceit and other perils, the Horseman embodies the archetypal quest.
Unlike “The Horseman” (darkly written with ghostly, intertwining organ passages and grinding guitar riffs), this chapter begins lightly and ends similarly, suggesting the Horseman has found a brief respite in his beleaguering journey.
Instrumentation: piano strings, thump bass, nylon-string acoustic guitar, water bells, D-50 organ, distorted guitar, violin, flute, trumpet ensemble, drums, percussion.
lyrics
The Horseman II (Lyrics)
Far away, unspoken
far away in time
well behind the memories of a world I will not find
lives the dream to see you
I dream it every day
but love and dreams can be painful things
so I put them all away
and I sift the landslide
for a piece of what I was before the war
Then I take the long ride
Where I’m going, I couldn’t say
I can still remember
water, birth and sand
I can feel I’m safe and real
by remembrance of your hand
But those days are over
They were buried deep
though they often visit me
So I struggle not to sleep
where I sift the landslide
for a piece of what I was before the war
Then I take the long ride
never resting ‘til I can find what it was for
You will find a better place
You will find the space
to reach within your heart and find
the love left lying in waste
You will find a better home
You will never have the burden of the lonely
You will reap the love you have sown
In Adrian Snood’s songs, soulful vocals and slow-moving alt-pop swirl together to create something distinctly moving. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 1, 2023